Advance scuba, Cayman, Roatan, Belize, Cozumel

[lvaligurska]

Hi everyone,

 

Me and my BF going on Valor, May 9 and would like to dive as much as possible, on each port.

We live in Florida so have dived many times Key Largo, but also dove in Maui, Kauai last year. We are advance certified divers I would like to know whom would you recomend to book on each of the ports.

We have our own gear which we will use. Where to store a wet diving gear after diving? In a cabin?

 

Thanks!

[bruce-r]

Hi everyone,

 

Me and my BF going on Valor, May 9 and would like to dive as much as possible, on each port.

We live in Florida so have dived many times Key Largo, but also dove in Maui, Kauai last year. We are advance certified divers I would like to know whom would you recomend to book on each of the ports.

I can only make personal recommendations for Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

 

GCM, either http://www.neptunesdivers.com and tell Casey that Bruce sent you or you can do several shore dives at the nearby Eden Rock or http://www.sunsethouse.com

 

In Cozumel, I recommend http://www.bluextseadiving.com Owner Christi is a personal friend. Excellent customer service, great dive operation.

 

I'd also consider using:

http://www.scubatony.com

http://www.living-underwater.com

http://www.scubawithalison.com

http://liquidbluedivers.com/

 

Getting to go with any of these small boat operators will depend on the time you are in port and how many land based divers they have the day you are in Cozumel. If the land based divers want an early departure, you might be out of luck as they get first choice.

 

 

 

 

We have our own gear which we will use. Where to store a wet diving gear after diving? In a cabin?

 

Thanks!

I guess you didn't get a balcony cabin. Here's what I'd do in your case. When you get back from the dives, go up on deck, wear the gear into one of the showers and rinse it all off. Then lay it out on some of the lounge chairs to dry, get a book to read, and have a beer or two while the gear dries. Then hang it in the shower when you take it back to the cabin.

[scorpluvsdolphins]

Hey Bruce,

What do you know about diving in St. Kitts, Samana and Antigua. I heard Antigua wasn't worth it????

Terri

[scubamargie]

We were on the Valor last October and loved diving all those ports. We just did a shore dive in Grand Cayman off the Lighthouse (Dive Tech site has info). It was so fun and cheap! In Roatan we took a taxi to Coco View Resort and did shore diving -- but sadly the shore diving there wasn't as good as it once was. Too much unrestricted development is covering the reef with junk. Still, we did see two seahorses. I would suggest just using the ship's excursion in Roatan because everyone who went on it gave it great reviews. We dove with Alison in Cozumel (always a treat) and did the ship's dive excursion in Belize just because the time is so tight and the tender into Belize City is a long one. The ship's excursion is pricey, but they pick you up right at the ship. They used Hugh Parkey (a very nice operator). Check out my blog ( http://cruiseshipdiving.blogspot.com/ ) for Cozumel pics and thoughts on storing your gear. Beware, some ships won't let you sit out on deck with your dive gear (although we didn't try it on the Valor because we had a balcony).

[scubamargie]

Hey Bruce,

What do you know about diving in St. Kitts, Samana and Antigua. I heard Antigua wasn't worth it????

Terri

 

Our experience in Antigua is that it is very expensive to take a taxi to the dive shop at Nelson's Dockyard and there really isn't a good operator (safe, dependable) near the port. We have used a few dive operators who picked us up at the port, and the diving was very nice, but I can't recommend them. :(

 

Diving in St. Kitts was pretty good -- we dove with Kenneth's Dive Center, but that's been a while ago.

[bruce-r]

Hey Bruce,

What do you know about diving in St. Kitts, Samana and Antigua. I heard Antigua wasn't worth it????

Terri

Since I have no personal experience at any of those places, and no friends who have dived there, I don't feel qualified to make any recommendations about those islands. Sorry.

[lvaligurska]

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your info.

I noticed your quote "Diving in Fiji was just FANTASTIC"

We are planning to go there this Sept. We have nothing book yet since I'm busy now to plan this May cruise.

What is your recomendations? How long is enough to be there? 12 days?

We were thinking to be 7 days in Fiji and then 7 days New Zeland? Any thoughts? thanks

[bruce-r]

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your info.

I noticed your quote "Diving in Fiji was just FANTASTIC"

We are planning to go there this Sept. We have nothing book yet since I'm busy now to plan this May cruise.

What is your recomendations? How long is enough to be there? 12 days?

We were thinking to be 7 days in Fiji and then 7 days New Zeland? Any thoughts? thanks

 

For Fiji, do you want to concentrate on diving? If you want the most number of high quality dives, I'd recommend a liveaboard. I went on the Naia and had a great time. The dive the Bligh waters (Captain Bligh) and it is arguably the best diving. Only one of two land based dive operators go there and only when they get enough divers to make the hour plus long trip to get there worthwhile.

 

If you want a land based trip, Beqa Lagoon gets good reviews, and offers a good package deal including air from LAX.

 

I did 3 days at http://www.wananavu.com/ and the Naia picked us up at the resort for 7 days of diving. I was part of a group that charted the whole boat so we could arrange that.

 

Aggressor also has a liveaboard in Fiji.

 

I'd do a liveaboard again, then I'd want to do a couple of days of land touring to see more of the island. 10 days would probably be enough.