KatieMac
Contributor
Hi all, I just got back from sailing with Carnival Glory - Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and Cozumel and thought I would do a quick review.
I took excursions through the ship in Grand Cayman, Belize and Cozumel and booked myself in Roatan.
Grand Cayman - did the Kittiwake and reef dive. Cayman Diving was a professional dive op. I enjoyed the Kittiwake dive although the reef dive afterwards (Vet School) was a bit boring. There must be better dive sites than this one. They should also have the reef dive before the Kittiwake - many hadn't been diving in a while and could have used the first dive to get used to the water again before penetrating the wreck. Kittiwake is a very easy penetration. I didn't rent gear but our friend did. They had quality gear and our friend was happy to have integrated weights instead of a weight belt. Many in the group were low on air after 30 minutes. The DM sent them for their safety and back to the boat then continued the dive (both times) with myself and another diver who still had plenty of air. No time after the dive to enjoy Grand Cayman. Would be worth the money if they had the Kittiwake as the second dive and the had a better dive site for the "reef" dive.
Dives
Kittiwake: 69 feet/37 min
Vet School: 45 feet/47 min
Belize - did the Turneffe Atoll two tank dive. The dive boat picked us up at and returned us to the ship. Dive shop was Aqua Scuba from San Pedro. The boat broke down (one engine) and it took us almost twice as long to get to the reef. My husband and my equipment was not set up correctly - low inflator hose not connection, tank safety strap not on mine, tank strap loose. We fixed it before going in the water. All the tanks were 2700-2800 (they said they consider 2700psi full). I "got lucky" on my second dive and got a tank with 3000 PSI (although I don't need it and wish it would have gone to one of the divers who was not as good on air). On each of the dives, a diver had their tank slip out. My husband and I fixed our friend's tank. Dive sites were about the most boring I have seen. I'm sure there are better ones in Belize. I'm sure there are better dive ops too. Not worth a penny IMHO.
Dives
May Ground: 71 feet/47 min
Minie Elbow: 64 feet/44 min
Cozumel - I can't remember the shop (maybe the Dive Shop or The Scuba Shop). If anybody knows the name of this shop, please let me know. I would dive with them again in a heartbeat. I have nothing but positive things to say about this - well almost. Great boat, great shop, professional DMs, fantastic dive sites. All the tanks were filled to 3200 psi or above. First dive was spectacular ... beautiful coral, lots of swimthroughs, lots of different sea life. Second dive was also amazing - sandy bottom, tiny coral outcrops, tons of little things to look at. But ... the excursion is about the last to leave the ship. Can't sample the local tequila before the dive and there was no time afterward. I literally got back on the ship wearing my wetsuit and BC and we were the last ones on board. Still worth every penny but I would prefer it be earlier in the day.
Dives
Palancar Gardens: 73 feet/51 min
Paradiso: 43 feet/56 min
Too late! I don't like that all their dive excursions leave later than most other trips. We were almost the last trip to go. This leaves no time to rinse gear or enjoy the port. By contrast, I booked my own diving in Roatan with our regular dive shop in West End. We left the ship very early - almost the first off. Met our van, got to West End, one in our group filled out all his forms, got his rental gear and then we went diving. We were in the water before the AKR excursion even left the ship (not a diss on AKR - they are a great op). We did a 59 and 57 minute dive in West End, the dive shop rinsed our gear and hung it to dry then we had time for lunch, a few beers, and a walk through the village - about 2 1/2 hours - before our van left to go back to the boat. And we got back with plenty of time to spare.
This was my first cruise ever. I loved being at sea but didn't like the line-ups and never went in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowded pool. The food in the dining room was excellent. The drinks expensive. I might do a cruise again to dive locations but only if they change the times of the excursions to earlier in the day. And I would never dive with Aqua Scuba/San Pedro again. One thing I learned from this trip - Cozumel diving is amazing and I hope somebody can tell me the name of the dive op because I'd like to book two weeks of diving with them.
I took excursions through the ship in Grand Cayman, Belize and Cozumel and booked myself in Roatan.
Grand Cayman - did the Kittiwake and reef dive. Cayman Diving was a professional dive op. I enjoyed the Kittiwake dive although the reef dive afterwards (Vet School) was a bit boring. There must be better dive sites than this one. They should also have the reef dive before the Kittiwake - many hadn't been diving in a while and could have used the first dive to get used to the water again before penetrating the wreck. Kittiwake is a very easy penetration. I didn't rent gear but our friend did. They had quality gear and our friend was happy to have integrated weights instead of a weight belt. Many in the group were low on air after 30 minutes. The DM sent them for their safety and back to the boat then continued the dive (both times) with myself and another diver who still had plenty of air. No time after the dive to enjoy Grand Cayman. Would be worth the money if they had the Kittiwake as the second dive and the had a better dive site for the "reef" dive.
Dives
Kittiwake: 69 feet/37 min
Vet School: 45 feet/47 min
Belize - did the Turneffe Atoll two tank dive. The dive boat picked us up at and returned us to the ship. Dive shop was Aqua Scuba from San Pedro. The boat broke down (one engine) and it took us almost twice as long to get to the reef. My husband and my equipment was not set up correctly - low inflator hose not connection, tank safety strap not on mine, tank strap loose. We fixed it before going in the water. All the tanks were 2700-2800 (they said they consider 2700psi full). I "got lucky" on my second dive and got a tank with 3000 PSI (although I don't need it and wish it would have gone to one of the divers who was not as good on air). On each of the dives, a diver had their tank slip out. My husband and I fixed our friend's tank. Dive sites were about the most boring I have seen. I'm sure there are better ones in Belize. I'm sure there are better dive ops too. Not worth a penny IMHO.
Dives
May Ground: 71 feet/47 min
Minie Elbow: 64 feet/44 min
Cozumel - I can't remember the shop (maybe the Dive Shop or The Scuba Shop). If anybody knows the name of this shop, please let me know. I would dive with them again in a heartbeat. I have nothing but positive things to say about this - well almost. Great boat, great shop, professional DMs, fantastic dive sites. All the tanks were filled to 3200 psi or above. First dive was spectacular ... beautiful coral, lots of swimthroughs, lots of different sea life. Second dive was also amazing - sandy bottom, tiny coral outcrops, tons of little things to look at. But ... the excursion is about the last to leave the ship. Can't sample the local tequila before the dive and there was no time afterward. I literally got back on the ship wearing my wetsuit and BC and we were the last ones on board. Still worth every penny but I would prefer it be earlier in the day.
Dives
Palancar Gardens: 73 feet/51 min
Paradiso: 43 feet/56 min
Too late! I don't like that all their dive excursions leave later than most other trips. We were almost the last trip to go. This leaves no time to rinse gear or enjoy the port. By contrast, I booked my own diving in Roatan with our regular dive shop in West End. We left the ship very early - almost the first off. Met our van, got to West End, one in our group filled out all his forms, got his rental gear and then we went diving. We were in the water before the AKR excursion even left the ship (not a diss on AKR - they are a great op). We did a 59 and 57 minute dive in West End, the dive shop rinsed our gear and hung it to dry then we had time for lunch, a few beers, and a walk through the village - about 2 1/2 hours - before our van left to go back to the boat. And we got back with plenty of time to spare.
This was my first cruise ever. I loved being at sea but didn't like the line-ups and never went in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowded pool. The food in the dining room was excellent. The drinks expensive. I might do a cruise again to dive locations but only if they change the times of the excursions to earlier in the day. And I would never dive with Aqua Scuba/San Pedro again. One thing I learned from this trip - Cozumel diving is amazing and I hope somebody can tell me the name of the dive op because I'd like to book two weeks of diving with them.
