Top 2 Dive Sites in GC?

[Doctorfish]

If I was a new diver and was chartering a boat, I'd opt for the West Side, and hope to do Northwest Point or Orange Canyon for the deep dive and then, maybe Hepps, Bonnies Arch or Mesa for a shallow. I would not go North or East except maybe to nip around the point and dive Ghost Mountain for the deep dive if calm. Kittiwake is ok, but not what GC is famous for.

North and East side walls are more exciting but as a new diver, not worth the extra time and distance to get there. The West Side walls will blow you away.

Another option would be to do a charter with an operator who is based on the North and then do a North wall dive first and Stingray City as a shallow. No matter what you you do will be a blast.

---------- Post added July 9th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ----------

Most operators will pick you up in town regardless of where they are based.
Also, someone mentioned currents on the North, not usually so. If rough, the operators will not go out that way and instead go West or South. If calm, the North Wall does not tend to have a lot of current. The operators always drop a line when they moor at a site and if current, they move elsewhere.

 

[ranchonodinero]

One day? Forget the boat and go to Macabuca bar and shore dive all day on nitrox. On Monday stay for the BBQ then night dive. Most bang for the buck!

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[releck97]

One day? Forget the boat and go to Macabuca bar and shore dive all day on nitrox. On Monday stay for the BBQ then night dive. Most bang for the buck!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Although I agree with you, this will not totally work for a cruise ship dive. The dives at Turtle Farm are magnificent though (especially the main wall) and very cheap. When we have been relegated to cruise ship diving in the past, we normally rent a vehicle and head up to Macabuca for the day. We can get two dives in, have a great meal at Macabuca with some Ironshore bocks and return to the pier before the last tender. We usually rent our car from Andy's on 7MB.

 

[kmbaczynski]

Just got back from GCM.

Went out with Red Sail off the East End for five dives, and a night dive off the West End.

Saw some sharks at Jack McKinley's and Grouper Grotto--other than that, both of them were awesome sites. Both sites are slightly Southward of the Morritt's Tortuga Club where the Red Sail shop is located on that end, and they may only take you there on a calmer day--they were definitely in rougher water than most of the dive sites we did.

 

[releck97]

Just got back from GCM.

Went out with Red Sail off the East End for five dives, and a night dive off the West End.

Saw some sharks at Jack McKinley's and Grouper Grotto--other than that, both of them were awesome sites. Both sites are slightly Southward of the Morritt's Tortuga Club where the Red Sail shop is located on that end, and they may only take you there on a calmer day--they were definitely in rougher water than most of the dive sites we did.

Although awesome dives, they are not doable within a cruise ship schedule.

 

[diversteve]

Although I agree with you, this will not totally work for a cruise ship dive.

Especially since the OP's sails at 3PM.