Scuba at Castaway Cay

[kpros]

Hi Everyone

I am looking for some input on the scuba trip at Castaway Cay. This wasn't offered the last time we cruised with Disney. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks
Ken

 

[ppiew]

Ck my trip report . My daughter went scuba diving on CC and really loved it! She said they were on coral about 65 ft deep. They saw much coral of types she had never seen before and thousands of fish. They highlight of her dive was a 13 Ft. eel that swam into a cave!!! Glad it was her and not me! I would have surfaced in a flash at that one!

 

[kpros]

Thanks ppiew - your report is what made me go back and look at the activitives on Castaway Cay again. Did they provide wet suits as well as the normal scuba equipment? How far was the boat ride before the first dive?

Thanks for any info.
Ken

 

[ppiew]

It was only about 200 yds off the bow of the Magic, believe it or not! I believe they provided everything, but some people brought various pieces of equipment with them. My daughter had her own mask and wet suit, but she said some had nothing of their own. You left from the beach at CC in a boat to the scuba dive area. It lasted about 2 1/2 hrs total. She loved it and was truly surprised at the different varieties of fish and coral than she had seen when she was diving in the Florida Keys. I can ask her tomorrow about any more info if you would like.

 

[kpros]

ppiew

Any info she could provide would be great. So the first dive was very near the ship. Where was the second dive? How many people were on the trip. Any other info would be great.

Thanks
Ken

May 10 Western!

 

[dianedisney]

Can you tell me how much is the Scuba Excursion on Castaway Cay?

 

[kpros]

Per the DCL web page, it's $95 per person (12 years old and up).

 

[suezpqt]

Does anyone know if they offer a "resort course"? I would love to dive again but I am not certified.

 

[ppiew]

Asked DD re: her dive for info - here goes:
1. No 'resort' stuff, must have regular SCUBA certification with you to present prior to dive.
2. About 10 or so on the boat she was on
3. Didn't do a second dive because boat before them was late coming in and there was insufficient time.
4. 5min. to dive site from ship

 

[kpros]

Thanks for the information.

 

[bwtk]

I had gone on the scuba excursion in late February. We were told that this had had just been started within the past two weeks.

The divemasters were Tim (I'm pretty sure that was his name, and I'll refer to his as such) and a female who were from nearby Abaco. Tim has been diving since he was a kid. He and his business partner are starting a diving shop in Abaco.

Tim's family has been diving for decades. In the 1950's, Tim's dad took a compressor from a refrigerator and fashioned this into a primitive type of diving gear. His dad, who is in his sixties, has been diving since. Although Tim is a certified dive master, his dad just doesn't think it's worth the effort! (On the first dive, Tim went without scuba gear. He took a deep breath and went to the bottom, loitered around for a bit and then returned to the surface. What a guy! He told me that he's been doing that since he was a kid.)

Tim's business partner is married to a doctor who practices in Florida. They are building a home in Abaco.

There number of divers is limited, so sign up early. Tim said that he was most concerned about safety and the quality of the guest's dives and wasn't interested in increasing the volume of divers.

On the first dive, a shark circled aroung twice. On the second dive, Tim and I saw a shark at the bottom. The female divemaster wasn't concerned. She taught us about shark behavior.

I went with my brother and his two daughters, ages 12 and 14. The divemasters were thrilled--they said that is was somewhat uncommon for families to go scuba diving together. They agreed that it is much more fun for the families when they can all enjoy an activity like this. Tim was interested in getting a glass bottom boat so that if some of the family members were not divers, the others could enjoy and learn from the trip. I certainly enjoyed seeing my two nieces with their dad, but felt a little old: the two little girls who loved the Little Mermaid have become the little mermaids!

Make sure to bring a camera as this will be the best opportunity to get pictures from the front of the ship.

All in all, I had a great time. The cost certainly justified the opportunity to experience one of life's priceless moments which we will all treasure for years to come.

 

[ppiew]

One thing I forgot to mention - when we checked on the ship re: booking the CC scuba excursion (this was after GC was canceled because of weather) we were told it was full and no availability. When we went ashore, we stopped at the dive shack on the way to the beach and they said 'no problem.' Some missed communication somewhere. So if you are told it is full, it would warrant a stop after getting off the ship to see if in fact they are or if space might be available after all.

 

[kpros]

To bwtk and ppiew

Thanks again for the great information. I've reserved spots for me and the DW. All we need now is cooperation from the weather.

Thanks again.
Ken