Water Island, United States Virgin Islands
Also within 20 km of Charlotte Amalie
- USVI St Thomas Kite spot · 0.4 km from Charlotte Amalie
- WIT Shoal II Wreck Dive site · 2.5 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Sprat Bay Surf spot · 2.7 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Grain Wreck (SS Grainton) Dive site · 2.8 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Cartanser Sr Wreck Dive site · 2.9 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Hull bay Surf spot · 3.9 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Caret Bay Surf spot · 6.4 km from Charlotte Amalie
- Santa Maria (st. thomas) Surf spot · 7 km from Charlotte Amalie
Watch this spot We email you when Water Island is worth the trip.
About Water Island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (245°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (65°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 5–20 ft of swell. The sea is about 27°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is Charlotte Amalie, 3 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot, 1 wind sports spot and 3 dive sites.
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 8 h 55 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to STT, direct.
See flights ORD → STT · Skyscanner from about £245 returnAdGetting there. 25 min from the airport to Water Island.
Accommodation.
Stay in Charlotte AmalieAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Charlotte Amalie (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Charlotte Amalie 5 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 39 places to stay · where Water Island stays
Places to stay in Charlotte Amalie · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Charlotte Amalie · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Charlotte Amalie · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Water Island on Google Maps · Directions
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Live webcam
At Water Island
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft7 s | 20kJ | offshorewind from the east, 8 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft8 s | 21kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 9 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 17, too small | 3 ft10 s | 221kJ | wind from the south-east, 6 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 12, too small | 3 ft9 s | 115kJ | wind from the south-east, 7 knots | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 10, too small | 2 ft9 s | 91kJ | wind from the south-east, 6 knots | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 11, too small | 3 ft9 s | 128kJ | wind from the south-east, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 8, too small | 3 ft9 s | 97kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 13 knots | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 7, too small | 2 ft4 s | 20kJ | wind from the south-east, 10 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft9 s | 30kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 10 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 17, too small | 3 ft9 s | 119kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 9 knots, offshore | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to STT, then 25 min by road. About 8h 55 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Caret Bay
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 5 ft at 11 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to STT, then 25 min by road. About 8h 55 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Charlotte Amalie each day: Caret Bay, Santa Maria (st. thomas), Sprat Bay, Water Island.
Rough cost
About £680–£1,275 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to STT, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £245–£510 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £680–£1,275 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Charlotte Amalie
- Virgilio'sItalian · in the centre
- Amalia CafeSpanish · 0.1 km from the centre
- Gladys' CaféCaribbean · 0.1 km from the centre
- Pasta Go GoItalian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Benito's BurritosMexican · 0.2 km from the centre
- Cafe AmiciItalian · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
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