Don’t guess—know. Check the status of your favorite spots on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John before you take the plunge.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) has released its weekly water quality report for the week of April 13 to April 17, 2026. While most tested beaches on St. Croix are clear for weekend activities, several locations throughout the territory remain unsampled or have failed quality standards due to recent weather and bacterial levels.
St. Croix Beach Status
On St. Croix, 17 beaches have met water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing:
- North Shore/East End: Buccaneer, Chenay Bay, Cramers Park, Pelican Cove (Cormorant), Protestant Cay, Shoys, and Cane Bay.
- West End/South Shore: Dorsch Beach, Frederiksted Public Beach, Gentle Winds, Grapetree Bay, Ha’Penny, New Ft. Louisa Augusta, Prosperity, Rainbow, and Stony Ground.
Unsafe Beaches: Two locations on St. Croix failed to meet standards due to high levels of Enterococci bacteria and are considered unsafe for swimming or fishing:
- Sprat Hall
- Princess Condo Row
St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island
Due to inclement weather during the testing window, DPNR was unable to collect samples from the following areas:
- All beaches on St. Thomas.
- All beaches on St. John.
- Honeymoon Beach on Water Island.
Because these sites were not sampled, their current water quality is unknown.
Public Health Safety Measures
DPNR advises residents and visitors to exercise caution even at “safe” beaches, particularly if conditions change.
- Avoid Contaminants: Stay away from waters impacted by sewage, stormwater runoff (guts and drainage basins), or large amounts of sargassum.
- Visual/Scent Cues: Avoid any area where the water appears discolored or emits foul odors.
- Health Risks: Swimming in contaminated water carries an elevated risk of infection or illness due to bacteria and other contaminants.
For further information, you can contact the Division of Environmental Protection at (340) 773-1082 in St. Croix or (340) 774-3320 in St. Thomas.