Nassau recommendations

[RichmondKYdiver]

Hey gang, we are looking at Nassau as a possibility mid to late May. This is a family vacation with some diving thrown in. Mom, Dad and two adult children. Mom and daughter will be doing their open water cert. I've looked at all inclusive but they are coming in at close to 5K for two....I didn't even see what adding two adult children would cost:shocked2: Care to share to places you have stayed and dive ops you have used.

Thanks gang, I want to strike while the iron is hot with the wife ready to cert

 

[drbill]

Just back from there. I stayed at a very decent budget hotel in Nassau, the Towne Hotel. It was clean and comfortable and quiet. As for diving, mine was on Blackbeard's "Morning Star" (a liveaboard) with a day of shark diving at Stuart Cove's (they pick up right by the hotel). Can't comment on any other operators there but I enjoyed diving with both.

 

[muzikbiz22]

I've stayed at Orange Hill and Compass Point Resort. Both are "off the beaten path", if you will, and are much closer to Stuart Cove's, than anything downtown. Orange Hill is family owned, quaint, quiet, simple, safe, friendly, charming, restaurant on premises, economical and the beach is just down the hill. Stuart Cove shuttle will pick you up here. Cable Beach is close by as well. Just down the street, (and closer to Stuart Cove), is Compass Point. It's a little more money and is more of a "boutique hotel". It's a little sexier, great food, great staff, sunset dining on the water, fun and still reasonable. I would call/email both of these places and book direct.

 

[RichmondKYdiver]

Thanks, will be sending some emails.

 

[drbill]

As mentioned, downtown Nassau is quite a distance from Stuart Cove (especially if you plan to do multi-day dives with them). I only dove with them one day so I enjoyed the "long" bus ride from Nassau since it gave me more of an opportunity to see the island.

 

[diversteve]

If you wanted to stay on Paradise Island, but not pay Atlantis prices, there's both a Comfort Suites and the Best Western Bayview Suites. Neither are beachfront. Comfort Suites is adjacent to Atlantis so:

The Comfort Suites® Paradise Island is located adjacent to the Atlantis Paradise Island and guests of the hotel can enjoy full use of all their facilities, including swimming pools, private beach, magnificent waterscapes, Lazy River Ride, water slides, health spa, tennis, and Kids Camp. Guests also have full signing privileges at Atlantis' restaurants and lounges.

One of their photo gallery images shows on-site dive training - I'm guessing it's with Bahama Divers since they offer package deals with them.

There's also a Best Western a little farther away - 1/2 mile? They have several 2 bedroom villas - they seem to be $315/nt. in May on Expedia. Full kitchens and they have some option with Atlantis also:

This Best Western Plus offers 3 pools, including a pool with an open-air restaurant; guests also have access to the Atlantis casino, restaurants, and bars (but no access to Atlantis pools or water park).

There's 3 dive operators to choose from on Nassau, Stuart Cove's is the largest. They're located on the south side so will shuttle you over daily. It's about a 45min. ride from Nassau/Paradise Island so factor that into your plans. They also have a package deal with both Orange Hill and Compass Point (on the Cove's website Specials page) that may work for you. We've gone by Orange Hill, from there I'd want a car to drive back to town. http://www.stuartcove.com/divehome.aspx

Bahama Divers is on the Nassau side of the Paradise Island bridge - about 5mins. away. They also have a local shuttle that picks up on Paradise Island or at Cable Beach. http://www.bahamadivers.com/index.html

Explore Scuba is on Paradise Island, you can walk to the boat from some properties. I don't think (but don't know) that they do certifications or referral dives. http://explorescubabahamas.com/index.php

Maybe your wife/daughter would want to do the classwork part of their cert locally before you get there. Even e-learning as an option. I can think of better things to do than be in class all day in the Bahamas... Cove's and Bahama Divers are PADI so that might be easiest.

 

[parzdiver]

Does anyone have experience with Explore Scuba? I am staying on Paradise Island in April and they are definitely more convenient that riding 45 minutes each way to Stuart Cove.

 

[k_im]

Just got back from Nassau Feb 16. Dove with both Stuart Cove's and Bahama Divers. Stuart C had newer boats and gear plus their shark feed dive is an experience not to be missed unless you happen to be morally opposed to feeding wild animals.
My wife felt that the crew at Bahama D gave more personal attention. Both outfits had competent divemasters. Both will come to your hotel and shuttle you to their shop. I'd happily dive with either one next time I'm in Nassau.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[scubadoNC]

we dove with stuart cove's feb 2012 from cruise ship. they were great. we had 2 dms for 4 people and they took us to the jaws plane. they were worth the bus ride. my profile pic is of the jaws plane, dm took pic for us.

 

[RichmondKYdiver]

Thanks gang, since we are a party/gaggle/group/gang of 5 we book through vrbo.com at Blue Water Resorts, ocean front....five adults 1700 sq ft for 2K US for the week. I'm thinking maybe Bahama Divers for my wife and daughter in law's OW cert while my son and I do Stuarts Cove shark dive and whatever they think is cool. BTW, for large groups, vrbo in Nassau looks to be hard to beat.