underseahunter

Hello, I am cruising last minute, and my cruise line does not offer any SCUBA excursions, besides a deep dive on the buffet, LOL. Any shops, vendors, operators, of fellow travelers please let me know your best info PLEASE.

Here is my cruise schedule.

Leave Sat, Jan 27 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 10:00pm

Sun, Jan 28 At Sea

Mon, Jan 29 Fort-de-France, Martinique 11:30am 7:30pm

Tue, Jan 30 Barbados 9:00am 6:00pm

Wed, Jan 31 Grenada 9:00am 6:00pm

Thu, Feb 1 St. Vincent 8:00am 5:00pm

Fri, Feb 2 At Sea

Return Sat, Feb 3 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 9:00am

I REALLY NEED TO GET IN THE WATER ON ALL THESE ISLANDS, HELP please.

I did inquire with Mermaid and was interested in diving with them, but they were in DEMA that week and closed shop.

 

I just assumed there is no diving in Ocho Rio, but during our walkoff off the pier, I noticed a diveboat docked right off the side waiting for passengers. I realized they do have scuba and thought maybe I should do a walk-in signup with them, but that boat was for passengers that wanted to go to Dunns River Fall by boat.

When was this? Their website is up and the owner "Carlos" tooking my booking. I understand that some of the "Dive Masters" that used to be on the boat are no longer there, but they are ostensibly open.

Are you going on the Jade 11/27?

Did you try to contact Mermaid Divers? http://scubadivers-aruba.com/contact-us

You've got me a little nervous, I sail tomorrow, and want all this locked in place...

Thanks,

NCL came through with a 2 tank boat dive in Bonaire, so that one got sorted out. I found and made arrangements with the following companies...

Ocho Rios Jamaica: http://garfielddiving.com/

Grand Cayman: http://www.donfosters.com/

Auba: (Mermaid Divers) http://scubadivers-aruba.com/

Curacao: https://www.epsiloncuracao.com/

I will report back on the operations, etcetera. I have made dives on Aruba with Mermaid Divers before, I just couldn't remember their name when I started this thread.

Thank you for your reply. I will check into that ASAP since I sail in 10 days...

As I recall the "dive bus" on Curacao was a shipping container on the beach. LOL I made some shore dives with them about 5 years ago. The Viz that day was poor (for Curacao), but a solid 60fsw visibility. There seemed to be a larger dive shop in a hotel nearby, but we missed their boat.

I am trying to post here in the hopes to help other divers get good dives in too. So if there is anyone out there sailing 11/27/17 on the NCL Jade jump onto this thread. I have found diving accommodations so far in Grand Cayman with "Don Foster's Diving." They offer a 2 tank boat dive, and seem to eager to help me get wet. Here is how to get a hold of them:

http://www.donfosters.com/

Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

there is no scuba diving in Jamaica at all.... some dive boats go out but there is no coral reef system, and about 2 fish.

 

since you are diving solo, I would try to stick with the dive op used by your ship. Grand Cayman it will be Don Foster's. Not sure about Aruba and Curacao, but there are tons of dive ops. Bonaire is another one with great diving, and dozens of dive ops available. Shore diving is king there, so you might want to book a guide and shore dive since the reefs are just a few feet off shore and easy diving.

Thanks for your quick reply. I already called Don Foster's dive operator in Grand Cayman before I read your reply, they seem to ready to help. http://www.donfosters.com/pages/cruise_ships.php They seem to be the official vendors for:

• CARNIVAL
  
• HOLLAND AMERICA
  
• REGENT
  
• P&O
  
• CRYSTAL CRUISES
  
• PRINCESS
  

Also "Dive Friends" in Bonaire and they offer 2 tank shore dives. http://www.divefriendsbonaire.com/

However when I last visited Bonaire on HAL they offered a 2 tank boat dive to Klien (island) Bonaire, it was great. So I have to look back inn my records, and see whom I dove with there.

My first time diving in Aruba I got stuck diving in 40 feet of water on some played out wreck (I think the Antilla?) or some crumbled German submarine. Anyway, the next 2 times in Aruba I just went down the road from the cruise dock right to the marina and got much better diving with some other company. I have to go back into my records to see if they are still in existence.

Lastly regarding Jamaica I have made many trips there and have dove all around the island. My favorite area was off Port Antonio on the north east corner of the island. Negril is a close second. Jamaica is the poster child for banning fish traps. Still, I have to get in the water in Ocho Rios so I will keep digging.

Any further info would be great.

Thanks,

Cea

A quick follow up is that I am looking for SCUBA excursion vendors (and potential dive buddies) in the following ports:

Ocho Rios Jamaica

Grand Cayman

Aruba

Bonaire

Curacao

Preferably two tank boat dives in every port.

NCL JADE 11/27/17

I understand that they changed the itinerary for this cruise. We booked 10/31/17 so the Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and the ABC's were part of my original booking. What is freaking me out is that the shore excursions for this trip are being hastily put together and offer NO SCUBA diving. SCUBA diving in EVERY port of call is my reason for booking any cruise. Any fellow SCUBA divers on this trip suffering with a similar problem?

I have called the NCL Shore excursions department, and told them I don't want to pet stingrays, or zip line anywhere, or drive around on an ATV. I only want to go SCUBA diving in every port... crickets.

Since I get a "double stacked" $50 + $50 benefit for shore excursion in every port this is the main reason I booked this cruise.

HELP