Freeport Bahamas diving?

[moneysavr]

Ok
Grand Bahama Is a Great Island,Great diving,and several good opps,Not to nock UNXESO but they aint on my top list!
The Island as we have going to for more than 20 years now, some times several times a year due to cheap air out of two close citys.

Club Viva Fortuna is on some sweet beach far east of Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama,You got to have a car =Rental ,cause a cab would break the bank,It is a all Inc type resort with ok food & Drink that seems a hit with more European travelers the kind that like to tan top less [Gal's] , & men in speedos-As I have seen in my walk's on the beach, The rooms are ok,food gets a bit old on long stays,and you can drink till you drop!
That said the island sports many more hotels from $75.00 per night to $300.00 to $4300.00 for a villa with a chef and pool at OurLucaya!
www.ourlucaya.com
www.bellchannelinn.com
Places to stay=Stay near or in Port Lucaya area this is the harbour area,dive shops and boats run from this area,and it is the area were the Bahamain Gov has spent some $$Money to fix up,Freeport being the main city off water more inland is busy and well like a big city,
The Island sports 55+ miles of white sand beach that is ALL public And you can walk them all day and not see a home,hotel or any one and most tourist miss this! You need a rental car!
The temps are the same as West Palm Beach Florida with warm trade winds off the gulf stream, Diving is great! With great reefs/ wrecks to dive! And did I say Blue holes yep the island sports some sweet caves that you can dive with a guide and certs,and blue holes!
We do a day trip with a Bone fisherman to the out island Cays and fish and dive the blue holes! I do have to say that the several hundred spent for a whole day of fishing and doing a shore lunch of bugs and fish and diving areas with no one else is to me more fun,relaxing and just a BLAST!
Dive opps as I do not like to slam a opp but I do have several issues with UNEXSO with the way the lie to the public with their Dolphin Opperation! They dont let them swim free at night never have never did,and make big money on this so called eco tour sad!
and they do the typical cattle boat to reef's that are a safe dive for un skilled divers and thats good,just a diver looking for more of a dive should know this and thats it.
If you can get good air fare try the island,you may like it!Food is high and so is beer,but about the same as other tropic dive locations I have been too. And if you would like a ton of info/Photos on club viva fortuna I have link to a web site by a guy that has been going to it for years and loves it ! Just PM me with a e-mail,
Dive safe,
Brad

 

[Pondfrog]

"Club Viva Fortuna is on some sweet beach far east of Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama,You got to have a car =Rental ,cause a cab would break the bank,It is a all Inc type resort with ok food & Drink that seems a hit with more European travelers the kind that like to tan top less [Gal's] , & men in speedos-As I have seen in my walk's on the beach, The rooms are ok,food gets a bit old on long stays,and you can drink till you drop!" posted by moneysavr

(I still haven't figured out how quote portions of a msg. it keeps wanting to quote the whole thing, oh well)

Moneysavr-- you nailed Club Viva Fortuna. That was exactly our experience. Lots of bare breasts (not a bad thing mind you.) Unfortunately my wife came home wanting implants :0 I guess she must have caught me staring. "No honey I just think she has pretty hair- it looks like yours" I will say however that they don't skimp on the drinks- they make an awesome planter's punch and it definately has "punch"

Patrick

 

[pilot fish]

Thanks moneysavr, that was a lot of good info

 

[moneysavr]

Moneysavr-- you nailed Club Viva Fortuna. That was exactly our experience. Lots of bare breasts (not a bad thing mind you.) they make an awesome planter's punch and it definately has "punch"

Patrick[/QUOTE]

My Wife knows why I walk east from the sand bar/aka Margaritavilla,The view!Just the view & no it is not a bad thing at all!
The punch =Bahama Mama's cheap rum and tootie fruity punch = hang overs!
Dive safe Boys and Girls!
Brad

 

[del_mo]

As far as the dive operation goes at Viva, if you do decide to use them (I wouldn't), reserve your spot in advance. They fill up. And the boat they use is NOT a dive boat as far as I'm concerned. It's an oversized dory. Only the captain has cover from the sun. Everone else is on benches exposed to the sun.

My wife and I are going back to GB this June and will be staying in Lucaya. We dove with Xanadu before and we will dive with them again.

 

[pilot fish]

As far as the dive operation goes at Viva, if you do decide to use them (I wouldn't), reserve your spot in advance. They fill up. And the boat they use is NOT a dive boat as far as I'm concerned. It's an oversized dory. Only the captain has cover from the sun. Everone else is on benches exposed to the sun.

My wife and I are going back to GB this June and will be staying in Lucaya. We dove with Xanadu before and we will dive with them again.

Someone else mentioned Lucaya too. Is that a section of the island that is near the diving?

 

[Tavi]

Someone else mentioned Lucaya too. Is that a section of the island that is near the diving?

Port Lucaya is one of the main tourist areas of the island. The newest and nicest hotels are here. Most of the dive ops will pick you up and drop you off at hotels here.
The new casino is here also. Across from the hotels/casino is a whole area of stores/restaraunts/bars.

 

[Loneranger]

UNEXSO is one of the older outfits that has been around Grand Bahama. The place has totally changed since I was there, but looks to be a new top notch facility.

 

[moneysavr]

Port Lucaya, Lucaya is mid Island is on the water and channel, & harbour area one of many on the Island,
Freeport is the main city on the Island and is mostly off water and with one of the largest hotels 1000 rooms now closed due to poor ownership & storm's this area is fallen into distress and I would stay clear.