Advice needed - PADI certified divers but 1st time Cruisers

[scubadiver888]

What Roatan Joe is saying might have some validity. My ex-wife loved to go on cruises. Let her see many ports and I got to dive many ports. Some of the worse divers I have ever seen were once a year divers from the cruise ship. I would say however that the majority of people on the cruise ship excursions were average divers. Some were new but not bad. Some were seasoned divers who just decided to get some dives in while on vacation. But there was almost always 2 or 3 divers who were just horrible (diving with no exposure protection and wearing 30 lbs of lead, using the inflator as an elevator button, standing on the coral, etc.).

Maybe it was the cruises I went on but 90% seems to be an exaggeration. However, you just need one twit to make a dive horrible. I just learned to find a buddy, go off and do our own thing, come back to the boat when we are ready. Before I get wet I make sure the boat master remembers me so the dive boat doesn't leave without me.

 

[yle]

I've done several Caribbean cruises in the past few years as dive trips, and I'm leaving for another one in a few weeks. I've always booked my diving outside of the cruise ship (with one exception... see below) and I've never had a problem.

Benefit to booking through the cruise line: you're taken care of, no need to worry about unforeseen problems keeping you from getting back to the ship on time.

However, most of the time the islands are small and I've had several hours after diving to get back to the ship.

Benefits to booking outside of the ship: usually smaller groups and usually cheaper (but not always).

I've used the same shop in St Thomas a few times, and I'm using them again in a few weeks. The first time they picked us up, right at the cruise ship dock (literally, we walked off the ship and walked right onto the dive boat), it was the captain, guide, and five divers (including me any my son.) There was a big pontoon boat nearby loading about 60 tanks. Our crew waved to the crew of the other boat. I asked who they were; our guide told us that was the boat the cruise ship contracted with.

Price really isn't the big issue with diving from a cruise ship; VALUE is much more important. When you book through the ship, you'll be put on a boat with 30 or so other divers. A lot of time will be eaten up getting everyone sized for equipment and filling out paperwork. Then they'll take you to dive sites designed for the least common denominator... if you know what I mean. And as a final insult, you'll have 30 "cruise ship divers" in the water with you. It's usually easy for the guides to follow the divers... they just look for the giant ball of dust.

In contrast, I've always had fewer than 10 divers on the boats I've booked during my cruises. With fewer divers the guides are better able to cater to our needs (i.e. better dive sites), we get more personalized attention. I've never paid more than what the cruise ship charges; sometimes the prices are pretty comparable, sometimes the ship charges a lot more. But I've always got much better VALUE.

The one exception: when we stopped in Belize last year, I booked with the cruise ship. This is because the ship anchored offshore and we had to take tenders in to Belize City. If I was to book with a shop in Belize City, I would have had to make the trek to the city and then get on a dive boat that was going to go right past the cruise ship. The ship's operator, however, was allowed to pick us up right at the cruise ship. Saved us a lot of time and hassle for about the same price.

Let me know if you want any specific advice and feedback for who to dive with on which islands.

 

[paularice80]

Thank you all for your help. One more question?

The bulk of our experience is lake diving with no more than 15' visibility. We dove Cozumel and Maui both last year and (for obvious reasons) fell in love with them! Of the ports listed below, Carnival is offering dive excursions on Grand Turk & St. Kitts. Which ones should we dive?

St. Maarten(9a - 6p)
St. Kitts (7a-5p)
San Juan (7a-2p)
Grand Turk (9a-5p)

 

[LowVizWiz]

Could you all please share your wisdom? Book independently or book through the ship?

Hey paularice!

My wife and I have been taking at least one cruise a year for the last few years and every time we cruise I take the opportunity to dive in at least one of the ports. I have had decent experiences diving with the cruise op and booking my own charter.
For me the key has been setting my expectations accordingly, if I book through the cruise I don't expect world class dive sites; I expect a larger group with varying degrees of experience, but I also know I can be safe and have fun anytime I'm underwater no matter what.
If I book on my own, my expectations will not be much different... Generally speaking you can expect a smaller group. I will usually contact them by phone and ask about accommodating the cruise schedule, transportation to and from the cruise port and prices.
Some ops will pick you up at the cruise port and others won't, but knowing ahead of time is key in making decisions such as how much gear you will take with you or if the price different makes sense over the ship's op.

Finally, no matter which route you go, don't be THAT guy!
Yes, don't be the guy that gives cruise diving such a bad reputation!
Know how much weight you need, know what size gear you need. If you're hard to fit, like me; bring your own gear!
Service and dive said gear well ahead of your trip and make sure it's functional. If it doesn't work get it fixed and dive with it after it has been fixed and BEFORE you go on the trip.
If you need help or are not sure about anything ask for help on the boat the staff and everyone else will appreciate it.
Don't do anything you're not comfortable doing just because everyone else is doing it, be safe and have fun.

Thank you all for your help. One more question?

Carnival is offering dive excursions on Grand Turk & St. Kitts. Which ones should we dive?

St. Maarten(9a - 6p)
St. Kitts (7a-5p)
San Juan (7a-2p)
Grand Turk (9a-5p)

Of those ports both St. Kitts and Grand Turk are good to great. I dove both with the ship excursions during low season and had maybe 5-6 other people with me on the boat including the boat captain and dm. June is NOT low season!
During my dives GT was better, it was obvious to me that the dive op frequented that spot as all the resident grouper joined us the moment we jumped in and were quite friendly escorting us throughout the entire dive.

This was my personal dive buddy:

 

[NAM001]

I cruise with carnival. Thier policy is that if you book through them you wont be left behind. The ship waits for thier excursion contractors to return passengers tot he ship before departing. Really inportant when the ship anchors out. You go on your own and the boat breaks down and you are on your own. NOt many people take a passport on a dive boat. Being a new diver I recommend you use the ships facilities to book. There is no way for you to see all that is there on a 2 tank dive. NOt to mention so much to learn about ocean diving and the wonder of 100+ ft vis. The more seasonsed divers would be bored with the tourist locations and often charter on thier own. I(f you do charter on your own be carful about calling thenm from the states you can run a phone bill of 100 bucks making a booking. I want to say belize was an anchor out fo rthe cruise ship. the scuba chop pulled up along side divers xfered form the shhip the the boat and off you want. after the dive the boat did the same and you were back on board. So convienient.. expecially for new divers and or travelers.

 

[DEEPLOU]

Here's my $0.02
Done a couple of cruises, none this year (it's only 6 days old), lol
Actually do several per year.
Been to Belize about 8 times. Only set foot in Belize city twice (no dive excursion), all the other times I booked with the Cruise Ship. Been there on Carnival and NCL, both use the same operator. The DM's even said to me that they don't get to the best sites, mainly because of time constraints. But trying to book privately I think would be a problem there.

Been to Cozumel and Grand Cayman numerous times also. Have used Aldora in Cozumel. I found them on line, and saw good reviews here on SB. 100% better than ship excursion.
Grand Cayman, originally used ship excursion, but couple of years ago went with Off the Wall Divers. A small operator but very good. The last time I went with them there were 5 people on the boat. The owner, his main instructor/dm, and a new dm for them, and two "divers". They took us to a site seldom visited, and asked us what we wanted to do after that. Unfortunately, my last scheduled visit they couldn't accommodate the ship schedule, but recommended another operator. Didn't get to try them out as the weather Thanksgiving day was so bad, that the ship bypassed the island all together. Doing the same schedule on the same ship next week (Jan 11 NCL Epic).

Last time I stopped in Curaco, used Lion's Den or what ever the operator is called there. Not bad, but it was a little tense getting back to the ship. They did get me back with minutes to spare. Next visit (Feb) going to try Atlantis, they said they would pick up and drop off by the pier.

Wasn't impressed with Grand Turk, so next visit, just going to sit in the sand.


Socialization is a big part of diving. Booking thru the ship you get to meet other divers on the ship, and maybe down a few
when you book privately you don't get to meet (get to know) other dives as much.

 

[flots am]

I cruise with carnival. Thier policy is that if you book through them you wont be left behind. The ship waits for thier excursion contractors to return passengers tot he ship before departing. Really inportant when the ship anchors out. You go on your own and the boat breaks down and you are on your own. NOt many people take a passport on a dive boat.

That's actually an interesting point.

Whenever I leave the ship, I bring cash, a credit card, driver's license and a copy of my passport, in a zip-lock and actually take it underwater with me.

Every now and then a dive boat breaks down or a bus gets stuck in the mud, and depending on the distance and time to the next stop, the Captain may not hold up a 4000 passenger ship for a few people who are hours overdue.

They have left people, and there's a big difference between "The ship is gone and all I have is $20 and a wet bathing suit" and "The ship is gone and I have a few hundred dollars in cash, a credit card and ID" The first one is very stressful. The second one will get you a taxi ride to a nice hotel where you can hang out by the pool bar and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

flots.

 

[diversteve]

Of the four choices I'd pick the same two LVW did.

St. Maarten isn't really known for diving - although Saba nearby is - but it's not doable on a cruise excursion typically.

The better diving in Puerto Rico is not near the cruise port in San Juan - there's one shallow, murky training site - only a mile or two from the cruise pier. Either find someone who'll take you to the better diving on the East End - the distance makes that highly unlikely - and risky - with a 2PM departure - or tour Old San Juan, the Fort or do the Bacardi factory tour. We killed most of a day layover in town - from the cruise port you're practically there already - I believe it's just a walk up the hill? we saw the ships from a lookout in Old San Juan.

Condado Beach is also pretty nice and fairly close by. One weird thing there - we were once told (at the Intercontinental?) that without a room key they may not lets us back thru the gate onto the property. I suspect it's to minimize crime - many of the resorts are walled/fenced off. We didn't risk it.

The viz in the Turks/Caicos probably regularly exceeds 150' Probably more than that on the wall you'll be diving since the upwelling current keeps it clear. I'm pretty sure that when you look down the wall the deep blue stuff you see is 2-300' down in places - on it's way down to 6000' in some areas - not sure if GT is one of them though.

I don't know St. Kitt's but Explorer (liveaboard) goes there so the diving must be pretty good.

 

[ptn72]

For Grand Turk, I highly recommend Blue Water Divers. My wife and I dove with them when we were on our cruise last year. There were only two of us that day so it was like a private excursion. All paper work was done a head of time so checking in and out was fast.

Dive sites were only 10 minute boat ride so you won't have to worry about missing the ship. At one dive site, there was a grouper that followed us like puppies. It turns out the divers hunted lion fishes and fed them to groupers so this one thought we had food. I asked for 3 tanks but there was only enough time for 2 tanks. After our dive, we have enough time to go in town to buy conch salad You'll have to catch a bus from dock to the dive shop, about 5 minutes ride since they don't pick you up.

 

[newdoc2002]

The OP and our family have the same ports (possibly same cruise). Not having been in the eastern carib., it looks like Grand Turk may be the best of all the ports for diving. I am not a big fan of diving with ship excursion and have only done so on a few occasions. Almost missed the boat in Roatan diving on our own. Literally shut the door behind us. Thanks ptn72 for the rec. Blue Water Divers, looks like a good option.