Cozumel, Grand Cayman, or Ocho Rios?

[Big-n-Buoyant]

Great timing, huh? My very first cruise (25th Wedding Anniv) in October and I pick the 'Perfect Storm' hurricane equivalent time period ! :11:

Still going, though. Here's the dilemma (please vote in poll as well as reply). 7 day cruise with stop (early AM to Midnight) in Cozumel, Early AM to mid afternoon in Grand Cayman, and the same kind of time on the Ocho Rios Jamaica port. (*these ports are unless Hurricane Zelda changes our itinerary)

My wife is not a diver, but I plan to choose ONE of the ports for a SCUBA excursion. Question: If I can only choose one location (I have not dived in any of the spots) which should I select? I plan to use the cruise line to arrange - remember... first cruise novice and don't want to miss the ride to the next port.....

I'll appreciate your vote and comments.

B-n-B

 

[diveborg]

I picked Coz, but please reconsider using the ships scuba excursion, unless you are a novice diver that needs a very structured, follow the leader dive with limited bottom time. There are lots of good dive OPs that are cruiser friendly and will provide a higher quality dive experience.

 

[Desa]

Ironic isn't is? My wife and I were headed to Grand Cayman the middle of October to celebrate our 25th also. We are probably going to end up flying to Cozumel and diving there. I can't make a sugestion since I have never dove any of the spots mentioned either. I do have one advantage, my wife dives a little. She won't dive as much as I, but at least some of the time I will have a buddy I know.

So good luck with your trip.

PS: What part of KY?

 

[caymaniac]

Pick Coz., good diving and I don't think GCM will be up and running yet by the time you go on your cruise. Forget about diving in Jamacia.

Congrats,
Caymaniac

 

[Kat]

Skip the Jamaica dive.

The dive ops might be up & running in Grand Cayman, in Oct. And their economy could sure use your dollars, as the tourism will be almost non-existant. I would check into it. If the dive ops are operational by Oct. I would think there would be very few divers going, due to lack of hotels. That could make for some very nice diving.

Coz has great diving & you can't go wrong. Lots of good dive ops to choose from too. Do a search or pop over to the Cozumel forum here on the board.

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

I'd say Cozumel as well. It looks like you have the most time there, allowing you the luxury of setting up your own dive without having to worry too much about timing.

Marc

 

[schu1842]

We took a two tank trip from the Celebrity Century in Cozumel. Both were great dives. I wanted a little warm up prior to going out on the group trip so when we arrived in Grand Cayman our families went shopping and my dive partner and I walked over to Eden Rock and took a pretty good (and inexpensive) dive off the shore. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of activity around the reefs which were at about 40 -45' (in fact the reefs looked pretty bleak) but the water was great. I'm sure you will enjoy Cozumel or Grand Cayman. You can't go wrong at either place.

 

[Diver Kat]

Cozumel ..... wonderful diving from novice to expert, looks like you have a long stop so no worries about missing the ship (so I agree with those above - book directly with a dive op, not the ship excursion!!), dive prices are more reasonable then Grand Cayman, you can do a morning dive then beach it or shop in the afternoon to spend time with the wife ....