DivingDoc
Contributor
Where do I find great diving and accommodations in the Bahamas? Any suggestions?
Bahama Diving -recommendations?
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I can't give you a comparison because we haven't been anywhere else in the Bahamas.
When my wife and I go to Freeport Grand Bahama we stay at Ocean Reef Yacht Club & Resort. We dive with Grand Bahama Scuba. They are right on site at the resort.
We really like it there!
we'll be back there in 26 days!
When my wife and I go to Freeport Grand Bahama we stay at Ocean Reef Yacht Club & Resort. We dive with Grand Bahama Scuba. They are right on site at the resort.
We really like it there!
we'll be back there in 26 days! scorpionfish
Guest
If price is no object, consider the following:
Stay at the Atlantis on Paradise Island; and while you are there be sure to see their aquarium because it is fantastic.
Then do your dives with Custom Aquatics:
http://www.divecustomaquatics.com/specials.html
Fran and Monty charter their boat for $350 a day and up to 4 divers are accomdated nicely. They will take you to nice dive sites and give you personally guided tours of each.
For grand dining, give Chez Willie's a try, but you must dress "properly".
Finally, for a little thrill, do Stuart Cove's Shark Adventure shark dive. It is a nice experience if you do not mind being accused (or accursed) of being politically incorrect! Oh yes, I do not recommend Stuart Cove for any other diving: his service on "regular dives" ranges from being poor to very poor.
Scorpionfish
Stay at the Atlantis on Paradise Island; and while you are there be sure to see their aquarium because it is fantastic.
Then do your dives with Custom Aquatics:
http://www.divecustomaquatics.com/specials.html
Fran and Monty charter their boat for $350 a day and up to 4 divers are accomdated nicely. They will take you to nice dive sites and give you personally guided tours of each.
For grand dining, give Chez Willie's a try, but you must dress "properly".
Finally, for a little thrill, do Stuart Cove's Shark Adventure shark dive. It is a nice experience if you do not mind being accused (or accursed) of being politically incorrect! Oh yes, I do not recommend Stuart Cove for any other diving: his service on "regular dives" ranges from being poor to very poor.
Scorpionfish
This goes kind of hand in hand with scorpionfish's idea of money not being an object...
We went down there in March and stayed at Sandals. Scuba diving is included in the price of the resort as they have their own dive operation and boat. You get 2 dives a day (morning dives)...just walk down to the dock in the AM and catch the boat. All gear is provided except wetsuits, which you can rent for $10. They will also do night dives or custom type excursions for an extra charge. Since Sandals doesn't dive on Sundays, we dove with Stuart Cove's that day...they pick you up from your resort/hotel in a bus.
We went down there in March and stayed at Sandals. Scuba diving is included in the price of the resort as they have their own dive operation and boat. You get 2 dives a day (morning dives)...just walk down to the dock in the AM and catch the boat. All gear is provided except wetsuits, which you can rent for $10. They will also do night dives or custom type excursions for an extra charge. Since Sandals doesn't dive on Sundays, we dove with Stuart Cove's that day...they pick you up from your resort/hotel in a bus.
blawler1
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Both Freeport and Nassau are fun dive destinations with plenty of top side diversions.
Nassau is a bustling city with lots of shopping and Paradise Island (where Atlantis is located) is a very ritsy area with great beaches and plenty of upscale eateries. The Atlantis is a one of a kind resort with the spectacular water park and aquarium, as well as a lavish mall and the biggest casino this side of Vegas.
There are also number of other outstanding resorts and hotels including my favorite, the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau.
While it is a big operation, I like Stuart Cove's, but it may be because I stick to the specialty dives. The DPV wall flying dives take a maximum 6 divers to reefs along the 6000 ft deep trench "Tongue of the Ocean". Needless to say it is an adventure and almost guaranteed to include numerous shark encounters.
Freeport is the other major tourist destination with a significant dive infrastructure. There are basically two areas of tourist activity, one in Freeport near the International Bazaar (home of the islands only casino) and Port Lucaya (shopping, food and bar district with open air bandstand nightly entertainment). Its a little more laid back than Nassau in general and there are much fewer nice resorts to choose from. The major resort on the island is Our Lucaya in Port Lucaya.
The diving is usually very good in Grand Bahama and shark dives are local specialty. My personal experience has been with Xanadu and Caribbean Divers. Both are good operations with their own strengths. CD is basically a two man operation that leaves out of Port Lucaya which is closest to many of the dive sites. They don't offer nitrox and sometimes cater some to resort divers (make afternoon trip a one tank 20' dive instead of a two tank 50' to 60' trip)
Xanadu, located in the Xanadu resort marina near Freeport, on the other hand runs more trips, and offers nitrox (I don't recommend the Xanadu hotel as it is a little run down) While the dive operation is staffed with highly qualified instructors and run the best shark dives I've been on (the hyponotize the sharks by rubbing their snouts) their boats are somewhat suspect and subject to the occasional mechanical failure.
I have heard many good things about Grand Bahama Scuba, but I have no personal experience with them, although I understand that they offer nitrox and will pick you up from your resort.
Also, I have heard quite a bit about the diving off of Bimini, although I have not made the trip yet. It is a little more difficult to get to as only the Chalk seaplanes are currently offering service from FLL and the ony major topside activity is bar hopping.
Nassau is a bustling city with lots of shopping and Paradise Island (where Atlantis is located) is a very ritsy area with great beaches and plenty of upscale eateries. The Atlantis is a one of a kind resort with the spectacular water park and aquarium, as well as a lavish mall and the biggest casino this side of Vegas.
There are also number of other outstanding resorts and hotels including my favorite, the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau.
While it is a big operation, I like Stuart Cove's, but it may be because I stick to the specialty dives. The DPV wall flying dives take a maximum 6 divers to reefs along the 6000 ft deep trench "Tongue of the Ocean". Needless to say it is an adventure and almost guaranteed to include numerous shark encounters.
Freeport is the other major tourist destination with a significant dive infrastructure. There are basically two areas of tourist activity, one in Freeport near the International Bazaar (home of the islands only casino) and Port Lucaya (shopping, food and bar district with open air bandstand nightly entertainment). Its a little more laid back than Nassau in general and there are much fewer nice resorts to choose from. The major resort on the island is Our Lucaya in Port Lucaya.
The diving is usually very good in Grand Bahama and shark dives are local specialty. My personal experience has been with Xanadu and Caribbean Divers. Both are good operations with their own strengths. CD is basically a two man operation that leaves out of Port Lucaya which is closest to many of the dive sites. They don't offer nitrox and sometimes cater some to resort divers (make afternoon trip a one tank 20' dive instead of a two tank 50' to 60' trip)
Xanadu, located in the Xanadu resort marina near Freeport, on the other hand runs more trips, and offers nitrox (I don't recommend the Xanadu hotel as it is a little run down) While the dive operation is staffed with highly qualified instructors and run the best shark dives I've been on (the hyponotize the sharks by rubbing their snouts) their boats are somewhat suspect and subject to the occasional mechanical failure.
I have heard many good things about Grand Bahama Scuba, but I have no personal experience with them, although I understand that they offer nitrox and will pick you up from your resort.
Also, I have heard quite a bit about the diving off of Bimini, although I have not made the trip yet. It is a little more difficult to get to as only the Chalk seaplanes are currently offering service from FLL and the ony major topside activity is bar hopping.
xtarheel
Guest
I dove with Stuart Cove on New Providence Island in August. I thought he ran a very professional operation. Would definetely dive with his company again.
vanshook
Registered
We just got back from Nassau and stayed at the Comfort Suites on Paradise Island. It is across the street from Atlantis and they give you a pass to use all of Atlantis' facilities. Only about $160.00 per night compared to $250+ at Atlantis.
As for Diving we went with Stuart Cove's. Good operation. We did the shark dive too! Not to be missed in my opinion. Check out my web sit for my dive log and pictures at www.shookster.com.
Hope you have a great time
JS
As for Diving we went with Stuart Cove's. Good operation. We did the shark dive too! Not to be missed in my opinion. Check out my web sit for my dive log and pictures at www.shookster.com.
Hope you have a great time
JS
caymaniac
Contributor
I would try the Exumas, or San Salvador, if you want better diving. I've been to both Nassau and Freeport a couple of times and that was about enough. Why don't you go a little bit farther and go to Turks and Caicos for some really good diving, also Provo has some good restaurants.
Dive Safe,
Caymaniac
Dive Safe,
Caymaniac
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