Best SCUBA Diving?

[PirateOfTheCarribean]

Hi all:

We're deciding between the Eastern and Western cruises. We've done them both and enjoyed them both; but, on the next one, the whole family will be open water certified.

So, our question is, which cruise is best for SCUBA diving excursions and why? Which are the best locations for diving?

Cheers,

Pirate

 

[Captain Nemo]

Pirate,
We went on the Magic in 2001 and did the Eastern. I dove in St. Martin and St.Thomas. Didn't care much for St Martin, however St Thomas was good. I am a big fan of Cozumel. Been there a few times for week long vacations. The diving is world class. Great vis,great dives all drift. I have never been to Grand Cayman but what I've heard and read it's great diving as well. Next time I cruise it will be the western for sure! Key West I hear is also some gerat diving! If you do decide on the western, check out Aldora.com. They are the dive operators I dive with in Cozumel.Semi private charter and I do believe they do dives for cruisers. Good luck with your decision,either way it's all good!
Dominick

 

[sweetsue]

I've been diving in St. Thomas, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. I've heard diving in St. Martin itself isn't very good but the surrounding islands like Saba are (which you can't reach on a day trip). I vastly prefer Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Go for the Western if scuba diving is a primary goal.

Sweet Sue

 

[tinksdad]

I agree with the previous posters too!
St. Marteen is OK, but if you have dove any other Caribbean locations, it pales in comparison.

I would recommend the Western intineary versus the Eastern, since you have Cozumel, which is some of the best diving around. Some of the clearest waters you'll find. Lots of pelagics, small stuff and generally a wonderful dive location. Most of the dives are drift dives, which is some of the easiest diving you'll do. Great walls and swim throughs too.

Caymens: Grand Caymen is pretty good and is the ship stop location.Cayman Brac and Little Caymen offer wonderful diving, but you probably won't have time to get over there.

Belize, Roatan, Boniare and Curacao are also world class and offer wonderful diving opportunities.

Key Largo is better than Key West, but ships don't stop at Key Largo. Key West is still pretty good. In fact Florida in general is some of the best diving around. One of our favorites destinations.

We sailed on the DCL last Christmas for the 10-day cruise which made it down to Antigua and St. Lucia. Both places were fantastic, but I would love to spend a week in St. Lucia. Not a lot of pelagics, but small stuff galore!!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Any more details on the St. John's scuba excursion would be welcome?


(Hi TinksDad)

 

[Honu]

Western all the way.

 

[Capt_BJ]

certified for 30 years
logged dives??? who counts anymore
my job took me to the islands dove 'em a bunch
(I've dove GITMO....)

give me a choice as u describe....well I'd narrow it down to Cayman and Coz ... from there, twixt the 2, it gets tuff. It becomes very wx dependent and if you can predict that you are better than 99.999% out there.

If you want to do a self paced shore dive ... Cayman has better options.

Want a drift dive ..... Coz.

Doing the excursion options....it's a push.

Want a wall again, a push. .. both have great dives for a wall .... but Coz will always be a drift dive. The currents can RIP. Either way, it is a boat trip.

But any day of the week ... weather can rule....

It all depends on the dive op' and where they take you. In Cayman and Coz the common & easy to reach sites are pretty decent. Eastern islands, the easy sites tend to be dull & you don't usually get to the 'good' places unless you have more time. And trust me, in Cayman and Coz if you are staaying at a dedicated dive resort for a week of hard diving, they will take you to the GOOD places after they know you are competent - aka, not a coral buster cuz of no bou' control & not dangerous on the wall cuz of over weight.

Think about it. A dive master has a couple of dives to get familiar with you one way....and u are doing 1 trip from the ship....

But I prefer to go west to Coz or Cayman for a cruise if I'm only gonna get a couple of dives....and when I want to dive, the options are wider cuz you have time to explore. Mixing a cruise and a dive means compromise....

 

[bode]

i am biased but i used to work as a divemaster in bonaire, palau and cozumel and i recommend cozumel all the way.