St Thomas Diving - Underwater Safari

[Maui Bound]

Hi - We will be headed to St. Thomas in early October and staying at the Marriott Frenchman's Cove. Web research shows that Underwater Safari has a desk at the Marriott. Wanted to see if any one has any feedback on this shop or other recommendations.
Thanks.

 

[Scuba Laura]

You are correct that Underwater Safari's has the Adventure Center at the Marriott. This dive operation also contracts with the cruise ships and usually goes to the same site everyday - Buck Island. Admiralty Dive Center has rights and permission to service the more serious divers by picking them up from the Marriott by boat using the dock provided there. Enjoy diving while you are there!

 

[Antietam]

Say no to CATTLE BOATS!!!


Despite one particular negative post by a new diver, My wife and I dove in late July with Blue Island Divers.

We were very pleased with the personal service, the roominess of the boat, and the general overall dive experience. The crew was great and seemed very knowledgeable of the area and the dive sites. the dive briefings were also very thorough. We dove 3 different wrecks and reefs, and were never farther than a 30 min boat ride from any of them.

Their shop is at Crown Bay Marina which is a very nice place, and the boat is right at their front door. We even picked up some customers right at the cruise ship dock. Tickles Pub is also right there which is a great after dive hang out.

IMO you wouldn't be disappointed. We are heading back in November! Blue Island Divers will be our only choice. Hope this helps.

 

[Doll_Fin]

I highly recommend Admiralty, They are VERY customer service oriented, they go to an awesome variety of sites and can customize your experience to suit your personal preferences and experience levels. They pick you up right at the Marriott dock, they'll set up and break down all your gear for you and even store it safely overnight if you're diving on consecutive days. Their owners Duane and Laura are the nicest couple who go out of their way to make sure their customers have the time of their lives - I can't say enough good things about these guys!!

 

[Maui Bound]

Thanks for the feedback. Less than two months before our trip. Never too early to be planning.

 

[hammerhead45]

why go diving with 30-40 of your closest freinds?? come on out with travis and I!!!!!!!!!

 

[hammerhead45]

friends (sorry) we dive better than we spell!!!!!!

 

[Funland111]

Hi - We will be headed to St. Thomas in early October and staying at the Marriott Frenchman's Cove. Web research shows that Underwater Safari has a desk at the Marriott. Wanted to see if any one has any feedback on this shop or other recommendations.
Thanks.

I would like to second the suggestion of Admiralty Dive Center. I dove with them for a week in March, while staying at Frenchman's Cove. They were outstanding and will handle your equipment if you are doing multiple dives with them. If you are experienced enough the Miss Opportunity is a great wreck dive -- they will guide you through the entire vessel. If you plan to dive nitrox you will have to go to their shop to verify the mix.

Have Fun

Funland111

 

[mwhities]

I highly recommend Admiralty, They are VERY customer service oriented, they go to an awesome variety of sites and can customize your experience to suit your personal preferences and experience levels. They pick you up right at the Marriott dock, they'll set up and break down all your gear for you and even store it safely overnight if you're diving on consecutive days. Their owners Duane and Laura are the nicest couple who go out of their way to make sure their customers have the time of their lives - I can't say enough good things about these guys!!

I'll be diving with them in March 09 off a cruise (Carnival Glory). Thanks Doll_Fin.

Michael

 

[caldivergirl]

I didn't research the shops before going to St Thomas and was limited by family activities from adequately investigating the shops before diving. My first dive was a drift dive to Thatch Cay with Coki Beach Dive Club. I can't say enough good things about them!

For the second and third I relied on the recommendation of Marriott's Frenchman's Cove to go with Underwater Safari's. While many aspects of the trip were well-handled, the nine other divers were all from the cruise ships and, although I told the dm I was alone and a relatively new diver, I was not assigned a buddy. The one dm trucked ahead and assigned one of the paying divers who had some rescue experience to bring up the rear. 15 minutes into the first dive, at 55 feet, the dm turned around and signaled stop. I looked up and saw a diver near the surface with her companion following. The dm told the group to stay and went up. After about 8 minutes he returned and signaled for us to surface, which we did, somewhat too close to Buck Island. He shouted that someone had shot to the surface, that we needed to return to the boat to take her in for medical care, and that we should swim underwater to the boat. After a hard 5 minute swim, we made the boat. The victim was standing by herself with no one attending her. The word was that she had recently run a marathon and suddenly was unable to breathe underwater. When she surfaced and was picked up by the boat, she was coughing up blood. Only after we got underway did one of the crew go over to get her, have her sit down and administered oxygen. We returned to shore and she was taken off in a wheelchair.

The shop then offered that they would take us out again to the Navy barges. This was a pleasant and somewhat interesting dive, but we surfaced after 35 minutes. In retrospect, I still should have asked for a partial refund. The first dive was a complete wash, and the second was short. But the $ issue was secondary to the fact that there were too many divers for one dm, and that my own safety was jeopardized by the failure to assign buddies. I can't imagine what it would have been like if they had had their full quota of 30 - 40 divers.

Anyway, I learned a lesson - never, never dive with a cruise ship dive shop. And avoid Underwater Safaris.