leo
Contributor
I posted the following in the cruise section, but since so many members probably never check that thread and my post is only partially cruise-related, I thought I'd post my questions here, also...
I am going on a NCL (Norweigian Dawn) cruise for non-diving reasons, but I want to get a dive or two in while I'm traveling. I'm looking for recommendations on which places to dive, dive ops, and dive sites, given the following details. Ports of call are the following:
Samana, DR
St. Thomas, USVI
Tortola, BVI
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
While there is only me and another diver, I hope to put a small group together (via the larger group we're joining within our cruise, or cruisecritic, or here?). My preference is small boats, 6-8 divers - no cattle boats. Thus, I'm obviously not going to dive with the cruise dives, the NCL-sponsored excursions. So, I'll need a dive op that will fit into the port-of-call routine (pick-up/drop-off at cruise dock, work within the small window of visit hours, etc.).
1. Other than Tortola, if I want to dive two or three days, which locations should I choose? No need to comment on whether to dive Tortola or not, it's obviously at the top of this lame list and the Rhone is obviously one of the top sites given these options. The only question is which op is my best choice, given my preference for small boats and my cruise restrictions (and that I want to max my bottom time as opposed to having to surface because some beginners have used all their air).
2. I've read everything posted on Samana within two years here (ebuzo posted some helful info), but I'm still left wondering if diving Samana makes number 2 on the list, and allows for a non-NCL dive op??
3. St. Thomas probably is an option, and I've already learned by reading posts here that Blue Island or Admiralty are good choices and Sawyer probably isn't (since I like small boats, and given my cruise restrictions). And, of course, I WON'T DIVE COKI BEACH. Would St. Thomas make #2 on this list, and what's the dive site and dive op recommendations?
4. I believe Great Stirrup is a private island, if so I would have no non-NCL dive options - only their excursions. Now, once I did a Stuart's Cove dive as a RCL-sponsored dive excursion, and although I paid a premium it was an awesome day of diving (on a cattle boat)... so maybe I might consider this stop for diving if I learn the sites there are awesome (but I've heard there's no good diving there?). Of course, I'll have to check with cruisecritic...
On a side-question, I might want to choose to snorkel with some nondiving friends. Do any of these locations offer a great snorkelling option? I'd get to spend some time with other friends... but if Tortola is the only good snorkelling location (The Baths?) I probably would replace my best dive option with snorkelling...
Thanks!!
I am going on a NCL (Norweigian Dawn) cruise for non-diving reasons, but I want to get a dive or two in while I'm traveling. I'm looking for recommendations on which places to dive, dive ops, and dive sites, given the following details. Ports of call are the following:
Samana, DR
St. Thomas, USVI
Tortola, BVI
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
While there is only me and another diver, I hope to put a small group together (via the larger group we're joining within our cruise, or cruisecritic, or here?). My preference is small boats, 6-8 divers - no cattle boats. Thus, I'm obviously not going to dive with the cruise dives, the NCL-sponsored excursions. So, I'll need a dive op that will fit into the port-of-call routine (pick-up/drop-off at cruise dock, work within the small window of visit hours, etc.).
1. Other than Tortola, if I want to dive two or three days, which locations should I choose? No need to comment on whether to dive Tortola or not, it's obviously at the top of this lame list and the Rhone is obviously one of the top sites given these options. The only question is which op is my best choice, given my preference for small boats and my cruise restrictions (and that I want to max my bottom time as opposed to having to surface because some beginners have used all their air).
2. I've read everything posted on Samana within two years here (ebuzo posted some helful info), but I'm still left wondering if diving Samana makes number 2 on the list, and allows for a non-NCL dive op??
3. St. Thomas probably is an option, and I've already learned by reading posts here that Blue Island or Admiralty are good choices and Sawyer probably isn't (since I like small boats, and given my cruise restrictions). And, of course, I WON'T DIVE COKI BEACH. Would St. Thomas make #2 on this list, and what's the dive site and dive op recommendations?
4. I believe Great Stirrup is a private island, if so I would have no non-NCL dive options - only their excursions. Now, once I did a Stuart's Cove dive as a RCL-sponsored dive excursion, and although I paid a premium it was an awesome day of diving (on a cattle boat)... so maybe I might consider this stop for diving if I learn the sites there are awesome (but I've heard there's no good diving there?). Of course, I'll have to check with cruisecritic...
On a side-question, I might want to choose to snorkel with some nondiving friends. Do any of these locations offer a great snorkelling option? I'd get to spend some time with other friends... but if Tortola is the only good snorkelling location (The Baths?) I probably would replace my best dive option with snorkelling...
Thanks!!