Urgent! St. Thomas Recommendation Needed for 2/7/07

[ahansen]

Alright - I need your help.

We have a Disney Cruise with our extended family (once in a lifetime thing) with 4 certified divers and our incompetent travel agent goofed up our scuba diving reservations (didn't make any in St. Thomas). Needless to say - lots of unhappy campers and we need help, and after reading many of the posts in this forum - this is the right group of people to help.

So - if you had a day in St. Thomas from the Disney Cruise line arriving in port on Wednesday February 2th, 2007 and leavin later the same day - what sites would you see and who would you trust to take you diving? We've only got 1 day in port and have a mix of diving comfort levels from my brotherin-law who just got certified to my dad who would rather be underwater than above water.

And while we're at it (and because I have zero confidence in our travel agent), what would you see in St. Maarten on February 6th and who would you go out with? And (part B of this question), how do you think company stacks up against the Disney arrangements?

I realize this a big request and any advice would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[diversteve]

My first choice would be Blue Island Divers. They're located at Crown Point which is one of the cruise ship docks and can also pick you up at WICO, which is the other. And since they're located in Charlotte Amalie you'll be out diving sooner.

Admiralty Dive Center is also located in C.A. at the Holiday Inn, but their schedule might not work for you, they leave at 8:00am.

A third choice would be Chris Sawyers, they also cater to cruise divers with a later departure/shorter trip, but they're located in Red Hook, which is a 20-30min. drive each way. But right off their boat at American Harbor is a shared ride cab pickup. Lunch at Molly Malone's right there if you have the time also...

Be glad your T/A didn't book your trip, the cruiselines go to Coki Beach, it's a marginal dive on a good day. They Snuba there if that gives you any idea...nice beach though.

 

[Scuba Laura]

Admiralty Dive Center offers 3 different dive charters, one at 8 am, one at 1 pm and a 3 tank 3 location that leaves whenever is best for you. All 3 will work for your schedule.

There are so many sites on St. Thomas that the independant dive centers use that work for multi-level experience divers. The nice thing about using the small shops vs. cattle-boating is, the dives are catered to your needs.

Admiralty and Blue Island are both excellent choices who can give you what you want.

 

[Guy Carrier]

The Chris Sawyer Dive Center in Red Hook is now the Red Hook Dive Center. Same place with the staff that used to work for Chris Sawyer now owning and operating the new dive op. They are really safe, fun and competent with decades of diving experience in the area. My wife and I just dove with them for eight days and loved every minute of it. See trip report http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/lesser-antilles/267838-trip-report-st-thomas-1-10-jan-09-a.html for the names of some of our favorite dive sites. Their URL is Red Hook Dive Center St. Thomas USVI - Scuba Diving Trips, PADI Classes, Rental Equipment, Repairs, Retail Sales

Good luck,

Guy

 

[catalina_mike]

Just got back from our cruise. Admiralty picked my daughter and I up for our last port of diving. Cant say enough about what a good operation and great gear. Really cool boat, really cool caption, really cool briefing, just get the questions correct after the briefing. LOL... really great people, would and will dive again with them.

 

[cgvmer]

I give a thumbs up to Admiralty Dive Center as well. I made the 3 tank reservation for my 2 sons and myself, on the day we arrive (via Royal Caribbean) my son's ear was clogged and he had to cancel. The shop told us not to worry(no cancellation charge), so my 1 son and I were on the boat alone for one dive then they picked up 3 other for a dive class . Very nice and flexible. This while the cruise line tours where getting packed onto some boats with 30 or more divers.

 

[Rhone Man]

The only advice I'd give is to maybe think about which dive sites you might like to do. They have some nice deep wrecks over in St Thomas (when I say "deep", I mean 75+ ft), but not all operators do them (I called Red Hook Divers and they said they won't do them - too far away, so I went with Admiralty Divers). I am no expert, but those wrecks seem to be one of the better attractions of St Thomas diving, so if you wanted to do one of them, that would narrow your search a little.

Not dumping on them - I am sure that they are an excellent operation - but the price that Red Hook Divers quoted me ($125 for a two tank dive) was also noticeably higher than what everyone else quoted ($99 for a two tank dive).