Which Ports to Dive?

[jdbmga]

Which of the following ports have good diving?

 

Belize, Costa Maya, Nassau, Cozumel

[Falele]

Want to go down holding onto the anchor line, then everybody let go at once, and you are off, drift diving. Too much fun!:)

[gmcrow]

Haven't done Costa Maya, but the other three are fantastic.

http://www.cruisedivers.blogspot.com

[tootsiescurly]

Costa Maya is really a cool place to dive. Pretty much untouched before the hurricane last year.

[bruce-r]

Want to go down holding onto the anchor line, then everybody let go at once, and you are off, drift diving. Too much fun!:)

 

What are you talking about? In Cozumel, none of the boats anchor anytime during a dive.

[BuzzF117]

What are you talking about? In Cozumel, none of the boats anchor anytime during a dive.

 

 

Yeah I would agree thats how I learned to drift dive the boat dropped us off on three seperate groups then we drifted for about 50 min then surfaced and waited as a group for the boat to pick up the groups. We waited 5 min max for the boat to get us they threw out a trailing line for everybody to hang onto while waiting to board. Its a fun way to dive but because you weren't working hard on the dive I got cold with just a 3 mil shorty DM wore 3 mil full with a hood I knew I was gonna have a problem when I saw that.

[jdbmga]

We dove with Alison in Cozumel and will again next year.

 

Who should we dive with in Nassau, Costa Maya and Belize?

 

Thanks in advance. :)

[suzski]

We dove with Hugh Parkey in Belize...top notch organization, great equipment, excellent service. Just can't say enough positive about their class act.

[jdbmga]

We dove with Hugh Parkey in Belize...top notch organization, great equipment, excellent service. Just can't say enough positive about their class act.

 

Thanks, suzski. Can you share more details? Where did you meet him? Did you have to take a taxi? How much did it cost, etc?

[suzski]

You have to tender in Belize, and Hugh Parkey's was the CCL tour operator so we simply stepped off the brow and onto their boat....it was about 30 -45 minutes from there to the Cay where we got our dive gear and were divided into groups, and then another 30 min or so to the first site.

 

The groups were small, gear in good shape, dive leaders pointed out lots of interesting items, and there were employees on the boat that switched out our gear for the 2nd dive while we enjoyed a delicious, home-made lunch. Although I only have about 25 recreational dives under my belt, my husband has hundreds (he's a Navy diver) and we both agreed that this was the best dive operator either one of us has had.

[diverearl]

1. Catch the first tender possible to Belize City.

2. Taxi over to Municipal Airport (not Belize International it cost double to be on the same plane)

3. Fly Tropic Air to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye (Pre Booked over the Internet)

4. Dive Tackle Box or 30 other great dive sights with Ambergris Divers (Pre Booked over the Internet)

5. Eat a very good lunch at Caliente's, by the dive shop right on the beach

6. Fly back to Municipal Airport on Tropic Air (they will stay under 1000 feet if you tell the pilot you have just been diving) (be sure to stress this fact)

7. Taxi back to Cruise Ship Pier

8. Tender back to ship and have a nice trip

 

I have done all three dives available on a cruise ship at this port and by far this is our favorite day. All three options cost about $150.00 per diver

 

A few more trip options (dive operators / airlines / places to eat - ect) details available if you want just ask.

[jdbmga]

Thanks, diverearl.

 

I would appreciate a few more trip options :)

 

There are 4 of us. Myself, DH, and our 2 children. I know diving is expensive in Belize but don't really want to spend $600 if we could spend a little less.

 

Thanks in advance.

[diverearl]

Thanks, diverearl. I would appreciate a few more trip options :)

There are 4 of us. Myself, DH, and our 2 children. I know diving is expensive in Belize but don't really want to spend $600 if we could spend a little less. Thanks in advance.

 

Sorry, but there are really only three ways (that I'm aware of) to dive from a cruise ship in Belize. The dive offered by the ship, there are a couple of dive operators in Belize City or Fly over to Ambergris Caye. The only way I know of to save a little money would be to take the water taxi Belize City to Ambergris. It would take way to long for the time you will have in port. The kids do fly a little cheaper, but $150.00 per diver is probably what it will cost at this port either way you go. If we needed to pick I would pass the dive at Belize for a lot cheaper (and better in my opinion) dive in Cozumel ($300.00 or less for 4 divers) http://www.tropicair.com/reservations/FlightSchedule.cfm .

 

Belize is just an expensive dive day, but a great story at the end of it.

[KaC-Cruiser]

We've done all 3 ways of diving in Belize - we did the ship excursion (Hugh Parkey's) when we were limited on time in port; we've booked with Sea Sports Belize where you tender in and walk a few blocks to the dive shop when time wasn't an issue (they dropped us back directly at the ship); and then we've done the taxi to the airport-fly to Ambergris Caye, etc. (Actually we went with Earl a few years ago - and it was a BLAST!) Not sure what the ship is charging - I think it was around $125 or so a few years back, Sea Sports Belize shows a rate of $110, and they include lunch. As Earl pointed out, diving in Belize is not cheap, and for the price Cozumel is some of the best diving you'll find.

 

I think if I had no restrictions - money or time, I would choose flying to Ambergris Caye as #1; Sea Sports Bealize as #2; and the ship excursion-Hugh Parkey as #3. If it was $$ restrictions, I'd go woth Sea sports. All three were good diving, but the downside to Hugh Parkey was it was a logn boat ride out to the atoll to dive.

 

http://www.seasportsbelize.com/cruiseshipdiving.html

 

(Hi Earl!!! Long time no hear!!)

[jdbmga]

We are in Belize from 8-5, not sure if that is considered time restricted or not, especially considering the 2 hr. time difference.

[jdbmga]

Thank you all for your posts. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain my options. It's very confusing.

[diverearl]

http://www.seasportsbelize.com/cruiseshipdiving.html

 

Good to see Sea Sports is charging less for their dives, when Teri and I went with them our first time in Belize on a cruise ship it cost $300.00 and left a bad impression for us - for $220 two divers I'd do it again if time or money were the key factors. The dive sights were good, the crew was great as were the food & snacks and the boat was fast and very clean.

 

Just felt the cost was extreme for the trip but at that time there were very few choices to dive out of Belize City. Also back then they were allowed to drop us off at the cruise ship so it made for a nice end to the day.

 

(Hi Earl!!! Long time no hear!!)

 

K1, really good to see you on the boards. Now I can take a break from posting and let you answer these questions ;) . I feel guilty if I don't try to help a little after being helped here so many times.

 

Do Alan and you have any trips coming up or are you looking? email us if you get a chance

[diverearl]

We are in Belize from 8-5, not sure if that is considered time restricted or not, especially considering the 2 hr. time difference.

 

This will be plenty of time to do any of the choices offered. With the fly in you would contact a dive operation http://www.ambergrisdivers.com/diving.html for a confirmation and they will work with your group. Then make a flight reservation (9:30am) on line to hold the seats. There are a couple of airlines (Tropical Air http://www.tropicair.com/index.cfm & Mayan Air https://www.mayaislandair.com/src_fl.asp ) at municipal (which is usually half the cost of the International Airport flights) and everyone will be on the same plane from both airports. I would book a return flight around the 3:00pm area. Be sure to stress to the airline and to the pilot you have just been diving and altitude is a real factor.

 

If you are early for either flight you can usually get a seat on the earlier flight. One thing I like is No payment required in advance for anything on this day.

[jdbmga]

Wow! Thanks for all your help diverearl. I will look in to all of the choices and then decide

 

Thanks again. Your help is very much appreciated!

[heydn62]

Hey Debbie,

 

You can e-mail me if you like as this is a bit off topic for this thread.

 

Did you end up diving in the Caymans on your cruise in July? I remember you were looking at some of the same options I was a few months back. We're somewhat limited because my son is 11 and we won't go below 40 ft. This will be our first chance at a "fun" dive since our certification back in April.

 

Hope you had a great trip and would love to hear more about your dives. We're using Alison in Cozumel as well.

 

email is my user name at yahoo.

[w&k]

The first time we stopped in Belize, we went with Hugh Parkey's and the ship, which was pretty nice, but a long, sweaty ride.

 

The second time heading to Belize, the ship cancelled the dive about three months out. I did some looking and found Linda and John at SeaSports Belize. http://www.seasportsbelize.com/welcome.html The third trip west, we went straight back to SeaSports. Hands down winner.

 

In Cozumel, we did the ship's dive with Sand Dollar once, which was enough (moo!!!) We then found Christy and the crew at BlueXTSea, and went back a second time and brought friends. http://www.bluextseadiving.com/

 

Since then, we've been able to make the longer, southern itineraries, but hope to get back on the west side next year.

 

We missed our stop in Costa Maya, but were scheduled to dive with Dreamtime.

 

In Nassau, Stuart's Cove is pretty much the only game in town (moo, and 30 minute time limit!!!). Personally, I would pass if you don't have the option to do the afternoon shark dive.

 

Have a great trip wherever you dive!

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith

 

website

http://www.freewebs.com/wendyandkeith

[KaC-Cruiser]

We dove with Alison in Cozumel and will again next year.

 

We're using Alison in Cozumel as well.

 

We've been diving with Alison since 2004 .... love her to death! :D Won't get to see her again till next March...:(

[jdbmga]

The first time we stopped in Belize, we went with Hugh Parkey's and the ship, which was pretty nice, but a long, sweaty ride.

 

The second time heading to Belize, the ship cancelled the dive about three months out. I did some looking and found Linda and John at SeaSports Belize. http://www.seasportsbelize.com/welcome.html The third trip west, we went straight back to SeaSports. Hands down winner.

 

In Cozumel, we did the ship's dive with Sand Dollar once, which was enough (moo!!!) We then found Christy and the crew at BlueXTSea, and went back a second time and brought friends. http://www.bluextseadiving.com/

 

Since then, we've been able to make the longer, southern itineraries, but hope to get back on the west side next year.

 

We missed our stop in Costa Maya, but were scheduled to dive with Dreamtime.

 

In Nassau, Stuart's Cove is pretty much the only game in town (moo, and 30 minute time limit!!!). Personally, I would pass if you don't have the option to do the afternoon shark dive.

 

Have a great trip wherever you dive!

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith

 

website

www.freewebs.com/wendyandkeith

 

 

Thank you for all this wonderful information! It is greatly appreciated.

[bruce-r]

In Cozumel, we did the ship's dive with Sand Dollar once, which was enough (moo!!!) We then found Christy and the crew at BlueXTSea, and went back a second time and brought friends. http://www.bluextseadiving.com/

Christi really does provide excellent customer service along with those little extras that make a dive trip that much better.

[jdbmga]

Christi really does provide excellent customer service along with those little extras that make a dive trip that much better.

 

What type of "little extras" does Christi provide?