Providencia Questions 'our first real diving experience'

[Pesce Leone]

Me and my girlfriend will be going on a backpacking trip through Colombia (starting midway through january) and in the last week (28 jan- 3 feb) we'll go to visit Providencia... I had a few questions...

-Does anyone know if its possbile to fly out from Cartagena and then immediately take that boat from San andres to Providencia? we don't really want to stay the night on San Andres because it seems not our type of Island (mega touristy and boring chain Hotels (Decameron))

-Any recomondations on Diving/Accomodation @ Providencia (NOT mega tourist traps/Hotelchains)??

-Me and my GF are newly trained (SSI) divers, we just got our OW a month ago, are the dives over there easy enough for rookie divers like us? (I have seen that a lot of dives are pretty shallow (3 to 13m)

-Which Dive locations around Prov. are 'must sees'? (there seem to be so many!!)

-Is there a chance to see Whale sharks over there?

We're really exited to go there and want to get the most out of our 3-4 days there, is that enough or should we try to extend?

Thanx 4 all advice!!!

 

[WOODMAN]

You should really talk to my friend Tad (scubaboard handle- tadeotadeo), as he is kind of the unofficial spokesman for Old Providence, and has a web site at diveoldprovidence.com. He has been helping me with my upcoming trip to this little known caribbean gem, and I'm sure you will find him a wealth of information.
As to a couple of your questions, you get to Providencia (another version of the name) via Santeena Airlines, which is basically the only practical transport to the area. They run a couple of flights a day back and forth from San Andreas, and are fairly cheap, for an airline. No web site, unfortunately, but Tad can help you with schedules and such. There supposedly is a catamaran ferry service which services Providencia from San Andreas, but my reports indicate that it is highly unreliable and tends to cancel scheduled trips with little or no warning. Tad can tell you more.
As to accomodations and diving services, there are several mom & pop type hotel/motels scattered around the island, along with a few more high-end type hotels, with high end prices to match. There are also 3 or 4 main diving shops, and Felipes diving and Sonny's diving come recommended. Tad works exclusively with Sonny's, for the most part.
I hope this is of some help to you, but my information is somewhat limited, seeing as how I haven't actually been there yet. (SOON!) That is why I keep referring you back to Tad. If I can be of any further assistance, though, please do not hesitate to ask. Good luck! Woody

 

[tadeotadeo]

Woody
Thank you for referring me

Pesce Leone
There are several flights between Cartagena and San Andres, I am not sure of the times of these flights, try Avainca and Arerorepublic for flights.
There are 2 boat traveling between San Andres and Old Providence. Ocean Express is the one Woodman mentioned, they cancelled a trip on me and I have heard similar stories. There is a newer operation making the trip, good reports are coming from friends.
El Sensacion makes the trip Monday, Wednesday and Friday
SAI to OPI departs 9 Am
OPI to SAI depart 3 PM
Round trip $140,000cop
One way $70,000cop

Sonny’s Dive center Cabanas is my recommendation for diving and accommodations. There are several other accommodation that are similar but you can usually get a better package deal diving and accommodations. I have and would dive with Felipe’s, but I really like the service you get with Sonny’s.
There are several dive sites for beginners under 40 ft. My favorite ones are a bit deeper, Stairway to Heaven, Felipe’s Place and Turtle Rock are my favorite they all start around 40 and drop to over 100, I think the best views are in the 50-70ft range.
Whale Sharks don’t regularly make it to Old Providence although there has been an occasional sighting.

We're really exited to go there and want to get the most out of our 3-4 days there, is that enough or should we try to extend?

My guess is you will need more time, I always recommend a week minimal. There are more dive site that you could do in a 2 week visit and the topside is just …..well lets just say …..This place will capture your soul
Ciao
Tad

 

[sapix_]

I posted some info about this couple months ago....... http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4833052-post29.html. Not to discredit Tadeo at all (actually, he is really nice offering tons on info) but he is directly associated with the dive shop/accomodations he recommends so I am not sure he gives the whole picture based on what I've seen BUT I could be wrong (and my apologies if I am).

 

[Pesce Leone]

Thanx for the info! We will probably see where we'll go when we get there...it shouldn't be high-high season anymore after 27 january right??

We will be leaving in 1 weektime, if anyone has some 1st hand experience there i'd love to hear!

Can't wait to see that clearblue sea again (2 years ago we have been to Belize Key Caulker :snorkel2

 

[tadeotadeo]

Pesce Leone

Thanx for the info! We will probably see where we'll go when we get there...

Great idea I'm sure you will find something suitable

it shouldn't be high-high season anymore after 27 january right??

Season should be just about finnished at that time correct


sapix_
Not to disrespect you, your option or Sirius but undercurrent.com most recent post on Sirius was not that promising. And with my daily contact with the islands I hear similar stories. I will only recommend a business that I know holds the same quality of service I uphold, regardless of affiliation. I am not affiliated with Felipe and recommended him in this post. At this time and with the knowledge I have gained about Sirius, I do not feel Sirius is at a level of service where I could recommend them.
Again, I respect your option I am sure you had a great experience with them and hope you return.
You should join us for the March 6th thru the 13th trip I’m planning, we could continue this debate over a beer at Roland’s.


Ciao
Tad

 

[sapix_]

Tad:

I will take the beer only if you buy!!! LOL !!! no, seriously, I did not try to erode your credibility or sabotage your input, I just felt that way and I rather express it since we all are fellow divers so if I am wrong, my apologies and let's leave it behind us. I wish I could join you guys for that diving week but unfortunately it is not that easy for me to get to Providence and I have another couple trips scheduled already so it will have to wait before I get back there.

Cheers,

 

[tadeotadeo]

sapix
With beer less than a dollar in OPI I will buy you more than one my friend, anytime.
No hard feeling here and I appreciate your comments, that is what this whole scubaboard thing is all about, everyone has experiences and opinions.
Ciao
Tad

 

[Pesce Leone]

Thanx for all the information, it was an unforgettable experience!

We stayed 6 nights at El Encanto which was just across from Felipe's diving (we dove with them) and did 3 x 2tank dive...
Picci was fantastic and he made many pictured which I will try to upload asap...
Also the all the others where super friendly especially Alex (the big guy) and Alejandro

The visibility was a little less clear then ususal but still great diving...

On our 1st dive we had a seaturtle swim arround us and we made a nice vid...
The corrals are stunning and plentifull, we did a wreck dive aswell and did some Lion Fish hunting!!! Aparently thy are a pest there, killing the other fish and eating their eggs...They are not from there and reproduce quickly and have no natural enemy...

We still wanted to see more but all the more reasons to go back in future...

The island itself was super chilled out...we rented a scooter for 3 days...its only 17 km to go arround and no worries even at night. Spectaculair (yet small) beaches... A little paradise with hardly any tourism!!! (no annoying vendors)

Special thanx to Mafaldisima who reccomended Felipe's and El Encanto (they were really friendly!)

We loved Old Providence!!!

 

[angusdiver]

Pesce great review, thanks..
Ill be there next may, you think i should book in advanced? how much they charge for a dive? is there any wreck?

Thank you