Best diving site: San Juan, Aruba, Curacao, St. Marteen or St. Thomas?

[Vodou]

Hi,

For the first time in our life, we will take a cruise to visit the Lesser Caribbean (on Royal Caribbean, 7 days, January 08). We have only one day by site (8AM-5PM).

We have our PADI Open Water certified.

We seek the best dive site among the following destinations:
1)San Juan, Puerto Rico
2)Oranjestad, Aruba
3)Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
4)Philipsburg, St. Marteen, Netherlands Antilles
5)St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
6)San Juan, Puerto Rico

Are you've already dive on one of these sites? What do you think is the best dive site? They have boat trip to dive at Bonaire (from Curacao)?

And, do you know a good diving club?

Thanks for your help,

Bruno Labrie

 

[jajack61]

If you like shore diving then I highly recommend either curacao or bonaire

 

[wreckchick]

Are you looking to dive each destination or one day of diving through the trip?

Rachel

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Aruba
the Jane Sea wreck, the Renaissance airplanes (the old ones) or the Antilla

Bonaire
the Hilma Hooker wreck

As for a dive club
If you are talking about around home, you should check out the dive shops in Brockville.
The Brockville, Kingston area has some of the best fresh water wreck diving in the world.
www.1000islandsinfo.com/scuba_diving.htm

Our dive club always uses Capt. Kevin from Seeway Vision Dive charters.
www.diveseewayvision.com

 

[Damselfish]

I haven't dove all these places, but I have dove in Curacao many times and from what I know of the other places Curacao would be your best choice. Curacao diving is very similar to Bonaire, so if you're already in Curacao it wouldn't make sense to travel to Bonaire for the day to dive. It seems unlikely to me they would have a boat making that run, it's not that close.

Are you thinking of using a cruise ship excursion or arranging your own diving?

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

There was a group from a cruise ship that rented a car in Curacao, went to Cas Abou with friends, dove one dive there, I met them and they followed me to Westpunt where we dove Alice In Wonderland, they went back to get their friends and made it back to the ship in plenty of time.
In Curacao you only have 8 hours (8 to4). There is not enough time to go to Bonaire. You'll enjoy the dives here. Let me know if you need any local information.
Sunshine
curacaosunshine@gmail.com

 

[Storm]

Judy and I did Cas Abou as our last dive day, and it was quite nice. The reef on the eastern side was interesting, and although a bit of a surface swim, prooved to be worth it as we got a chance to visit with a very friendly turtle, and a sting ray. The soft corals were in pretty good shape, but like many of the sites we visited, sand damage from Omarr was pronounced. (at least accordig to folks we talked to who know the sites well.

If I had only one day to dive the island, and was looking for a shore dive, I would probably attemt the drive to Westpunt and do Alice. But if the drvie time is daunting, then perhaps you shoud give Mark and Suzy a call at The Dive Bus and ask them to take you on a two tank dive to the Tugboat.

Jusy my two cents.

 

[Curacao Sunshine]

Hi Rick,
How's the weather?
After 9 1/2 days my in laws in NH had power restored last night. It sounds like at least 12 inches before this weekend is through. and winter started this morning. I'm sorry I missed you on Thursday. Thanks for the maps!! We'll see you on your next visit.
Hugs and Christmas, Sunshine

 

[TN Traveler]

Hey Sunshine - We are back in Knoxville with 30+ deg temps and a strong blowing wind and already missing those 80+ deg temps there. Rick - hope your not freezing too bad.

Just got back from a week in Curacao and you can't go wrong with diving Alice in Wonderland in Westpunt. Saw everything from Eagle Rays to LARGE Stingray, morays galore, turtles and all the macro life you could want. Reef is just FULL of life. It is a 45 min car trip from Williamstadt to Westpunt, easy drive.

I will try and do a full trip repost this coming week.

 

[Storm]

Well Sunshine, TN,

We almost didn't make it back in time. There was a nice snow storm hanging out over Toronto and for a brief time it looked like Jude and I were going to get stuck in Miami, but it cleared enough for our flight to land so they sent us from paradise to the land of the moose, without so much as a by your leave or concern over the fact we left 84 degree weather only to arrive in -4 degree weather, with high winds, (can you say wind-chill factor) and a foot or more of snow on the ground.

We stayed the night in Toronto, before attempting the drive back to Ottawa. That leg of the journey was uneventful. So we got back home Saturday evening only to be told that we had another storm front heading our way to add to the almost three feet of snow that had fallen while we were south. (it's a good thing that new snow blower works well)

That storm settled in early Sunday morning, bringing another day of -4 temperatures, another foot and a half of snow.....oh and BTW, did I mention that during all of this, our furnace decided to stop working.

So you can see I've been a bit on the busy side, moving snow, getting furnace repairman in, unpacking, etc. Eventually I'll get my trip report and photos ready for publication.

But it's only been 72 hours and I'm already missing the sun, sand and dives of the island.

We need to hit a jackpot and head back down soon or I may just go snow crazy; and its only December.