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Cow Rock

Cow Rock is one of the most renowned dive sites in St. Thomas, located in the United States. This popular dive site is situated in a nationally protected park, ensuring an abundance of marine life due to fishing restrictions in the area. It boasts stunning elkhorn corals and captivating small caves and swim-throughs that make it a favorite among divers.

Divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, will enjoy exploring the diverse underwater landscape of Cow Rock. With a maximum depth of 14m and a visibility of 19m, this site offers excellent conditions for underwater exploration.

While diving at Cow Rock, divers can expect to encounter an array of fascinating marine creatures. Lobsters, crabs, and other hunted species are frequently spotted, adding excitement to the dive. Furthermore, there are opportunities to catch sight of nurse sharks, turtles, and various tropical fish, creating a vibrant and dynamic underwater ecosystem to explore.

Given the richness of marine life at Cow Rock and the captivating swim-throughs, it is highly recommended to dive this site multiple times, if possible. Each dive reveals new wonders and provides a unique experience for divers.

For those looking to visit Cow Rock, it is conveniently located near Cruz Bay in the Saint Thomas - Saint John District of the United States Virgin Islands. Overall, Cow Rock is a must-visit dive site that combines natural beauty, diverse marine life, and an unforgettable underwater experience.

Diving Conditions Score for Cow Rock

8
Very Good

Very good diving conditions!
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Cow Rock

Depth

14m

Visibility

19m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced

Weather Conditions for Cow Rock

Wave Height

1.16m

Wind Speed

29.8 m/s

Water Temp

28.5°C

Visibility

31.74km

Cloud Cover

21%

Wave Period

4.9s

Air Temperature

27.8°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Cow Rock
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Cow Rock

Best time to dive: 9:00 with score 7.604866666666666/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.1m, Wind 28.1 m/s.Best night dive time: 21:00 with score 7.0061333333333335/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Cow Rock: 06:00
Sunset at Cow Rock: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Cow Rock are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
9:00

Score: 7.6/10
Waves: 1.1m (4.9s), Wind: 28.1 m/s

🌙
Best Night
21:00

Score: 7.0/10
Waves: 1.24m, Wind: 31 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Cow Rock
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Cow Rock

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for Cow Rock

Winter

Avg. Score: 9.2/10

Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.

Best Months for Cow Rock

January
Score: 9.3
December
Score: 9.2
February
Score: 9.1

Ideal Conditions for Cow Rock

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

27.1°C / 80.8°F

July

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

11.8m / 38.7ft

June

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

2.6m / 8.5ft

January

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Cow Rock

Cow Rock shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (27.3°C) and January the coldest (21.8°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 2.6m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). June is usually the driest month with 0.2mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 18, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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