April, May and June are every horse racing enthusiast’s favorite months featuring the Triple Crown series of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont Stakes’ race for the highly coveted Triple Crown.  But right here in St. Croix USVI enthusiasts not only enjoy watching these events, they cheer for the local talent that became world-class jockeys.

The Sugar Beach Resort in St. Croix is just a few miles away from the epicenter of action, the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack and fall & winter guest can experience the excitement first hand and be view one of the oldest sporting events in the history of the Caribbean as well as the world.   Not to mention see future championship jockeys coming up through the ranks.

This year’s American Triple Crown and St. Croix’s own Kevin Krigger is bringing much recognition to USVI horse racing as well as the entire Caribbean.  Krigger and his ride Goldencents ran into every Cruzian’s heart with hopes of winning his first Kentucky Derby but was cheered on to a 17^th place finish due to sluggish performance in muddy conditions, not Goldencents’ strong point. 

Getting his start a little after Krigger is another great local jockey, Victor Lebron.  The underdog at the 2013 Kentucky Derby was not as widely recognized because his ride, Frac Daddy was not as strong of an entry as Goldencents and finished 16^th, one place ahead of Krigger. 

So two young in St. Croix boys with a love of horses and the sport of racing them are grown up and lining up against each other again for a championship run at the upcoming Preakness and Belmont Stakes.  While the world is hoping the Kentucky Derby Winner Orb is successful in winning the elusive Triple Crown, one sure bet on the horses is that throughout the Caribbean the fans will be cheering for Goldencents and Frac Daddy and the Cruzian sons Kevin Krigger and Victor Lebron.

So why not make the Sugar Beach Resort you’re vacation home and enjoy some of the best horse racing in the Caribbean, maybe even see the next Triple Crown winner in the making.

Randall “Doc” James Racetrack

In our final piece on the underwater world of St Croix, we look at some of the incredible sea creatures you will find on the coral reefs of St. Croix.

The warm Caribbean waters of St. Croix are the home to some of the most exciting sea creatures.  Scuba divers often tell us they just don’t want to share how good the diving is in St. Croix because they want to keep this hidden gem to themselves. 

Divers find themselves immersed in the beauty of the living reef teaming with varieties of colorful schooling fish, delicate corals, and the intriguing beauty of predatory creatures such as the shark and eel.  Here you are a foreigner, something new and definitely larger than anything sea creatures are used to seeing.  We move differently than the usual inhabitants and exhaust air bubbles that create fear in some and curiosity in others.  Schools of squid can’t see to make up their minds as they slowly approach with curiousness and caution only to quickly change color and scamper away.  Minutes later they return with the same curiousness and repeat the cycle endlessly.

Not seeing any marine life? No, just not seeing fish.  Although this would be virtually impossible here in this part of the Caribbean it is important to point out that nearly everything you see is alive.  Coral is actually a colony of hundreds, often thousands of living creatures each individually referred to as a polyp.  They eat, they breed and they offer color, shape and beauty to any living reef and a skeletal structure for which new corals can grow.

The flat sea bottom often disguises the stingray.  Hidden beneath a layer of sand they often grow to be several feet in wingspan.  The stingray is not aggressive and in some areas it is common to allow them to be handfed by tourists.  The tail barb is for protection from predators such as the hammerhead shark.  Incidents between humans and stingrays usually occur only when stepped on, but if approached from above and attempted to touch this simulates predatory action and a strike is imminent.

Sharks if seen are harmless to humans, and most fish for that matter.  These hunters comb the reefs in search of food in the early hours of the evening and early dawn.  Nurse sharks are often seen in these waters and aside from their shark-like appearance they favor the eating style of a catfish.  The local reef shark is curious and likes to check out new things in the water like divers, but not for a meal.  Small fish are the fare and divers are usually not present during their feeding hours, so rest assured if the fish they are swimming with when you see them are safe.

Each year thousands of scuba divers explore the reefs of St. Croix, and the Sugar Beach Resort can be a great place for your family vacation or group excursion.  Non-divers will also find a variety of activities to keep them busy while you are out visiting undersea St. Croix.  Remember, it’s never too late to learn with one of the Sugar Beach Resort affiliate dive centers. 

Visit Sugar Beach Website for details on scuba diving packages available from the resort.

USVI Eagle Ray courtesy of St Croix Ultimate Blue Water Adventures

Certified divers enjoy the freedom to dive with a buddy anywhere and anytime it is permissible.  It’s fun and safe as long as you continue to follow the rules and guidelines and dive within the limits of your training and abilities.  Accrediting organizations have done extensive studies and established strict guidelines for dive instructors to follow as the instructor, sales consultant or dive master on the boat.

Statistically scuba diving is one of the safest activities you can engage in.  Generally dive related incidents are caused by a failing health co

ndition or divers that choose to dive beyond the established limits, engage in diving they are not trained or simply by practicing careless diving practices.  All of these are focused on in the early portion of any dive-training program.

There are several accrediting agencies such as PADI, NAUI, and BSAC that are affiliated with dive centers and instructors.  These agencies establish operational criteria and standards for dive operations and it’s instructional staff.  Dive certifications accomplished with any accredited agency allow you to dive regardless of the operator’s affiliation, and once certified you are certified for life.

All dive certification courses begin in a classroom environment or online study program.  It’s not difficult learn since the lessons are taught to students as young as 10 years old becoming Junior Scuba Divers until they reach the age of 15 at which time they no longer need to dive with a parent or guardian.

The PADI online classroom is available to dive students 13 years of age and older offering flexibility in participation as well as the ability to do this from home.   The classroom is of benefit to those living near a dive shop or resort operation that can spend about 6 hours of study and testing with an instructor. 

Pool classes give you all the practical and functional training in an underwater environment.  You start in the shallow end learning breathing techniques, mask clearing and other essential elements before moving towards the deep end of the pool.  Here you learn buoyancy and control to achieve the weightless effect.  Once you’ve mastered the pool you are proficient with the dive and emergency skills that prepare you for the open water.

Open water classes are essentially the displaying of proficiency of skills already conducted in the swimming pool.  Your first dive is a fun dive where you will cruise the reef in underwater fashion with your instructor allowing you to fully experience your first dive as a real diver.  The following dives you will spend some time proving your proficiency of the skills and still have some time to take in the scenery.

Once you are certified you are good to go on your own, however it is always recommende

d to continue with training at least through the advanced level where you will get training in underwater navigation, peak buoyancy control, deep diving and a few other programs that your instructor feels would suit your individual dive program.

You have the ability to dive comfortably and safely with confidence and will rapidly discover new places to dive and friends to dive with.  The advantage of participating in a scuba vacation program with the Sugar Beach Resort is the combining the resort vacation experience with the underwater world, and there are several dive operators nearby so scheduling your training and diving is never an issue and equipment is readily available.

Sugar Beach Resort is a great place to host your scuba diving event whether you visit as an individual, family or group.  Here you can enjoy the full condo experience and vacation like you are in your own home. 

Stay tuned for the next story about the incredible marine life you will find on the reefs of St. Croix!  And visit Sugar Beach Website for details on scuba diving packages available from the resort. 

Scuba diving is one of the most exciting vacation activities travelers can experience and St. Croix offers one of the best underwater playgrounds on the planet.  Now you may be thinking “move on” since you are not a scuba diver, or wish you were a diver, but taking a scuba vacation is for everyone that has an interest, and for the curious you can get the full experience in just one day!

Sugar Beach Resort is the perfect place to experience your scuba diving vacation whether it is with a group, family or just taking in the fun individually.  Try it, learn it or participate as an experienced diver, St. Croix scuba diving is some of the best in the Caribbean.  Appropriate for ages 10 and up!

Scuba diving is easy to learn and there is not shortage of instruction anywhere there is diving.  You can only be too young to learn to dive and as long as you are in reasonable health you too can be a diver.  There are several ways to get you into the aquatic realm that take into consideration the time you have available, long term desire, and most important of all, your travel budget.

You can get started quickly through a “discovery program” where you complete a   pool class in the morning and then off to the reef in the afternoon with your instructor.  PADI dive centers such as the affiliates of Sugar Beach Resort offer the Discover Scuba program to beginners as well as those who may have been certified but haven’t been in the water for several years.  In this program you learn about the equipment and skills needed to enjoy the open water experience.  It’s easy and only takes a few hours to complete before heading off to the reef for some real dive experience.  Don’t worry about your “newness” as a dive prospect, the instructor will be at your side the entire time assisting you as needed so you can enjoy your experience.  Many of the Discover Scuba program participants enjoy their time underwater so much they become certified divers.

What’s important to understand is that some of the best diving is in waters only 20 feet or less.  The colors are more vivid and the marine life is abundant.  Many people are afraid to engage in scuba diving, as they perceive the sport to be done at greater depths.   The advantage of scuba diving over snorkeling is you look the fish right in the eye, get close-up views of the magnificent living corals, the micro creatures that live within the reef system, and the awesome feeling of weightlessness.

Take a first hand look at St. Croix scuba diving in the album posted on the Sugar Beach Facebook page.

Excited?  Then stay tuned for more information on scuba certifications and the types of experiences you will encounter as a certified diver!

(And thanks to Dive Experience of St Croix for the photos!)

There is just nothing better than sitting on a porch overlooking the sand, the Palm Trees, and the Beach at Sugar Beach. But it is possible to make great even better - add some Food and Rum Drinks!

And here's a quick and easy - not to mention good for you - recipe that makes relaxing and watching the water roll in and out even more fun!

Warm Spinach & Artichoke Dip - Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter - Feb 2013

** Nutrition highlights: Artichokes provide fiber, vitamin C, folate and magnesium. Low fat cottage cheese (key ingredient alert) reduces the fat in traditional mayonnaise. Serve the dip with Whole-Wheat Pita Chips or Whole-grain crackers - or my new favorites - Fire-roasted Tomato Whole-Wheat Crackers (available from several brands).

To make the Dip (Yield is 12 servings, 1/4 cup each):

Ingredients:

3 tsp olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

6 cups spinach - trimmed, washed and dried

1 can (14 oz) of artichoke hears - drained and rinsed

3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

2 Tbsp low-fat mayonnaise

2 tsp Dijon mustard (I love Dijon Mustard)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (aren't you glad you have a kitchen?). Coat a baking dish with cooking spray - or more fun - make individual dipping pots for each guest.

2. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, cook, stirring often, until softened and just starting to turn golden, 2 to 4 minutes. Add spinach and garlic, cook, stirring until spinach has wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat

3. Place artichokes, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and black pepper in a food processor; process until smooth. Add spinach mixture and Parmesan; pulse just until blended. Scrape artichoke mixture into prepared baking dish.

4. bake, uncovered, until heated though, 25 to 35 minutes. Add pita chips for last 8 minutes of cooking. Remove dip and chips from the oven and Drizzle remaining 1 tsp oil over top of the dip. Serve hot.

Whole-Wheat Pita Chips: Cut 4 whole-wheat pita breads into 6 triangles. Separate each triangle into 2 halves at the fold. Arrange, rough side up, on 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Sprinkle lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees until crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Makes 48 pita crisps.

Key to the experience - take Dip, Crisps, Good Friends, and a Rum Drink - sit on the porch at Sugar Beach in St. Croix - and be on top of the world.