St. Thomas is a good bet for checking out underwater habitats.  You don’t even need to go far off shore to experience what feels like a whole new world.  Some of the fish are even used to tourists and will allow you to feed them, like off of Coki Point Beach.  If you want to check out other sea life like crabs and stingrays, then Magens Bay Beach is your best bet.  Just be prepared to walk among the rocks to find the best hidden nooks.

Congratulations on your graduation!  That’s quite the accomplishment.  Can you plan your trip for January or February instead of going right now?  That’s when you’ll probably find the best flight prices.  Unfortunately, this is the big tourist season, so flights and hotels are bound to be more expensive.

I’ve been to St. Thomas and a few of the other Virgin Islands, and it’s a fantastic place to visit.  There’s tons of stuff to do and the water is gorgeous.  You can save money by staying in hostels.  I did that and they’re safe and clean.  Unfortunately, you’d also probably need to rent a car, since it’s not exactly walkable.  That’s the only downside, though.

I like traveling with others.  I’ve even joined a tour group with strangers before and had a blast.  We got to know one another along the way.  It made the trip more fun.

Are you in the US?  There’s a dog-centered cruise that leaves out of Tampa and is sailing to the Caribbean in November.  You’ll need to provide proof that your pup’s vaccinations are up to date, but there’s no quarantine requirement or anything like that. It sounds like a promising trip.