Dive Operators in Nassau - what's the real story?

[TremayneJohnson]

Hi Falcon

I've literally just returned from a couple weeks diving in the Bahamas. 1 wk in New Providence and a week on a liveaboard. While in New Providence, I did a day with Bahamas Divers and a day with Stuart Cove (shark dive).

The 'Shark Dive' is a fantistic way to spend a morning and is genuinely good fun, well organised for what it is and guarantees some shark action. With regard to the shark feed dive - its not really diving - think of it as more of a show! (then you won't get disappointed). The 'warm up dive' (wall dive - just near where the feed will happen) is also pretty good.

Disappointed with Bahamas Divers - I have to say. Not so organised, not so friendly and to be honest, the diving wasn't worth anywhere near what it cost. I wouldn't bother again, mostly for the fact of their location. The boat operates out of Nassau and unless you want a really lengthy boat trip - you are never going to be too far away from the large city and all that goers with it. Looking at my Stuart Cove pics and comparing them to the couple of dives I did with Bahamas - the quality and colour of the water is just so very different. No comparison.

If you are looking for great diving in Bahamas - I would probably say that it didn't want to be be basing yourself in New Providence. I'd try to consider other options.

However - given that you will definitely be in Nassau, dispense with Bahama Divers and make the extra effort to get out with Stuart Cove. They will come and pick you up. It's worth the effort. (I was told by a local not to bother with BD - but I said 'no - I'm going to try both'. Wished I'd taken his advice!!)

TJ

 

[Dantheengineer]

It's a cruel thing. if one was able to take a small boat with just a handfull of divers to ANYWHERE in the north east of the island, (with reasonable weather, (sadly, which does normally blow from the east)) one would be deeply rewarded.

The best constant diving conditions are in the west. (West = Coves) This is no BAD thing. it just means its "very" dived. (with lotz of wrecks to provide balance)

If you are intrepid and weather blessed, the "lost" or rose island blue hole is exceptional.
If you're over for a weekend (when we don't work. Just play) PM me and i'll fire you off some details for "non subscribed" boat captains that'd take you there.
This dive really opens up at about 130'. the absolute floor "bottom" is 210'. It is NOT for the average recreational holiday diver. This should really be stressed, for the sake of safety.
The hole saw one professional fatality last year......
It does, however, open up like a friggin cathedral?!?! In reasonable weather the viz is GIN clear below about 150. Breath taking is NOT a phrase one necessarily "enjoys" under water, but it is that!
Also i have seen untold life at the "Light House Reef" which is a very shallow (35') dive.

The north east has MUCH potential due to the limited familiarity of the sea life to scuba divers.
Sadly, BD dont seem to capitalize on this......

I'd recommend liveaboards to the hard core diver, as these guy's have so much more time to gauge you as a client. Also you'd get to see the very best sites.

I'd still maintain that the very best diving i've seen here is off San Salvador. I never have been to Freeport (still saving up...not that its expensive, just that i'm cheap!) and that's VERY highly recommended.

Tremayne, did you get to the "Ray of Hope"? What did you think?

 

[TremayneJohnson]

Hi Dan,

Just flipped through my dive log and no - not any sign of 'ray of hope'. The two I did with BD were the 'lost blue hole' and 'barracuda reef'. Last week I did 24 boat dives; Long Island, Conception Island & San Salvador. I won't go into last week too much - as this thread is clearly above diving off New Prov and if I say too much, I fear it will make Mr Falcon feel bad ! Just kidding )

I get what you are saying about 'the hole' and I'm certainly not sorry I went there. It's quite spectacular but in terms of marine life - there isn't so much going on, which I found a real shame. The other aspect is that I simply would have loved to swim up to it with just a buddy or two - and then descend the sheer cliffs. I'm quite sure had I been given a chance to do this - it would have been so so much more memorable. As it was - my memories are of divers everywhere, bubbles everwhere, not a fish in sight - and quite a lot of sand having been kicked up. Shame!

TJ

 

[Dantheengineer]

I couldn't have put it better. Shame it is.
There's normally a rake of fish (Margret fish, school masters and snappers) about the small coral heads atop the hole, often large sting ray cruising about and more often than not two or three juvanile (or just small) nurse shark atop also.

If i can ever get my little TUB registered this summer i'll be found all over the north side on any given weekend. The south west is beginning to feel very familiar and the north east is relatively untapped. (or at least fresh to me and friends....)

The lost hole is a fairly confined space. it dont take many muppets to fill it RIGHT up!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. Please make us ALL jealous of your other experiences.
Was San Sal the best?
Where did you get to with Coves?
What was Long island like? (isn't it Stocking island just off Long island, that is home to the fossilized Stomatalithic reef, the oldest evidence of live on the planet (at, like, 2 billion yrs old)? did you see that?)

OK, mabe you shouldn't tell.......i'm salivating here.....

 

[TremayneJohnson]

Hiya

You are absolutely right about the fish above the hole - and yes, I have a lovely snap of a small size nurse shark just taking a rest in a quiet spot........ until our group arrived on the scene!

It's difficult to say whether I enjoyed San Sal or Conception the most. I saw great hammerheads and Caribbean reef shark at both - along with a fantastic array of other great stuff. Viz at both was phenomenal and the water colour from some of the above water shots (from the boat) is enough to make me want to book another ticket right away!
One distinction between the two islands was the amount of algae/weed growth attacking and infesting the coral walls at San Sal. Not sure whats causing it but its a real shame. Sort of has the look of cabbage leaves. Its kind of taking over and not in a good way. The fish are all still there and the turtles aren't complaining! The diving is almost all wall diving at 80 - 90ft. About twenty to thirty minutes on the wall (never any current to speak of) hoping for the hammers, then making the swim back up onto the reef head- with shoals of snapper and jacks etc.
The diving at both islands blew me away and I really couldn't pick between them. The trip was on Caribbean Explorer II and was worth every penny.
We did only a couple of dives at Long Island - Shark Reef, which (as I guess you know) is the spot Stella Maris use (or used) to feed the sharks. As soon as we got down there, the sharks were evident and I got some fantastic pics.
The two dives with Coves were literally five minutes out from his place. I think they call it the runway. For being just a little way out - the viz was great and fish life also pretty good. Sharks were plentiful - but then they all know the drill by now! In fact I showed a friend my film footage of the Cove show. He said 'great - fantastic, though they don't look very frenzied or particularly bothered'. We had a think and I told him ' we'll that's coz they only just got fed yesterday. They are still a bit full. In fact, they are pissed with so much snapper and will most likely go on strike if Stuart doesn't switch to tuna!' )
You got a boat out there? Lucky you!! You have no excuse - get it registered!!

TJ