Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten suggestions?

[ffestpirate]

Hello. My wife and I are going to be on a cruise next week to Nassau, St. Thomas, and St Maarten. We are planning to shore dive on St. Thomas, Boat dive on St. Maarten, and we have nothing planned for Nassau(timing does not work for Stuart's Cove).
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Also, are there rules prohibiting dive knives in these areas?
thank you,
Chris

 

[King Kong Matt]

Coki Beach on St. Thomas always seems to be a popular shore dive. I've snorkeled there and while it's probably alright as shore dives go, it's still a shore dive.

If you do get a chance to boat dive, I would highly recommend Chris Sawyer's Dive Center. My brothers and I have dove with them dozens of times and I have never had anything other than great experiences.

Hope that helps!

-Matt

 

[ffestpirate]

Thank you Matt. Any advice is helpful

 

[mike_s]

Coki Beach on St. Thomas always seems to be a popular shore dive. I've snorkeled there and while it's probably alright as shore dives go, it's still a shore dive.

If you do get a chance to boat dive, I would highly recommend Chris Sawyer's Dive Center. My brothers and I have dove with them dozens of times and I have never had anything other than great experiences.

I've dove Coki Beach before on a trip to St Thomas. There isn't anything wrong with it, but the boat trips are much better and worth a few extra bucks. Coki Beach just wasn't all that exciting compared to the better coral on the boat dives. Coki beach is the "beach destination" place for a lot of the cruise boat lines we found out after we went there. it was packed with people on the cruise boats doing a beach excursion, snorkle excursion, etc. We did notice a few other people there shore diving as part of a cruise trip.

though we dove with a different boat/shop, I've heard good things about Chris Sawyers operation. I've been in his shop. He's located down in Red Hook which has some very nice dive spots near it. I think a taxi ride from that area to town(port) was about $12-$15. They might offer a pick up service though if you book enough divers.


On Nassau, if timing for Stuart Coves doesn't work out, there is another dive shop over the bridge towards Atlants that is much closer to the cruise boat dock. (you can see Atlanta from the cruise boat dock and it's a few bucks ($5 to $8) for a land taxi or water taxi over. (I suggest the land taxi if you're hauling gear).

 

[ffestpirate]

I've dove Coki Beach before on a trip to St Thomas. There isn't anything wrong with it, but the boat trips are much better and worth a few extra bucks. Coki Beach just wasn't all that exciting compared to the better coral on the boat dives. Coki beach is the "beach destination" place for a lot of the cruise boat lines we found out after we went there. it was packed with people on the cruise boats doing a beach excursion, snorkle excursion, etc. We did notice a few other people there shore diving as part of a cruise trip.

though we dove with a different boat/shop, I've heard good things about Chris Sawyers operation. I've been in his shop. He's located down in Red Hook which has some very nice dive spots near it. I think a taxi ride from that area to town(port) was about $12-$15. They might offer a pick up service though if you book enough divers.


On Nassau, if timing for Stuart Coves doesn't work out, there is another dive shop over the bridge towards Atlants that is much closer to the cruise boat dock. (you can see Atlanta from the cruise boat dock and it's a few bucks ($5 to $8) for a land taxi or water taxi over. (I suggest the land taxi if you're hauling gear).

Would you suggest a dive in Nassau? We were just planning on snorkeling.
Is Chris Sawyer on St. Maarten?
Thanks for all the info!

 

[Boat Chick]

Diving on St. Maarten is sparce. There is no reef, so the dive sites are places where they have sunk barges and boats. A couple years ago we did 2 days of boat dives off the Simpson Bay side (dive sites are in my log book at home). Conditions are "fun" in that you have big swells so the boat ride to the sites and back is a hoot. But in my book, any day under water is better than none. If you can, take a boat to Saba and dive for the day.

 

[ffestpirate]

Thank you

 

[mike_s]

Would you suggest a dive in Nassau? We were just planning on snorkeling.

The diving in the Bahamas I've done has been good. I've been to the Bahamas on a cruise and also on non-cruise trips. If I was on a cruise, I'd most likely either do the "beach break" (beach excursion) or a dive trip. If you've been on many cruises, the "in port shopping" areas near where you get off the ship get old in a hurry. However, most of the dive better dive sites are on the "other side of the island" where Stuart Coves is located. Sometimes Stuart Cove trips from cruise boats can be difficult to do based on timing and distance, etc. I can't remember the name of the other dive shop, but there is one just across the bridge to Atlantis nearer the cruise dock. Of course they dive on the north side of the island, but it's not bad or anything.

Is Chris Sawyer on St. Maarten?
Thanks for all the info!

Chris Sawyer is on St Thomas in the Red Hook area of the island. (the end part of the island near St. Thomas). See http://www.sawyerdive.vi/

 

[mstevens]

Custom Aquatics in Coral Harbor (where they're filming much of Casino Royale) will dive on YOUR schedule. We had a great time diving with them when we were in Nassau.

 

[ffestpirate]

Thank you all for all of the valuable info. I'm sure nowhere we dive will be bad, I'm just happy to have an idea of what to do before I get there.
Also, is anyone aware of a dive knife ban in those areas. I heard there was, but have been unable to confirm.
Thanks again,
chris