Ask any diver in St. Thomas what is the greatest wreck dive in the Caribbean, and they will tell you “the Witchel”. They will then tell you of their favorite WIT Shoal adventure, and their version of how she came to rest in 90 feet of water off of the Southwest coast of St. Thomas.  

The WIT Shoal was a  LST 467, a 328 foot armed military cargo ship, designed to transport and land up to twenty tanks at a time during World War II.  She and her crew served admirably in the Pacific theatre of the war, and after a second life as a commercial freighter, ended up upright on a sandy underwater plain for us to explore.

As you begin to descend, the ship will be displayed below you, appearing as she must have to the pilots who flew over her during thewar.   Where once she was swarmed with brave sailors, now she is patrolled by horse eye jacks.  Where her command crew stood and watched the horizon for enemy submarines, now barracuda stand guard.   As you continue to the stern deck, you can see that there are five different coral encrusted levels for you to explore.  The wide variety of entries and exits makes this dive both easy and safe. If you’re adventurous, forgo swimming through the doors for plummeting head-first down the coral-encrusted smoke stacks.   No matter where you start your personal adventure, you will quickly realize that you could spend a lifetime exploring the passageways of this magnificent wreck.  As you ascend from your dive, remember to look out into the sandy seashe rests upon, you may see nurse sharks and eagle rays taking up positions alongside, as if to escort her to her next ghostly landing.