Diving on a S. Caribbean Cruise

[jallen013]

The week of Christmas we're heading to the S. Caribbean on a Carnival cruise. We'll have port days in San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kits and St. Maarten and would like to dive at about three of the ports.

Any suggestions as to which of the seven available options will have the best diving would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Ray and Pam]

We're doing that E. Caribbean cruise the 2nd week of Sept. What I've found is Dominica, Barbados and St. Lucia for diving. St. Thomas take the ferry to St. Johns Trunk Bay for snorkeling. Still working on the other two.

 

[Antietam]

Why would you waste your time going to St John for snorkeling, when you have such good wreck and reef sites within a 10 min boat ride of the cruise ship dock?

Blue Island Divers Dive SItes

 

[Rhone Man]

We're doing that E. Caribbean cruise the 2nd week of Sept. What I've found is Dominica, Barbados and St. Lucia for diving. St. Thomas take the ferry to St. Johns Trunk Bay for snorkeling. Still working on the other two.

Broadly agree, save that I don't think much of Barbados, but I do think St Thomas has some good diving if you can persuade the operator to take you to the better sites. They have some good deeper wrecks there. I used Admiralty Divers in St Thomas, and they haven't steered me wrong yet.

 

[Ray and Pam]

OK, wasn't too impressed with Barbados, would try St Thomas next time. But Carnival is dropping Dominica so won't be doing it again. The snorkeling at Trunk Bay and Saphire Beach was terrible. The diving in Soufriere Dominica was the best we've done, over Bonaire and Cozumel. In St Lucia went to the Grand Pitons, Supermans and somewhere close to Fairyland and they were very good.

 

[Straegen]

I would skip SXM for diving. It is OK but nothing really special.

 

[flots am]

The week of Christmas we're heading to the S. Caribbean on a Carnival cruise. We'll have port days in San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kits and St. Maarten and would like to dive at about three of the ports.

Any suggestions as to which of the seven available options will have the best diving would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I'd skip St. Thomas. The reef is looking really sad and need some serious help and protection.

flots.

 

[Antietam]

I guess the sad reef that needs help, which flots is talking about in St Thomas, is probably Hidden Valley or Chrysler. You know the ones that maybe have some of the biggest/healthiest Staghorn horn and Elkhorn coral fields, which rival anywhere in the Carribean. Or maybe one of the four sites around Flat Cay that are used by the university for fish counts, coral studies, and now coral farming. If you want to see "the reef" just book with the cruise ship excursion, I'm sure they'll take you there. St Thomas does not get the credit it deserves for it's quality diving. Book outside the ship if you want to see the good stuff!

 

[flots am]

I guess the sad reef that needs help, which flots is talking about in St Thomas, is probably Hidden Valley or Chrysler. You know the ones that maybe have some of the biggest/healthiest Staghorn horn and Elkhorn coral fields, which rival anywhere in the Carribean.

Actually, it was the Navy Barges. I've been there for a number of years, and it looks worse than I ever remember.

I suppose the dive op who told me that local conservation office turns a blind eye to damage, pollution and fishing was lying too?

If you want to see "the reef" just book with the cruise ship excursion, I'm sure they'll take you there. St Thomas does not get the credit it deserves for it's quality diving. Book outside the ship if you want to see the good stuff!

Everything gets exactly "the credit it deserves".

My opinion is that there are nicer places to dive than St. Thomas. It's certainly possible to get wet, and I'm sure there are still some fish hanging around, but it's nothing like it was.

flots

 

[Jeeptrick]

I dove all the Islands I could on a Carnival cruise and liked Barbados best. Lots of healthy colourful reefs a dozen wrecks good vis and temp, been there lots, this year will be my seventh trip to the island, still love it. I usually dive with Barbados Blue.