recommendations diving bahamas

[ivansie]

Hi all, I am planning a short trip to the bahamas probably in july or august. I dont think we have enough time for a liveaboard so most likely will fly out of ft. lauderdale. My question is where to go, which one of the islands has better diving and is less "resort" like. We want to go for the diving and have a good time but also dont want to spend too much $$$ at a turist destination.

Should we fly to Nassau/new providence, freeport/grand bahama, abacos... any recomendations also in lodging oriented towards diving and relaxing, maybe diving/hotel packages...

We like wreck diving so the trip should include some of this too.

All recommendations are welcomed.

bye
ivan=-)

 

[crgoode]

Scuba Adventures out of West Palm Beach runs 2 through 7 day liveaboards to the Bahamas from WPB. Looks like a Blackbeards or just a little roomier. Check out WWW.scuba-adventures.com

 

[RICHinNC]

If $$$$$$ is a big factor i would recommend staying away from the bahamas in general....and going to places like St Thomas or my all time favorite...St John. Both are much cheaper than most bahama areas....have good places to dive.....and St. john has some very secluded beaches and is easy to rent a car and drive around on as 99% of the island is a national park.

at st john the weston is ok...a resort but ok....on st thomas the rennaisance is ok...has a dive shop that is great...chris sawyer...

but if you have your heart set on the bahamas....get more $$$$ out of the old bank....youre gonna need it

 

[ivansie]

Rich and CR, thanks to both for your recommendations I will check them out.

About St. Thomas/John... how does prices for diving packages and accommodations compare to the bahamas?

My biggest point of consideration regarding destinations was airfaire since you can get sometimes cheap flight to the bahamas, I will search on the other destinatios and see how much the difference is and it might influence my decision.

I am really not set about the bahamas I have been there multiple times but not diving so I dont have a good feel of the diving enviroment of the islands.

bye
ivan

 

[NYStan]

Hi,

I've been to Chub Cay, Walkers, Andros, Abaco (Marsh Harbour) and Eleuthera. The diving at Andros is the best. You are on an island next to the third largest barrier reef in the world. They call it the toung of the ocean. It drops off from a shallow reef to 5000'! Diving, you go from green/blue sea to dark blue, like a knife edge cut the sea in half. Getting there is by small plane which you probably can secure out of FLL. You said you didn't want a tourist type place. So you might want to check out Small Hope Bay. Accomodations are non air conditioned beach front cottages. Main house serves food family style. The price includes all food, beverages (they do lock the bar up at night but always after I've been to sleep anyway) and diving. For two, expect to spend about $470 per day for it all. I've been there several times and frankly would rather dive at Cozumel and save the bucks. But, it was a "different" experience. It is definately NOT turist! From FLL you might also consider a trip to Grand Cayman. Also not inexpensive though. For the buck, Cozumel rocks.

 

[RICHinNC]

It depends on the season as all the islands do when it comes to prices. I stayed at the Weston which is a 5 star resort and spent $199 a night if i remember correctly. The Weston is on St John...and....there are cheaper places. What i like about st john is it is small...no hussle bussle...can get a rental car for about $50 downtown and drive all over the islands.....there are lots of almost deserted beaches.

St thomas is a place you dont want to get anywhere near a car....take a cab. I stayed at the Renaissance there and paid just $99 a day there. Food can be gotten reasonably if you get off the hotel grounds...same in st john.

Dive prices are very comperable with my North Carolina dives so that was not a big deal. As here, it will depend on how far the boat has to go. If you plan on diving the Rhone, it is in british waters and you will need a passport. A two tank morning..or...afternoon dive will run you between $65 and $85 depending on where it is. Look up the Chris Sawyer dive organization on the internet.....they are within a 5 minute walk of the Rennaisance hotel.
Good luck...let us all know how it went.

 

[FredT]

Top flight diving for any class of diver, few tourists, VERY laid back, and a good operation, but a bit of trouble to get to. They run charters to Fresh Creek ariport out of Ft Luderdale though.

It's an "all ioncludive deal" but not like any resrot you've ever been to.

FT

 

[blawler1]

American and Continental both have multiple hops to Freeport and Nassau daily from FLL.

Nassau/New Providence offers good diving on the SW end of the island away from Nassau/Paradise Island. I only know of one resort on that side of the island, the South Ocean resort, which is home to Stuart Cove's. I've never stayed there and have heard mixed reviews.

Most of the dive shops, including SC, provide free shuttles to and from all the Nassau/PI hotels. My favorite is the British Colonial Hilton in downtown Nassau. Nassau is a bustling city with lots of cruise ships docking daily

Nassau offers shark dives, wreck dives, wall, reef and DPVs (a blast)

Freeport/Grand Bahama is more laid back. There are two basic tourist areas, The International Bazaar/Casino in Freeport and the Port Lucaya area. Port Lucaya offers nightly live entertain at an outdoor amphitheater and plenty of bars and restraurants.

There is a Holiday Inn/Crown Plaza complex in Freeport and a couple of large resorts, including Our Lucaya in Port Lucaya.

The diving is similar to Nassau with a couple of good big wrecks, Theo's wreck and the Sea Starr.

 

[docmartin]

for a short trip i'd go to walkers cay. can't be beat (in that part of the world) if you like sharks. 45 minutes from ft lauderdale by seaplane. also reasonable $$$.

 

[divebag]

I would recommend looking into Bimini. Its a small island 50 miles from Miami. It's not a high dollar tourist destination and is primarily known for excellent sport fishing and great diving. Very relaxing place. I've only done free diving there, but have seen it on discovery channel "search for atlantis" (large underwater stones, said to be remains of an ancient road"). I also saw it last week on the travel channel ranking it as the number 3 or 4 place to go in the bahamas because there are so few tourist but a fun place to party. Search the web for "bimini" and you'll find out more.