Cane Bay is a long stretch of beach on St. Croix's north coast, and it is primarily known as the best shore diving on the island. The Cane Bay Wall begins just offshore — you swim out a few hundred yards through calm, clear water, and then the reef drops away abruptly into the deep Atlantic. The wall is covered with black coral, sea fans, and barrel sponges; turtles, eagle rays, and the occasional shark patrol the blue water off the edge. This is serious Caribbean diving, accessible with nothing more than your own fins.
For non-divers, the beach itself is wide, shaded by sea grapes, and less crowded than the east-end beaches. There are a couple of good beach bars and dive shops along the access road. Snorkeling over the shallower reef sections in the bay is worthwhile even if you don't go out to the wall. Cane Bay is on the north-central coast, roughly 20 miles from Christiansted on Route 80 — allow 40 minutes from town.