New to diving

[merlyn321]

My girlfriend and I have never dove before. We have the opportunity to dive off Puerto Rico, St. Thomas or St. Martin in early December this year while on a cruise. We want to get away from the cruise line shore excursion and go somewhere less crowded. Does anyone have a recommendation as to which of the three locations would be best and a certified dive operation that the cruise lines don't flood with people?

I tried to dive at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia earlier this year but was turned down because of age (66) and taking blood pressure medication so I'm having a physical and taking a letter from my physician clearing me to dive.

Thanks for any help.

 

[kerrycorcoran]

I haven't been to those locations, however if you search for scuba operators in the area you'll be flooded with information. You could take that information and email the OPs directly to see who works with the cruise lines. Hope this helps.

 

[hroark2112]

I hope you're planning on getting certified before you go..

 

[RJP]

I hope you're planning on getting certified before you go..

DSD

---------- Post added November 10th, 2014 at 11:38 PM ----------

My girlfriend and I have never dove before. We have the opportunity to dive off Puerto Rico, St. Thomas or St. Martin in early December this year while on a cruise. We want to get away from the cruise line shore excursion and go somewhere less crowded. Does anyone have a recommendation as to which of the three locations would be best and a certified dive operation that the cruise lines don't flood with people?

I tried to dive at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia earlier this year but was turned down because of age (66) and taking blood pressure medication so I'm having a physical and taking a letter from my physician clearing me to dive.

Thanks for any help.

You're on a cruise ship. You're bringing a crowd with you everywhere you go. And if that's not enough people... there will be other cruise ships.

I would say St Thomas or St Martin will be better than Puerto Rico diving-wise.

That being said - you should ID a dive OP very soon and find out:

1. What do they have to offer for someone who is not certified? You will be limited to a "Discover Scuba Diving" program which has a classroom/video session, puts you in some confined water where they teach you a handful of skills, and then they'll take you on one dive where they'll drag you around a reef at around 25 ft for 30min or so. It's not a given that any specific op will be offering such a program if you just show up.
2. What do they need for medical clearance? A "letter from your doctor" will NOT cut it. For a PADI shop you will need a PADI medical form completed and signed by your doctor. You can download one here https://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-ver2-0.pdf. Shops from other agencies will have similar forms. Find out what the shop you plan to use wants... and be sure you have THAT ONE filled out.

I suggest you go through a ship-sponsored excursion. Main reason being is that if you "do your own thing" and end up being late getting back to the ship... the ship leaves without you. If you do a ship-sponsored excursion and end up being late getting back to ship... the ship WAITS for you. Plus, in the unlikely event there's an issue regarding payment/refund/etc you will have continued recourse to get things squared away once you get back on the ship if you book a ship-sponsored excursion. If you do you're own thing... once you're back on the boat, your options for recourse diminish significantly.

 

[diver 85]

Dove St Thomas while on a cruise ship trip about 2 years ago............IMO, it was average @ best but compared to what you've 'seen UW' you'd probably think it's good......1st of all------I'd get certified (only have 2 months or so to do it ie you're going in December & with your age/medical condition etc etc)......next pick one or all 3 & go, again you probably won't be disappointed in any of them........

BTW, I did 3 of the 5 stops we made that trip....Got on the internet & researched dive shops etc & booked(& paid in advance) with each before flying to San Juan....Did not go with the ones the cruise line were 'offering' ....On the 1st stop(St Thomas) it was me & 2 other paying divers on the boat---2nd place(St Lucia) it was me & 5 other divers(dove the Piton Wall---great 2 dives)....3rd place(St Kitts) I was the only paying diver---ie NONE of the diving was 'flooded with people'..........

Another BTW, name of dive shop @ St Thomas was Admiralty Dive Center, check them out on the internet.....other 2 were(St Lucia) Scuba Steve(again took the Premium package offered & dove in front of the Pitons) and Dive St Kitts(located @ the Bird Rock Beach Hotel)........Not hard to do......

EDIT:.....did not dive Barbados or St Maarten, the other 2 stops--did some regular shore excursions with the wife those 2 days(she wasn't interested in diving that trip)......

 

[CptTightPants21]

Was about to recommend Admiralty Dive Center for St. Thomas, but I can see they were already nominated. Duane is excellent and he does DSD.

 

[diversteve]

Of the three, my choice would be St. Thomas also.

The best diving in Puerto Rico is not near the cruise port. There's an average, often murky shore dive at a park nearby but I'd tour San Juan instead, it's a pretty interesting old city. There's also the Bacardi Factory tour..

I've never heard particularly good things about diving on St. Maarten but have no experience there.

As meentioned Admiralty or Blue Island Divers are better options than the cruise dive operator on St. Thomas. Both will pick you up at the WICO cruise port. On the off chance that your ship docks at Crown Bay Marina instead, you can walk to Blue Island from there easily. Blue Island also picks you up by boat from the end of the WICO pier. I believe Admiralty uses a van - they're located at the Windward Hotel - midway between the two cruise ports.

I wouldn't worry about missing the ship - most of the time you'll see it from either location. There's a lot of good shallow dives just south of Charlotte Amalie so barring any unforeseen difficulties you shouldn't have a problem. They're pretty dialed in to dealing with cruise traffic - both also offer some sort of option to clean-up/eat/shop before returning you to your ship.

Links to both:

St. Thomas Scuba Diving - USVI Dive Center | Admiralty Dive Center
Cruise Ship Divers

 

[Learn It]

+1 for St. Thomas