Help us choose diving sites (Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica, Barbados)

[habitforming]

My wife & I will be on a southern Caribbean cruise in a couple weeks and we're still trying to finalize our diving plans. Our ship will stop at Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica, and Barbados. We have ample time at each port. We are fairly new to Scuba - certified almost 2 years with about 10 dives each, but comfortable in the water, with moderate currents, and down to about 90 ft.

We dove Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo (a truly fanstastic experience, about 2 hrs from Cabo San Lucas), and some locations in Hawaii so far. Our expectations are fairly high as far as variety of sea life, viz, & helpfulness of dive operators. We're interested in reef or wreck dives.

So far we've already chosen Dominica as one of our dives (based on recommendations found on this board). We will be diving with Nature Island Dive, where Karen has been quite helpful & prompt with our email communications.

But we're having a difficult time deciding on our second dive. I've seen recommendations for both Barbados & St. Maarten, not so much on Tortola or St. Kitts.

Anyone on here care to commend on your experiences between dives at these various islands? Would also love to get some dive OP recommendations as well

 

[cruisensnooze]

Hi - What a shame you are not on our ship (Ventura 11th Feb) at the moment it is just us 2 diving!!. If home before 11th Feb, let us know your view on Dominica as we are also booked with them and Karen has been very prompt. We are also diving Turks & Caicos and Bonaire. Like you are wondering about Barbados and St.Maarten but as this is not a dive holiday, think we will stick to 6 dives. We have 2 weeks diving in the Red Sea in May, so have that to look forward to.
Enjoy your cruise and diving...
Chris

 

[cruisensnooze]

Sorry another thing - if you go into Forum at the top and scroll down to cruises. Then add another question here, or you may find someone else also on your cruise.
Chris

 

[diversteve]

IDK if it's possible within your timetable/itinerary but in the BVI's the RMS Rhone is an amazing wreck.

It's where they filmed "The Deep" - has a safe swimthrough in the bow - lots of exit points - and is only in about 60-70'. It's the signature BVI wreck dive, at one time they used it as their dive travel magazine ad shot. It was about a 300' ship and there's a lot of it left. It's really what you think of when you think wreck - I don't know how to qualify exactly.

I actually thought the back half was the better dive - there's all sorts of exposed machinery - a 15' prop caught up in the rocks that you swimthrough and lots of history - you can still see portholes - a marble floor in one area and some personal effects - find/touch the "silver spoon" for good luck.

It's off Salt Island - less than an hour? from Roadtown, Tortola where (afaik) your ship will dock. I have no personal experience with them but I've seen Sail Carribbean Divers recommended. The picture in their website header is the driveshaft/gearhouse on the Rhone afaik. I don't like wrecks - I'll choose a reef over a wreck every time - but I liked the Rhone.

 

[habitforming]

Sorry another thing - if you go into Forum at the top and scroll down to cruises. Then add another question here, or you may find someone else also on your cruise.
Chris

Thanks for the tip! I had never seen the cruise section before

 

[habitforming]

Hi - What a shame you are not on our ship (Ventura 11th Feb) at the moment it is just us 2 diving!!. If home before 11th Feb, let us know your view on Dominica as we are also booked with them and Karen has been very prompt. We are also diving Turks & Caicos and Bonaire. Like you are wondering about Barbados and St.Maarten but as this is not a dive holiday, think we will stick to 6 dives. We have 2 weeks diving in the Red Sea in May, so have that to look forward to.
Enjoy your cruise and diving...
Chris

We're back on the 6th so that shouldn't be a problem (so long as I remember!). Too bad indeed, as it would be great to have someone else to go with. Now to look for that cruise section...

 

[Seastarson]

Here at Dive St. kitts we cater to cruising passengers! We are the ONLY complete dive resort in St. Kitts / Nevis, with a fresh water pool, beach bar, snorkeling lagoon, great dive shop, and much more!
Today we saw turtles, nurse sharks, giant puffers, I could go on and on.. and this is a typical day! The diving is NEVER boring here!
Check us out on Trip Advisor! We pick you up at Port Zante, and bring you just minutes to our resort. Transfers, all gear, refreshements, 2-tank dive, and great service is only $102.00 including local taxes!
Look forward to seeing you here in St. Kitts, where the visibility is great, the water is warm, the fish are abundant, and the crew is damn good looking!!! LOL

 

[Rhone Man]

I usually push Tortola for the same reason DiverSteve does - the standard dive for cruise ships is the Rhone (just across the channel from the cruise ship dock), and it is a pretty darned good dive, particularly by the standards of cruise ship dive excurisions (which can often be a bit lame).

Most cruise ships use Sail Caribbean Divers. You can yourself about $40 a head by booking with them directly rather than going via the cruise ship (you will still be on the same boat as those who booked the excursion via the cruise ship - just you will be paying less than your fellow passengers).

Best of luck!

 

[habitforming]

Thanks everyone for your offers and suggestions!

We decided that our second dive trip will be with Ocean Explorers on St. Maarten where we will participate in a shark dive, along with a second dive TBD.

We are really excited for our trip and will be sure to come back and report in on our experiences.

 

[habitforming]

I usually push Tortola for the same reason DiverSteve does - the standard dive for cruise ships is the Rhone (just across the channel from the cruise ship dock), and it is a pretty darned good dive, particularly by the standards of cruise ship dive excurisions (which can often be a bit lame).

Most cruise ships use Sail Caribbean Divers. You can yourself about $40 a head by booking with them directly rather than going via the cruise ship (you will still be on the same boat as those who booked the excursion via the cruise ship - just you will be paying less than your fellow passengers).

Best of luck!

You are right about saving yourself $$$ not booking through the cruise line. We typically arrange most of our excursions on our own for that very reason! Great tip!!