Diving in Grand Turk or Nassau?

[suzski]

Will be doing our first cruise on the Carnival Fantasy, and will have the option to dive in Grand Turk or Nassau. However, since my mom and young daughter will also be on the trip, we didn't want to be separated from them during 2 of the 3 port visits. So.... if you could dive in only one of these ports, which would you choose?

 

Thanks SO much for your input!

[bruce-r]

No question in my mind, I'd dive Grand Turk, unless you are really interested in doing a shark feeding dive, then you'd want the bahamas.

[suzski]

Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like Grand Turk is the place to go!

[scubaran]

Hi,

 

Agreed, Grand Turk. Nassau has some nice reefs with a few fish but Grand Turk has a lot more variety.

 

Randall

[w&k]

I was quite disappointed in Nassau - the water was beautiful, but the coral was severely beat up, and the critters absent.

 

I would try it again, but only with a small operator...or I would definitely try a shark dive if DH had won enough in the casino.

 

Here is a link to my review of our December dive with Stuart's Cove. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=277392

 

Have a great time wherever you dive - and please write us a review to let us know how it went.

 

Wendy

[wnctarheel]

We just got off the elation and dove in grand turk and it had some off the best diving we have ever done, and this includes cozumel , belize and grand cayman. The coral was in the best shape we have seen.We dove with Sea Eye diving and was the only people on the boat, the ride to the site was only about a five min. trip.

[dabear]

does Sea Eye have a web site? Are they close to the cruise ship dock. We will be in GRand Turk only ffom 8 to 2 so perhaps we can squeeze a 1 tank dive in am

[bruce-r]

does Sea Eye have a web site? Are they close to the cruise ship dock.

There are 3 independent dive operators on the island:

 

http://seaeyediving.com/

http://www.grandturkscuba.com/

http://www.oasisdivers.com/ who does the cruise ship excursions but from what I have read, they keep the cruise divers separate from the divers staying on the island.

 

There is also a dive shop/hotel outfit a ways away from the cruise dock, but I can't remember the name at the moment.

 

Most all the dive sites are a very short boat ride away, many of them are wall dives, and most operators return to shore for the surface interval.

[suzski]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great info on Grand Turk. Should I book with Carnival, or go straight with an independent operation? I don't want to miss out on what will probably be the best diving of my life (so far only Jamaica and Cozumel) thus far.

[bruce-r]

Should I book with Carnival, or go straight with an independent operation?

The answer to that question will depend on the individual asking it. My personal preference is make my own arrangements, but that isn't for everyone.

 

I wrote a bit called The Pro's and Con's of going with the ship's dive excursion that might help you make up your own mind.