Four Fabulous Dive Destinations - Pick 2

[Samboney]

7 nights - Carnival Legend from Tampa - Jan 9, 2011
Grand Cayman (7-4)
Cozumel (10-6)
Roatan (8-5)
Belize (8-3)
2 at sea days.

As usual - non diving wife says pick two. No friends with us this year so wife will be on her own finding a beach those days.
I love Coz spent a week there diving. Snorkled Grand Cayman with my wife but never dove there. Never been to Belize or Roatan.

I hate booking dives through the ship - cattle boats & milk toast trips are a waste as far as I'm concerned. So I always set up with a local dive op on my own. I try to be the first off the ship and gety in as many dives as I can - I did 4 in Dominica last February.

Suggestions??????

 

[Rhone Man]

I think they are all really solid. I would tend to pick according to which ones have sucky alternatives to diving. Is there much to do in Belize City if you are not diving?

 

[Bladeruner69]

I would say Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Not much to see or do at either of these spots and the diving at both is great. Roatan's West End is worth the visit, It is a BEAUTIFUL island. Paid a taxi/tour guide 50 bucks and he took us around all day. Belize has rainforest/Myan temple trips as well as cave tubing if you are into it. Not a lot in the city but just outside is interesting. Plus the ship does not dock so you have to catch a ferry to the City and then catch your scuba trip if you dont want to book with the ship. I did a trip with all the same stops 2 years ago and am going next October.

 

[mbwilliamn]

Summary of my previous posts below:

If you don't dive in Belize the cave tubing is pretty cool!. Bring your dive light...they give you a head lamp, but a UK Q40 is awesome. If you DO dive in Belize, use the cruise ship operator...they pick you up directly off the ship saving you a 20 minute tender ride each way!

I've been to Cozumel 4 times and dove with Aldora...great operation, very flexible, long bottom times (steel tanks so prepare to adjust bouyancy) and great dives. Cab ride to downtown and they drop you back next to the boat (can't use the cruise pier, but next door).

Also been to GC several times and dove with Neptunes. Again, great dives and great operation. Only downside here is you have to get to their launch location at the near end of 7 mile beach. We are going back again in Nov, but trying a new operation, Cruisedivers.com....lot of good reports. They are about 100yds from the tender drop off.

Roatan. We head Anthony's Key (ships operator) is OK, great service, but short simple dives on overused reefs. We are going with Barefoot divers. Lots of good reports on them as well.

Best of luck!

 

[Midge907]

Consider Anemona divers in Roatan, small operation on the west side. Get ahold of them for the best ideas on transportation. Your wife can hang out on the beach there while you dive.

 

[Samboney]

Thanks for all the input. Wife's preference is to sit at a beach.
Even though I spent a week at Coz diving w/ Papa Hogs, I think I'll dive there - might give Aldora a try. I've considered them before.
Since we have been to GC twice, I might dive there - wife thinks she will be more comfortable on her own there. Have to pick an operator.
Just have to plan seperate trips to Belize and Roatan just to dive.

 

[diversteve]

The Carnival cruise operator in Georgetown is Don Fosters. Lots of big boats/divers per boat. Makes sense as they're walking distance from the cruise pier.

A better option might be Lobster Pot Dive Center, they book Deep Blue Divers, Off the Wall and Wall to Wall. All are 8 divers max. And this might be of interest:

With our partner operations; Deep Blue Divers, Wall to Wall Diving and Off the Wall Divers, we offer a full range of boat dives with daily am and pm 2-tank dives, 1 and 3-tank dives

since you appear to have the time needed.

If you change your mind about Roatan - consider Barefoot Divers. They're 10mins. from Mahogany Bay - the Carnival cruise resort.
And you could dive Mary's Place just offshore - one of the top dives on Roatan IMO. Nice beach at Mahogany Bay for your wife btw - http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3579

The cruise operator is Anthony's Key, that's a 1/2 hr. shuttle each way. And I've heard they dive Overheat Reef nearby - it's listed on the Princess website - we dove it a few years ago, it's not the best dive on the north side.