Cruise diving, looking for advice

[aquanaut10]

I will be on a cruise next winter and will be diving in Cozumel, and I'm trying to decide between Ocho Rios or Grand Cayman for a second excursion. At first I thought this was a no-braiiner, Grand Cayman is supposed to be way better than Ocho Rios, but have learned that the ship will be tendered at Grand Cayman, as opposed to docked, and I have read in other threads that ferrying to shore at tendered ports can be a hassle, especially when carrying equipment. My aspirations aren't high, I am just getting back into diving after a few years off and maybe Ocho Rios is good enough. I dove in St. Maarten 3 years ago, 60 foot max, and Key Largo last spring, 40 foot max. So I would like to hear about others experiences with cruise diving from tendered vs. docked ports? How much hassle is it to ferry to shore in Grand Cayman, and is the better diving worth the effort?

 

[Jinjer]

You definitely want to dive in Grand Cayman, and not Ocho Rios. Diving in Grand Cayman is incredible. We have done it from the cruise ship before, and it is no big deal to take your gear on a tender. It is definitely worth the effort.

 

[Web Monkey]

Stay on the boat in Ochos Rios and dive in Grand Cayman. If you get off in O.R., you'll think you're in the crowd scene at the end of Soylent Green.

Also, if you want the dive of your life, hook up with Christie @ Blue XT Sea diving. she'll work around the ship's schedule, and you can get in 3 phenominal dives in a very small boat.

In fact, for about double what you would pay for 2 people on the crusie ship's cattle boat, you can charter Christie's whole boat with a captain and DM and have some of the best dives ever.

Terry

I will be on a cruise next winter and will be diving in Cozumel, and I'm trying to decide between Ocho Rios or Grand Cayman for a second excursion. At first I thought this was a no-braiiner, Grand Cayman is supposed to be way better than Ocho Rios, but have learned that the ship will be tendered at Grand Cayman, as opposed to docked, and I have read in other threads that ferrying to shore at tendered ports can be a hassle, especially when carrying equipment. My aspirations aren't high, I am just getting back into diving after a few years off and maybe Ocho Rios is good enough. I dove in St. Maarten 3 years ago, 60 foot max, and Key Largo last spring, 40 foot max. So I would like to hear about others experiences with cruise diving from tendered vs. docked ports? How much hassle is it to ferry to shore in Grand Cayman, and is the better diving worth the effort?

 

[diveborg]

www.neptunesdivers.com in Grand Cayman would be who I'd dive with while on a cruise. I wouldn't even go on cruise that stopped in Jamaica, let alone try diving there.

 

[Irene]

Putting your gear in a tender is a little extra effort, but well worth the trip to the Caymans. (Get a wheeled gear bag if you don't already have one...you'll REALLY appreciate the wheels in Cozumel).

We dove with Wall to Wall (http://www.walltowalldiving.com) and they picked us up a block from where the tenders dropped us, drove us to the thier boat, and dropped us back to the tenders afterwards. Awesome folks.

 

[Web Monkey]

Also, if you want the dive of your life, hook up with Christie @ Blue XT Sea diving. she'll work around the ship's schedule, and you can get in 3 phenominal dives in a very small boat.

PS. Should have mentioned this is in Cozumel.

 

[cowjazz]

I did two dives on Grand Cayman while on a cruise last January. The tenders in Grand Cayman were efficient. We had open tender boarding getting off our cruiseship. If there is a crowd waiting to get off, and you booked your dive trip on your own, just show the ship's staff that assigns tender priority a copy of an email showing the time your dive trip departs, and they will make sure you get on a tender to make your trip. You will probably have to queue up for a tender back to the boat, but it is a short wait. If you book through the cruiseship they will make sure you get on and off with no problems.

 

[aquanaut10]

thanks everyone for the advice, you've convinced me that GC is the way to go. Web Monkey, did you mean that Blue XT Sea Diving is in Cozumel? Would they accomodate solo divers, as I will be? Cowjazz, I wouldn't have thought the ship staff would accomodate divers making their own plans, thanks for that info..

 

[Web Monkey]

The dive is with a great DM, so I don't think there would be a problem, but you would have to ask.

Terry

thanks everyone for the advice, you've convinced me that GC is the way to go. Web Monkey, did you mean that Blue XT Sea Diving is in Cozumel? Would they
accomodate solo divers, as I will be?
Cowjazz, I wouldn't have thought the ship staff would
accomodate divers making their own plans, thanks for that info..