Need some advice/help

[jrmfg17]

I will be taking a cruise 07-14Oct and will be stopping in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Costa Maya (???). I would like to do some diving in Belize and maybe Cozumel. Does anyone have any suggestions on a Dive Op in any of these locations? My girlfriend and I are both new divers and would really appreciate a good dive op. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
J.R.

 

[peterbj7]

You have limited possibilities because your time in port is short. So far as Belize is concerned, either use the operator your cruise ship has arranged or be prepared for some nifty foot work to fly up to one of the cayes, do a couple of dives and have lunch and an hour or two's relaxation, then fly back. Assuming there's anything left of the cayes after Felix.

Can't speak for Cozumel.

 

[diversteve]

Why not dive in Grand Cayman? Don Foster's, who have the contract for all the cruise traffic, is just a short walk south of the port. And Eden Rock is about the same to the north. Eden Rock is a very simple entry, calm, but only average diving imo. (lots of cruise diver traffic over the last 20yrs.) Fairly shallow too as you can't go out too far or you're under your cruise boat(s).

Another option is take a cab to Sunset House. It's a mile south of Georgetown. It's an easy entry, you can dive the Mermaid in 50' of water and the Nicholson wreck slightly farther out. And there's a lot of interesting reef nearer to shore. My Bar there for lunch is a diver's hangout.

 

[jrmfg17]

Well, it looks like Felix is gonna rip up Belize. The Grand Cayman dive sounds pretty nice. I like the idea of being a short distance away. I would hate to miss the ship. I would use the ships Dive excursion except they want $165/person for a two tank dive. Thanks for the tips, I guess I have a couple of choices to make now.

Thanks again.

J.R.

 

[peterbj7]

They charge that much because they know you're short on options, and any other way you go diving will cost you a comparable amount (including transport costs to the dive center).

I'm afraid I'm cynical enough to believe that the prime aim of a cruise ship operator is to separate you from as much cash as possible as painlessly as possible, and everything including their schedule is geared to that. For example, they deliberately arrive later than they need and leave earlier (thereby ensuring you can't take one of the local standard trips) just so they can get back outside territorial waters asap and re-open their casinos - probably the biggest money spinner on board.

 

[jrmfg17]

I think you may be on to something there...ha ha. That's why the minimum bids are half price Day 1 and everybody wins all night. Then the rest of the trip, you can't win anything. Oh well, I'm committed now. Hopefully we will be able to get some good diving in though.