Operator recommendations: Antigua, Dominica, Barbados

[BigDaddyGlad]

I've got an 11-day cruise coming up in December with stops in St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica & St. Kitts . I've got dive shops in some of those which I've used before, but I'm looking for recommendations for Antigua, Dominica and Barbados. I understand the cruise terminals might not be close to the diving sites, so operators would need to be accustomed to dealing with cruise passengers.

Whatcha got?

 

[Wants2divemore]

I like Antigua Scuba School. Here's my brief review from when I dove with them Jan 29, 2023.

Trip Report Thread 'Antigua Scuba School - Antigua'

Feb 5, 2023

I was in Antigua on Jan 29th on a cruise and dove with ASS.

Bottom line: Good experience, would dive with again.

Meeting location: Jolly Harbour (25 minute taxi ride from cruise pier).

Boat: 6 divers max, covered deck area, no restroom.

Briefing: Covered boat safety and dive plan.

Dive sites dove (they have many different ones, decide which ones to dive the day of):
Lobster ledge: Reef dive with lots of marine life, 70’ depth
Coral alley: Reef dive with lots of marine life, 50’ depth

Dives: Group dive of 6 divers with 2 guides. No buddies established, just everyone stayed somewhat...

• Wants2divemore
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Lesser Antilles

• 

 

[jonhall]

Whatcha got?

Not sure that any op in Antigua has transportation included in their package and dive ops aren't near the cruise ships. The closest dive ops from the cruise ship pier are in Jolly Harbor, which is about a 20-25 minute taxi ride (about 6 ½ miles.)

Indigo Divers was good with communication. Even though there is a small office in the marina that doubles as tour sales, Pats does all business through her cell phone, which is how I set all dives up. You meet at the boat which is docked close to a restaurant in the marina. Payment is made on the boat, which takes out a max of 8 divers - usually had 2 DMs on the boat.

Timewise, there shouldn't be a problem getting back to the cruise ship. I actually stayed near Jolly Harbor and there were cruise ship excursions near Jolly Beach (beach days) which were still going on when I returned from diving.

Contact info for Indigo Divers is below:

Indigo Divers – PADI Scuba Shop, Antigua

indigo-divers.com

info@indigo-divers.com
(268) 562-3483 (also WhatsApp)

 

[Wants2divemore]

One other thing is that Antigua doesn't observe daylight savings time. You should check to see if the port times are based on local time so you're not off by an hour.

 

[jmark18]

Barbados Blue will pick you up and return you to the dock. Message Oschelle on their Whats App number

 

[Altamira]

One other thing is that Antigua doesn't observe daylight savings time. You should check to see if the port times are based on local time so you're not off by an hour.

The OP's cruise is in December, so DST is not going to be a factor.

 

[TNEngineer]

Another vote for Barbados Blue. The one downside is big dive boats that they will fully pack. But they were pretty comfortable with us roaming as a buddy team a bit separated from the teeming hordes. Good shop, will return!

 

[yle]

I've got an 11-day cruise coming up in December with stops in St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica & St. Kitts . I've got dive shops in some of those which I've used before, but I'm looking for recommendations for Antigua, Dominica and Barbados. I understand the cruise terminals might not be close to the diving sites, so operators would need to be accustomed to dealing with cruise passengers.

Whatcha got?

Went out with Barbados Blue some years ago, on a cruise stop. Everything was good, no complaints. But the next time (I've been to Barbados on cruise ships around eight times, always diving) I found Roger's Scuba Shack and have been using him since. What I like about Roger's:
--- very relaxed atmosphere, everyone is welcoming and friendly
--- they'll pick you up and drop you off at the cruise terminal, always been great with this
--- they're a bit closer to the cruise terminal than Barbados Blue
--- the crew, the boat, the dives... everything was A+
--- Roger runs the show and has been doing it for 40 (?) years

You didn't ask, but if you're interested in St Kitts... been there about as many times, on cruise ship stops, always dived with Austen at Pro Divers. It's his shop, he guides the dives (at least he was always our guide) and he's been doing it (like Roger in Barbados) for decades. Their shop is right next to the cruise port... just about walkable, but Austen always drove us back and forth anyway.

Also didn't ask, but St Lucia... my favorite of all these islands for diving. I have always used Dive Fair Helen and they have always been 100%. Been there a bunch of times on a cruise ship, spent a week on St Lucia this past January diving with DFH for the week.

 

[TNEngineer]

Also didn't ask, but St Lucia... my favorite of all these islands for diving. I have always used Dive Fair Helen and they have always been 100%. Been there a bunch of times on a cruise ship, spent a week on St Lucia this past January diving with DFH for the week.

Oh my gosh, St. Lucia. In our top three for diving spots and the diving experience. Maybe our top two. Might be number one. Seriously, it's awesome.

If anyone goes to the south end of the island, my very highest recommendation goes to Chester at Action Adventure Divers. He and his brother started AAD years ago and Chester is the icing on the St. Lucia cake. We'd never met him before but after just two dives we were hugging each other like family.

Their dive boat is... unconventional. My wife has modest mobility issues and at first I was very concerned. But Chester has this dialed in, and AAD is one of her very favorite diving experiences. The fun factor is off the charts and the sights and colors you will see are rivaled only by what we've heard about the Coral Triangle. It's been a couple of years since we were there but we're due for a 1-2 week visit.

Disclaimer: No affiliation except as 110% thrilled customers.

aadivers.net
info@aadivers.net
+1-758-459-5599

 

[BigDaddyGlad]

Went out with Barbados Blue some years ago, on a cruise stop. Everything was good, no complaints. But the next time (I've been to Barbados on cruise ships around eight times, always diving) I found Roger's Scuba Shack and have been using him since. What I like about Roger's:
--- very relaxed atmosphere, everyone is welcoming and friendly
--- they'll pick you up and drop you off at the cruise terminal, always been great with this
--- they're a bit closer to the cruise terminal than Barbados Blue
--- the crew, the boat, the dives... everything was A+
--- Roger runs the show and has been doing it for 40 (?) years

You didn't ask, but if you're interested in St Kitts... been there about as many times, on cruise ship stops, always dived with Austen at Pro Divers. It's his shop, he guides the dives (at least he was always our guide) and he's been doing it (like Roger in Barbados) for decades. Their shop is right next to the cruise port... just about walkable, but Austen always drove us back and forth anyway.

Also didn't ask, but St Lucia... my favorite of all these islands for diving. I have always used Dive Fair Helen and they have always been 100%. Been there a bunch of times on a cruise ship, spent a week on St Lucia this past January diving with DFH for the week.

Thanks for the reply! We finalized our bookings with these operators:
- St. Maarten : Dive Sint Maarten
- Antigua : Dive Carib
- St. Lucia : Dive St. Lucia (Scuba Steve)
- Barbados : Barbados Blue
- Dominica : Dive Dominica
- St. Kitts : Pro Divers

My dive buddy has previously used Scuba Steve on St. Lucia and Pro Divers on St. Kitts, so those two were already sorted away. I'm super excited and looking forward to this dive-intensive cruise!