Stuart Cove Snorkel-Nassau?????

[lstokes]

Search Engine is down again.....
I know there was a post earlier about the excursion company in Nassua for snorkeling.
At their website, it looks great. ..... Snorkel at 3 different locations 1 of them over a shark feeding site!!!!! My ds's 13 and 17 are psyched to do this. I will attempt it also EVEN after reading all the SHARK threads on this board!!!!! LOL!!!
Has anyone had first hand experience with this company?
I do like that the am trip is from 8:30 to 1pm so have afternoon on ship. We have been to Nassau previously and do not wish to shop.
I also have a 4 year old DD who also swims like a fish. Only DH is hesitant-swims like an anchor!!!! The website says 4 year olds can come on board the boat!!! What are your thoughts on this??
NO, my DD will not be the Shark Bait!!!!!

Thanks

 

[llachance]

Just went on an excursion with Stuart Cove on January 14th so this is a very recent experience - and it wasn't the best. Signed up for the afternoon excursion. They said to be at the end of the pier at 11:45. Got there and the transportation showed up at about 12:10. It is then a 40 minute ride to their offices. The people coming off the morning trips rode back on the bus that brought us out to their office. Got there and it was complete mayhem. The bus driver said go one way, the restrooms were the other.....Showed our vouchers that I had printed, bought a camera (22.00) and then was told to go next door and get snorkel etc. The young man that was there didn't really know what he was doing and if you have snorkled before you know that it is hard to put on fins with dry feet but that was your only choice to try to find the right fit. Everyone got the same snorkel and mask. Then it was time to wait for 30 minutes or so while the rest of the folks were getting their stuff. It was only then that I found out that we were going on the same boat as the suba divers (it is a self-contained one person sub like thing). This equipment took most of the lower deck of the boat we were on which meant that you sat upstairs with nothing to block the sun (it was cool enough that the sun felt good) but if it was a hot day it probably would have been miserable. There was absolutely NO instruction on how to use snorkels, put on your masks anything. The folks in the Self-contained devices got tons of help though. Even got video tape of their excursion while the snorklers got nothing. When the subs were doing their little trek on the first stop there were two fellows left on the boat. Supposedly they were there to help snorklers if need be but since both were completely dressed including shoes one could see they weren't going into the water. There were three snorkel stops but since there is a movie being filmed in the main snorkling area we didn't get to go there. Did see a submerged plane and a boat but not a lot of fish. The shark feeding was fun. They drop a buck of feed about 45 feet down and then let you climb into the water off the back of the boat and hang onto a tether and look down at the sharks. There were about 35 of them. When everyone was back on the boat they brought the feed up and fed the sharks. Haven't seen any pictures yet but my boyfriend did get splashed by them as they fed. Then back to the pier. There was supposed to be transportation that left right away and then later transportation for those who would look at the video and decide whether they wanted to buy it or not. There wasn't. We got back to our ship around 6:00 that evening rather then the 5:00 or so that I expected. We hung around waiting for people to watch the videos for about 30 minutes. If you want anything to eat or drink on the boat you must bring your own. They do provide an ice chest to keep stuff cold in. On the 14th of January the water was cool enough that it would have been much more pleasant with a wet suit. It was cold and when you came out of the water if was pretty chilly. If you haven't snorkled before you might want to mention it to them. As far as I can tell they didn't plan on giving instruction but since I had snorkled before I knew what I should do. Ask if filming is still going on in the area. If it still is snorkeling at Castaway Cay is probably the best option as you will have a better chance of seeing marine life. That said I got an internet rate of 30.00 per person so I guess I got what I paid for. I do feel that their brochure is more colorful then what you get. There was another couple that went scuba diving at the same time from the ship we were on (RCCL Sovereign of the Seas and it was wonderful!) and they were pleased with what they saw and the help they got from the crew members of the boat they were on. Hope this helps you make an educated decision. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

 

[prymsu]

I did Stuart's Cove on Xmas Eve 2003, and my family had a totally different experience...

We have all snorkeled before, and i thought it was very good snorkeling. When we checked in, I told the owner that our ship was going to be pulling out at 6:00 p.m. rather than 10:00 p.m. like it normally did due to it being Christmas Eve and all. There were about fifteen other folks from our ship, so they made arrangements for us to all be on the same boat, and they cut a little snorkeling time to get us back to the ship by 5:00 p.m.

Yes it is a ride to get there, but they were close to on time to pick us up. They do say that they make several stops at other hotels so that can't give you an exact time for pickup.

I didn't think the water was cold at all. But that is just me. After snorkeling at Discovery Cove all day a few days before when it was only about 55 degrees, I thought it warm. They did offer folks the use of wet suits if you wanted to use one.

It is a little hectic at check in, but the day we were there they were pretty good at getting everyone what they needed. Three different boats pulled out at the same time.

The first snorkel spot is excellent. I did hear the crew tell folks that hadn't snorkeled before should stay on the boat for instructions on how to use the equipment. We have our own equipment, so I can't really comment on what they had.

I didn't see anyone filming on the day we were there. The second spot is a shipwreck, and the water was so clear that you could see the white sand on the bottom. Not too much for fish around there, but still nice to check out.

The shark thing was just awesome! I was the first person in the water, and the last one out. The crew told me I had to get back on the boat or i was going to be the shark bait.

Awesome excursion, very cost effective, and I would for sure go with them again.

 

[llachance]

Just so you know anyone that was "in charge" that day were out with the filming crew. They weren't to be found anywhere. I have snorkled before but a lot of the folks that were there hadn't. There was absolutely no instruction, nor was there a stay on board so we can show you. And no discusson at all whether everyone knew how to swim or not! The crew that was trained was completely engrossed with those who were using the single subs. I only chose Stuart Cove because of all the good things I had read so I was surprised when things weren't as they were advertised and knowing what I know now would still consider them again. I would just have much different expectations. The two young men who stayed on the boat had know idea where anyone was in the water and given that they were fully dressed would have been almost useless in an emergency and spent the entire time talking about the benefits or lack there of of smoking pot and the pirated DVD movies they had. As for not giving an exact pick up time when I look at my voucher it told me to be at the customs house at 11:45 for a 12:00 pick up so the bus wouldn't have to block the road. The return trip voucher mentions an early and a later bus and that didn't happen either. I think a lot can be attributed to the movie that is being filmed. (They were helping to sink an airplane out by where they do the shark dive) the director and all came in while we were waiting to go back to the pier and said it had been a sucessful day for them. It will be fun to watch the movie as I have now been in the location it was filmed. I am certain not everyone will have the same experience that I did but this forum is to let people know what they might expect. On the 14th of January the water temperature was 70, the outside air temp was 68 and the wind was blowing at about 25 mph so it was chilly but not unbearable, wetsuits were offered for a price. Once again this gives people an understanding of what happened the day that I was there and will give them an option to ask questions before they book.

 

[lstokes]

Thank you all for the great advice.
I will have to talk it over with the crew before we decide...
We all do have the snorkel experience, so instructions are not an issue, other than SAFETY issues.
Thanks again!!

In addition to above: I just reread your posts and noticed the problem with the afternoon buses. Possibly the am trip might get back to ship faster as they need to run the afternoon right after????? Does this make sense?

 

[disneyri]

Has anyone done Stuarts Cove recently and what are their thoughts?

I have scoured through activities and we want to do some snorkeling and this seems to be the best I have found.

Blue Lagoon 60.00
Stuarts Cove is 48.00
Blackbeards Cay is 45.00.

Can anyone recommend any of them?

 

[disneyri]

Yellowbird would not be my pick, but the Treasure Hunt to Pearl Island would be a good choice. Also, any trip that goes to Anthol Island, Rose Island or the Sea Gardens would be good. Stay away from Blackbeards Cay or Pearl Island Beach (not treasure hunt) if you are looking for snorkeling. Blue lagoon is not great for snorkeling unless you go exploring other areas of the island.
Snorkeling tours like Bahamas Divers, Divers haven etc would be good choices for snorkeling