Barbados

[Scotttyd]

Going to Barbados in June - not a dive exclusive trip, but gonna sneak out for a day or two of diving. Staying at Divi Southwinds resort - right off The Gap. Any advice for dives and dive ops?

I have been to Bonaire three times - just curious as to what type of life there is.

Also any other Barbados tips, for non-diving stuff?

 

[RICHinNC]

Hey Scotty....

Here are some trip reports and at the end is the email address for John Moore ......a great dive guide.

I hear that Angle's at Oistins has gone a little down hill but still a great fish fry to attend.

I am just down here in Raeford and if you would like to call and talk just give me a ring at 910-229-5111 about any time of day.

take care.....rich..

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/greater-caribbean-bermuda/160955-barbados-trip-2006-parts-1-2-a.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/greater-caribbean-bermuda/112910-barbados-trip-report-part-2-long-sucka.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/greater-caribbean-bermuda/112911-barbados-trip-report-part-1-long-sucka.html
http://www.harbourlightsbarbados.com/index2.htm
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/239310-here-some-info-barbados.html
majo@sunbeach.net is the email address for John

 

[ScubaSteve]

Going to Barbados in June - not a dive exclusive trip, but gonna sneak out for a day or two of diving. Staying at Divi Southwinds resort - right off The Gap. Any advice for dives and dive ops?

I have been to Bonaire three times - just curious as to what type of life there is.

Also any other Barbados tips, for non-diving stuff?

I just got back from the Divi Southwinds 4 days ago (second time there - third time on the island). It is a decent place. Barbados is fairly pricey IMO but not the worst. My 1 day of diving got fubar'd because of another so I cannot comment on that.......but I can say I enjoyed doing the following:

- Cool Running's Catamaran (sp?) afternoon/evening tour. Snorkelling, dinner, drinks, dancing etc.
- Island Safari's Island Jeep tour. I would have preferred a similar tour where it was me, my fiance and the driver only but could not find one.
- Friday night you have to go to Oistins Fish Fry. It is a huge locals party apparently (it poured rain on my Friday so we could not go)
- We took a local's bus from Divi to Speightson for lunch and snorkelling. That was fun @ $2 bajan ($1 USD) pax per direction

 

[Scotttyd]

At Divi - haven't decided if pool view, garden view, or beach front (older?). What do you suggest? Or can I do their "run of the house" and pay for a garden view and get a pool view since this is not the high season?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Actually I was told the beach units were the ones that were most recently renovated. My father has a timeshare with Divi and has been going there for 25 years now. I did not see the beach units but it sounded like they had good and bad things to say about them. The pool/garden view units are a bit older but fairly good none the less. One or two of them have huge issues (I was there with 7 other couples and 2 of them had to switch rooms. The resort was not overly busy so you might be able to get an upgraded room for Garden cost.

The beach there is a bit rough to swim off for smaller people but I enjoyed it. You will be on The St. Lawrence Gap and there is a some really good restaurants. I personally enjoyed the "Oriental food upstairs" which is left onto The Gap and just past the Jade Oriental restaurant.

MOST IMPORTANT!!!!! Happy hour is from 12-1 and 5-6 (or 6-7 - I do not remember which).

Be prepared....they charge an arm, a leg and 3 internal organs for internet ($52 / week). I am going to PM you a catch all username and password that might still work in June.

 

[Scotttyd]

thanks for the info - got it.

I called them two days ago and they said the beach front ones are not renovated - the "inland" ones were done in 2007 (before cricket world cup).

is barbados a place I can rent a jeep and just explore island on my own with my girlfriend?? Probably ride bus, but one day would love to go out on my own

 

[ScubaSteve]

I called them two days ago and they said the beach front ones are not renovated......

They should know better than anybody. When my father tells me a story, it is in his time and it sounded like it was more recent. Sorry for any confusion.

.......the "inland" ones were done in 2007 (before cricket world cup).

I had a Garden view (319) room and if it was renovated 5 years ago, then it has been "well used" ever since. The room was nice enough and comfortable enough. Water Pressure was non-existent but everything seemed to work as it was supposed to.

is barbados a place I can rent a jeep and just explore island on my own with my girlfriend?? Probably ride bus, but one day would love to go out on my own

I darn near did this. I was told it is safe to do so and from everything I saw, the drivers are very good there. At no point did I "fear for my life" as I have on other islands and places. I would personally say that as long as you are comfortable with Round-Abouts and driving on the other side of the road then go for it. It is a big island and I would think based on some of the road, it might be easy to get "lost". But, it is an English speaking island and "an island" so lost would likely be easy enough to recover from.

 

[RICHinNC]

It is an island so it is hard to get lost! Driving around is pretty simple. However, the maps are pretty bad. I have rented a car on every trip and just drove around. Do remember it is British rule....on the other side.
If you get lost just head one cardinal direction until you hit the coastal road and go from there.

 

[parzdiver]

As Steve said, driving is easy if you stay on the left and follow the rules of the roundabouts. We did get lost driving around the island. We were up the north visiting the caves and on the way back ended up on a road (?) that let into a cane field and then just kindof ended... we backtracked, almost got caught in a controlled burn, and eventually found pavement again. It was actually a lot of fun!

+1 for the catamaran trip.
Crane bay is on the Atlantic side, great beach and awesome (big) waves.
Fish Fry is a good time, big outdoor party.
My favorite bar/restaurant/beach spot on the Caribbean side is the Surf Side behind the Holetown Post Office.

 

[Jeeptrick]

For the diving part try here Dive Barbados Blue – Scuba and Snorkel with PADI’s Best at the Hilton

Here are some pics underwater Flickr: jeeptrick's Photostream