Disney St. Thomas, St. Maarten

[DonWinchester]

My wife and I (approx 50 dives) are planning a Disney Cruise in September with dives at St. Thomas and St. Maarten offered by the line. Would like to find out who their contractors are down there and where they will probably take us. Also, what would be alternative sites and reliable operators should we decide to pass on Disney's offerings. And is there any chance of getting somebody to take us from Disney's private island to dive since they don't offer it there? Thanks for your input.

 

[Scuba Laura]

I don't know if Disney contracts with anyone on St. Thomas. If they do, it will probably be a cattleboat. I just heard that most cruise company's are asking for a 50% cut from the operators, so they have to do volume to make any kind of profit. Do your homework and look for a independant dive operation. You'll dive with smaller groups and better sites that haven't been over-dove by the cattleboats.

Admiralty and Blue Island pick up Disney passengers. Check them out!

 

[Boat Diver]

In St Thomas check out Chris Sawyer diving. They are about a twenty minute taxi ride from the cruise ship dock, but it is well worth the trip!

 

[canadianpigeon]

In Sint Maarten all of the Cruise Ship contractors are cattleboats...... not my idea of fun. On the french side of the island is Octopus Diving in Grand Case. We were in Sint. Maarten last October and had a great time with Octopus. Six pack boat and great dives. We did dives with them on both the french side and dutch side..... the french side had way better reefs while the dutch side is all about wrecks. Octopus really catered to our interests, did different spots everyday and even picked us up at the hotel. Check them out at www.stmartinscuba.com.

 

[billeelou]

fantastic group

 

[MarkThomas]

Hi Don!
Don't know much abut St Thomas but I just dove in St Maarten with Jeferson at Ocean Explorers and they have a great and small out fit, away from the cruise ship crowds and it only took me 10 min from the cruise ship dock until their nice shop at Kim Sha Beach, maybe consider that?
The dive in St Maarten was fun and full of stingrays!