Any recommendations, Grand Bahamas Freeport

[bourne81]

I'm headed to the Grand Bahamas Freeport in about a week for vacation. Do any of you have any recommendations of who to dive with and what dives to to go on? Thanks

 

[del_mo]

There are two wrecks that are pretty cool: Theo, which is deep, and my favorite, Sea Star. Crashed into a reef so you have the wreck and reef to investigate.

Shark Alley you will probably see some reef sharks.

I dove with Xanadu twice, would use them again. Others like Grand Bahama. Unless things have changed, Xanadu will pick you up and return you when YOU are done diving. GB will pick you up and return you when THEY are done diving (that's what the owned told me a couple of years ago).

 

[Tavi]

I'm headed to the Grand Bahamas Freeport in about a week for vacation. Do any of you have any recommendations of who to dive with and what dives to to go on? Thanks

My wife and I spend 2 weeks each year on Grand Bahama Island

We stay at Ocean Reef Yacht Club and Resort

We dive with Grand Bahama Scuba
Grand Bahama Scuba is on site at Ocean Reef. It's a short walk from our room to the boat. If you're staying elsewhere thy will pick you up and return you to your hotel after.

Fred and Melinda do an awesome job!! Fun and enjoyable diving at it's best

Call and reserve your spot!! I hear they've been very busy lately.

"Which dives to go on?"

All of them!! when we're there we do the 2 tank trip every morning. we're back by early afternoon which leaves plenty of time for topside activities. Sometimes we do an afternoon dive too.

Some of my favorites:
Theo's Wreck
Duncan's Wreck (Seastar II)
Shark Junction
Silver Reef (shallow, and one of the prettiest reefs there)
Gail's Grotto
Plate Reef
Tunnels
Pygmy Caves
Freebex (lots of Lionfish, sometimes a huge crab or a morey)
Badger/Papa Doc ( a small wreck and lots of coralheads to check out.)

Have a great time, and be sure to post a trip report when you get back!!

 

[G'Diddy]

I'm headed to the Grand Bahamas Freeport in about a week for vacation. Do any of you have any recommendations of who to dive with and what dives to to go on? Thanks

When the wife & I go we like to stay at Port Lucaya Resort and I always dive with UNEXSO. The resort is older, but it's clean & well maintained, & the people are great. We feel very much at home there. If you opt for a marina view room the scenery outside your balcony is wonderful (lots million dollar yachts). It's also walking distance from UNEXSO. UNEXSO's boats are set up so that even with 12 - 15 divers there's plenty of room. They are by no means cattle boats. In fact, one dat last week there were only 3 divers on oour boat. The staff is great and very knowledgeable. If you don't feel like schelpping your gear back & forth from the resort, UNEXSO has lockers they let you use for free and they provide the lock. There's also a "snak bar" there that has a full menu and is open for breakfast, as well as a pool. Our routine last week was my wife would walk over with me in the morning, order us breakfast while I checked in for that day's dives, then we'd eat, I'd go diving, she'd hang by the pool for a while, then got do whatever, and be back to meet me coming off the boat with an ice cold beer. Then after I rinsed and put my gear away, we'd hang by and use the pool for awhile then go have lunch and just chill the rest of the day. Obviously, we had a great relaxing week. When I dive with UNEXSO, I feel like I'm diving with friends. Thy're a big dive op with a small dive op feel.

Disclaimers:

1 - I've only dove with UNEXSO in Freeport so I can't compare them to other Freeport dive ops. However, I've never felt the need to try any others.

2 - We've stayed at Flamingo Bay in Taino Beach and at Island Palm downtown in addition to Port Lucaya Resort. We much prefer Port Lucaya to any of the others.

Hope this helps

 

[dcrmd]

I have been a frequent visitor to Freeport for the past 7 or 8 years, usually 3 to 4 trips per year. With so many choices in dive sites, you can find something that everyone loves; reefs, wrecks, sea life. Take your pick. I personally love Gail's Grotto for the swim through reefs and Shark Junction for the SHARKS. Last time I was there, just last month, there were over 20 sharks visiting with us at Shark Junction. It was Fabulous! I exculsively dive with Grand Bahama Scuba (GBS). They will pick you up, take you diving and then take you back to your hotel. They take care of everything. You bring your gear on day 1 and never have to touch it again except to put it on and take it off to dive and to take it home when you leave. They will set it up, take it apart, rinse it and store it each day for you. Unless of course you wish to handle it all personally, then all you have to do is tell them. Fred and Melinda take great pride in providing the best dive experience around. They have been rated the best dive operation on Grand Bahama Isalnd by Scuba Diving Magazine readers for the last 2 years. If you have any questions, drop them a line or give them a call. You can find their contact information on their website: www.grandbahamascuba.com.

Enjoy your visit to Freeport and let us know how it went.

 

[diverrex]

My wife and I spend 2 weeks each year on Grand Bahama Island

We stay at Ocean Reef Yacht Club and Resort

We dive with Grand Bahama Scuba
Grand Bahama Scuba is on site at Ocean Reef. It's a short walk from our room to the boat. If you're staying elsewhere thy will pick you up and return you to your hotel after.

when we're there we do the 2 tank trip every morning. we're back by early afternoon which leaves plenty of time for topside activities. Sometimes we do an afternoon dive too.

Beside hanging out by a pool what is there to do in Freeport topside? I'm not really into shopping or the casino. Are there restaurants or other activities close by Ocean Reef Yacht Club?

Grand Bahama Scuba sounds great. I hope to dive with Fred next March.

 

[Tavi]

Beside hanging out by a pool what is there to do in Freeport topside? I'm not really into shopping or the casino. Are there restaurants or other activities close by Ocean Reef Yacht Club?

Grand Bahama Scuba sounds great. I hope to dive with Fred next March.

Topside at the resort, they have games or activities daily. There are 2 small boats for rent if you want to go out fishing or boating on your own.

The resort does a beach run. (I think it's daily) where they will take you to the beach and pick you up later. There is one (sometimes 2) bar/restaurant(s) on site.

Port Lucaya is a short bus ride away the bus cost $1. In Port Lucaya there are LOTS of Bars and Restaurants, Lots of stores, the straw market, and the casino. There are Golf courses in the area, horseback riding, fishing, snorkeling, para sailing. I'm sure there is more I can't think of right now.

Take a day trip to Goldrock Beach. Go see the caves while your at that end of the island.
Garden of the Groves was a nice day trip, but I think it is still closed.

 

[TXRoss]

Rick:

We are considering taking this exact trip in May '09, so I really appreciate the info that you provided in this posting. Can you tell me if GBS tends to crowd their boats?

Thanks Much,
Roger

 

[Darnold9999]

Was there last Feb - exactly the opposite of crowded.

 

[Tavi]

How busy they are varies from week to week. Sometimes there are only a few on the boat, other times it's full. I know that they will turn divers away when the boat is full rather than overcrowding (It's best to make reservations!). I don't know how many divers it is, before that happens. Even with a full boat there's plenty of room.

Have a great trip!!

We'll be arriving there tomorrow for 2 weeks!!

Rick:

We are considering taking this exact trip in May '09, so I really appreciate the info that you provided in this posting. Can you tell me if GBS tends to crowd their boats?

Thanks Much,
Roger