Has anyone cruised and dove Bermuda lately?

[2 Bar]

I will be in all three ports and I am looking to book directly with Fantasea (again). What I am trying to figure out is how to best plan diving multiple days without booking through the ship.

When the ship is docked in Hamilton, I can walk to the dive shop from the ship. But while at Dockyard what would you recommend? They only come pick you up if you book through the ship (more $$$).

I would have to cab it or bus it with all my gear (both ways). But to get to the shop by 8:30am it may present a challenge. I am thinking about booking through the ship while at Dock Yard and taking advantage of the pick up. However, I don't get any discount through the shop for 2 or 3 days of diving.

Any advice? Any experience booking your own dives in Bermuda?

 

[miked]

Hi 2 bar,
I have dived in Bermuda, while on vacations, for over 20 years. I have always dived with "Dive Bermuda", formerly "Nautilus", (they have 2 locations-one in Hamilton, the other in Southampton) but I may have some info that would be helpful.

1)Given the cost of cabs in Bda, you might find that signing up to dive through the ship is not that much more expensive than booking on your own. Buses are much cheaper, but with wet gear??. Of course, it is a ride from dockyard to Hamilton, and, either way, to get there by 8:30...


2) When I stay in Southampton, I can get picked up by the Dive Bermuda boat from Hamilton at the Watford Bridge- it is much closer to Dockyard than to Hamilton. Perhaps, if the Fantasea boat would pick you up there, it would be cheaper than "cabbing it" all the way to Hamilton. You would also be able to get to the bridge at a later time.
Of course, this depends on the route taken by Fantasea's boats. (DB's Hamilton boats usually leave at noon, pickup at ther bridge, if arranged in advance, at around 12:30.)

I wrote this in a bit of a rush, as I have to get to work. if you have questions, please post them, and I'll try to get back to you asap.
Good luck,
Mike

 

[2 Bar]

Thanks for that reply. My questions would be: When you were picked up by boat, where you with a group or on a cruise? Fantasea said they would only pick me up if I booked through the cruise. It may be cost effective and convenient to book through the cruise while in Dock Yard.

BTW, Fantasea has a dive shop at Sonesta Beach which I believe is in Southhampton. So I wonder, if that shop takes divers from Dock Yard?

I believe that would mean if I dove while staying at Dock Yard and Hamilton I would be usinf 2 different shops from the same company. But I wouldn't be able to let them hold my equipment overnight.

I'm sure a phone call to them would make everything simple. I am just looking for ideas to make it affordable to dive more.

I was on Blue Water Divers' site and I can't find rates. I assume theirs would be the same as Fantasea. But, if my ship (Royal Caribbean) does not use BWD for cruisers, I don't have the option of booking with them through the ship for the pick up, unless BWD normally picks up at Dock Yard.

Was Dive Bermuda at the Diving expo in Secaucus? I think I met someone fromthere and lost his card. I will search online for them.

 

[miked]

Thanks for that reply. My questions would be: When you were picked up by boat, where you with a group or on a cruise? Fantasea said they would only pick me up if I booked through the cruise. It may be cost effective and convenient to book through the cruise while in Dock Yard.

BTW, Fantasea has a dive shop at Sonesta Beach which I believe is in Southhampton. So I wonder, if that shop takes divers from Dock Yard?

I believe that would mean if I dove while staying at Dock Yard and Hamilton I would be usinf 2 different shops from the same company. But I wouldn't be able to let them hold my equipment overnight.

I'm sure a phone call to them would make everything simple. I am just looking for ideas to make it affordable to dive more.

I was on Blue Water Divers' site and I can't find rates. I assume theirs would be the same as Fantasea. But, if my ship (Royal Caribbean) does not use BWD for cruisers, I don't have the option of booking with them through the ship for the pick up, unless BWD normally picks up at Dock Yard.

Was Dive Bermuda at the Diving expo in Secaucus? I think I met someone fromthere and lost his card. I will search online for them.

Glad to be of help.To answer your questions, in order:

When I got picked up, was vacationing on my own: no group, no cruise.

The Sonesta Beach is in Southampton, at the site of what was formerly called the Sonesta Hotel, recently taken over by the Wyndham chain. I'm not sure of the new name.
While it is possible that they would pick up a diver at the bridge, the number of dive sites in the South/Southwest area might mean that go to the bridge would be a detour for a Southampton based boat. What I am sure of is that the cab ride from Dockyard to Southampton is much shorter, and cheaper, than a cab ride from Dockyard to Hamilton. I think a call to Fantasea would be in order.

I don't know much about BWD, but I understand they have several locations around the island.

"Dive Bermuda" was represented at " Beneath the Sea" in Secaucus. Over the years, I have been extremely pleased with their service and professionalism.
Their website is: www.bermudascuba.com.

FYI : in a naming "weirdness: the website for Blue Water Divers is : www.divebermuda.com
Yes, the web site name is practically the same as the name of a different dive operation. Can't be too confusing can it?

Good luck with your scheduling, let us know what happens, and if you have any more questions, ask away.
Take care,
Mike

 

[scubamax]

Blue Water Divers is the closest dive operation to Dockyard. It is at Somerset Bridge which is about 15-18 minutes by Taxi from Dockyard. They do not do any pickups/dropoffs however. Their rates are here:

http://www.divebermuda.com/rates.html

They run a 2-tank morning dive (sign in by 8.15) and a 1 tank afternoon dive as well. They are a first-rate operation and have a good boat, helpful staff and know their stuff. I dive with them often.

Scubamax

 

[2 Bar]

Scubamax, how much would you say the cab ride is round trip with tip? I understand it is not that long a ride, but I want to compare the complete cost.

Thanks.

 

[scubamax]

2 Bar:

Taxi from Dockyard to Somerset Bridge (Blue Water Divers) will probably be about
$12.00 each way, plus tip of say $ 2.00 or so. Round trip would be in the range of $ 28.00 to $ 30.00.

Want to save some money? Take the ferry from Dockyard to Somerset Bridge. The ferry leaves Dockyard (M-F) at 6.55 AM and gets to Somerset Bridge at 7.40 AM. From the ferry stop it is a 3 minute walk to the BWD dive op. As long as you can carry your gear that far (no hills, by the way) you cost will be $ 4.00 each way.

Taking the ferry back after the morning 2-tank dive will be tough, since the dive boat generally gets in around 12.15 to 12.30, and the only mid-day ferry back to the Dockyard is at 12.15, so not a real option.

The Bermuda ferry does NOT take cash, so you will need to purchase a ticket or pass as soon as you arrive on the island (you may be purchasing a multi-day pass anyway, a lot of visitors do this)..

So you can take the ferry, see the island from the water, and then do your dives. After the dives BWD can call you a taxi and get you back to you ship. So your total cost would probably be, in my best estimate should not exceed $ 18.00 to $ 20.00!


By the way, the same ferry will take you to Hamilton as well. It will get you there at 8.10 AM. From there if you want to use one of the Dive Ops there (Fantasea, which is right at the ferry terminal or Dive Bermuda at the Fairmont Hamilton Hotel is about a 8-10 minute walk).

If you choose this option you can take a return ferry to Dockyard...they typically leave every hour on the hour in the afternoons with direct service which takes 30 minutes.

This option would be $ 8.00 round trip. Cheapest and nicest way to get around.

Scubamax

 

[matt_unique]

I will be in all three ports and I am looking to book directly with Fantasea (again). What I am trying to figure out is how to best plan diving multiple days without booking through the ship.

When the ship is docked in Hamilton, I can walk to the dive shop from the ship. But while at Dockyard what would you recommend? They only come pick you up if you book through the ship (more $$$).

I would have to cab it or bus it with all my gear (both ways). But to get to the shop by 8:30am it may present a challenge. I am thinking about booking through the ship while at Dock Yard and taking advantage of the pick up. However, I don't get any discount through the shop for 2 or 3 days of diving.

Any advice? Any experience booking your own dives in Bermuda?

I was on a cruise staying in St. George. (Shortly after the hurricane wiped them out). I would never book any land excursion with the cruise ship - they inflate the prices for their purposes and it's a waste. I had my own gear - including lead weight (I travel with my own soft lead). I booked directly with Fantasea and used a moped to get back and forth with my gear. Funny as this may sound it was a piece of cake and much cheaper than other modes. You can rent a two person moped with a big basket for $150 for three days. These things have a good amount of storage under the seat too. I placed my lead and regs under the seat and a few other things in the basket. It was no problem cruising over to the dive shop. Early in the morning the traffic is really light so it's a nice peaceful cruise on the moped as well. I really enjoyed it. The dive boat leaves right from the dock in Hamilton as you know. I will say on my last day of diving the Fantasea boat dropped divers off at Dockyard but we all left from the Hamilton location. They were on a cruise ship there.

I can't remember the name of our dive guide but he was good. This guy looks exactly like Dave Mustaine of the band Megadeth which is somewhat comical.

--Matt

 

[2 Bar]

Here's what I have scheduled. I arrive in BDA on a Monday. I booked a morning dive with Blue Water Divers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am not a morning person so I ruled out the 6:55am ferry. I will cab (10 minute ride) it there with my gear. They will store it for me, so I will bus it back to the ship. I will then bus it there and back the next two days. After the last dive I will probably cab it to Hamilton where my boat will move to.

I was considering diving with Fantasea on Thursday since my boat will move to Hamilton, but I'd rather stick with the same operator on a gived trip.