St Maarten - Philipsburg - need operator

[dive4funOften]

Hello all,

I am a fellow Scubaboarder - A Florida Conch to be exact. I would appreciate anyone that would help me with a trip I have planned. Several of us are going to be in Philipsburg on the Royal Caribbean Cruise on Nov 17th. I was wondering if anyone knew of an operator that would take us out on an afternoon 2 tank dive.

We are doing the Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour in the am and really really want to dive in the afternoon. There is about 6 of us. We would like a boat that has Oxygen on board and one that is safe. Some would also need gear. MUST RETURN to SHIP BY 5:00 PM.

Thank you so much for your help!

Ann

 

[sportbiker]

i have heard that underwater safaris is the place to go- they are right in the main dock area-

i had the DISPLEASURE of diving with a crappy outfit from the great bay hotel and casino. omg..can i just tell you..

stay away from this operation. theres a "dive master" from peru- who can skin dive to 30 feet and give us extra weights-(impressed me anyways) - but can't speak english.

they load you up to check out the "french reef" which essentially is as big as the boat you are diving from!

25ft down -I told my guide i had 600 psi left, and she did nothing about it..i had to decide myself to ascend! (this was on my final open water dive!)

we had drifted about 40 yeards from the boat and had to swim back-against a tide-
i was exhausted and had to be assisted into the boat.


thanks to the couple I was diving with- they helped me deal with the crappiest dive ever!!

in the end, i forgot my flippers, and they never signed my referral form.
at least i made it out alive

 

[CSD1129]

I always dive with Dive Safaris (Out of simpson bay) they have a shop in town (Royal Caribbean actually uses that location). They're a great operation...this will be my 4th year using them. I'd email them and get more details.

 

[dive4funOften]

I can only find them in St Thomas. Are they in St Marteen too? Do you have a website.

 

[Trwmodela]

I did a 2-tank dive with Dive Safaris of St. Marrten last week. The dives were GREAT!! I have dived with them twice in the past 8 months. The dives are guided but it was still fun. They will pick you up in a tender boat at the pier near the Cruise Dock. My Princess Cruise Line used them so I booked through the ship. We also did dives in St. Thomas but that was another story. BTW...I brought my own gear on the ship. You must book through the Cruise Ship because that have a contract with them. Don't try to by pass the Cruise Ship and go to the dive shop. They will not honor you if you came from a Ship.

http://www.divestmaarten.com/

Tim
Fort Myers Beach, FL

 

[Dive-aholic]

My sister went to St Maarten for her honeymoon and did her checkout dives on referral with Dive Safaris. Everything she told me about them was only good, from the initial e-mails to the actual dives. Sounds like you can't lose with them.

 

[CSD1129]

They're an excellent operation.
I'd really suggest diving with them. The instructors are professional, friendly, and saftey concious.

I've never had a bad experience with them...always on time etc.

Have fun on your vacation.
As for me, I'll be returning to SXM in over 200 days

 

[TXJeff]

I dove in Sint Maarten last week with Dive Safaris. (we were on a Crystal Cruise). Dive Safaris makes the short port time easy to get in a 2-tank dive. However, I would recommend starting in the AM. They are very friendly and helpful. I would have liked to experience better dives sights, but considering the time limitations, it was still worth the trip.

 

[CSD1129]

Can't wait to dive with them for my 4th year in a row!
They're great...I think I've been to almost every one of their sites...so they always try to take us to different places (if conditions permit)
To date I've made about 20 dives with dive safaris.

My favorite site is definately moon haul. It was like swimming through an aquarium. The coral formations came up to about 40 feet. It was a great dive!

This thread makes me want to go to Sint maarten right now...it's wayy too cold here in NJ. This morning it was a balmy 9 degrees!