I have just returned from a week long cruise with Holland America Lines and had two days a very enjoyable diving.
Day One - Grand Cayman (George Town):
I booked the dives through Fisheye Scuba. I got off the ship at the pier and asked around for Fisheye but all the cab operators thought that Fisheye was out of business. I found a pay phone, gave them a call, and was on my way to the boat with little hassle. The great part of this story is how helpful cab drivers, tour operators, and bystanders where in helping me find out where I needed to go and then LENT me their personal cell phone to make the call. The folks working the pier in Grand Cayman understand the value of the tourist industry and went out of their way to help us even though they did not directly benefit. GREAT JOB!!!
We got to the public beach where the Fisheye boat is running out of right now, loaded our gear and set out for the dive site with no delay. The boat ran with only 4 divers on board which made for some very nice un-crowded dive conditions. The first dive was accompanied by Mat, the captain/DM. After our first dive Mat was comfortable with our skills and let us do our own thing on the remaining 2 dives. All dives were briefed well with lots of details and suggestions on what we would be seeing, terrain, conditions, wildlife, etc. We made maximum use of our bottom time and got in some 50-60 min dives on the last two tanks. At the end of the day Mat gave us a ride back to the pier and we got back on ship with no problems. I give five stars and a great thanks to Mat and Fisheye scuba for the excellent trip!
Day Two - Jamaica (Ochos Rios):
I booked our dive though the ship shore excursion desk. The ship brought us to the dive boat and we waited a few minutes on the beach waiting for the boat. After the boat showed up we left immediately and filled out paperwork/checked credentials on the way to the dive site.
I have to admit that I was not impressed with the boat crew on their customer service and friendliness. The first dive was done with a very minimum dive brief and was lead by the DM at 100 ft. After the first dive the DM asked for a $25 dollar tip to take us to a "Better Dive site" than was the original destination for the second dive. Not wanting to be dropped in the sand flats at 35ft, we gave up the money and set off for the second site. Have way to the site we stopped at the Sandals resort to pick up a second diver. This is where the story really gets good! The boat did not have enough gear on board for the additional diver, so the DM gave his BC and second tank to this diver and led the second dive by carrying the tank he used on the first dive in his arms... he was wearing a 5 mil suit so he had to add weight to his belt to be negative... but I'm sure this is NOT PADI approved (maybe that is the way they teach it in NAUI?) We were rushed through both dives with a bottom time of about 40 min and I came up with over 1000psi on both tanks. After we got back to the pier they loaded hustled us off and loaded a group of snorkelers. I wasn't able to get the name of the operator but I know they service both the cruise ships and sandals resorts.
The diving was great in Both GC and Jamaica, warm water with miles of Vis. Lots of pretty fish, etc. But the experience was night and day. If Jamaica ever wants to get on the map, the had better start with the idea that the customer is not a cash register and needs to be cared for.
Day One - Grand Cayman (George Town):
I booked the dives through Fisheye Scuba. I got off the ship at the pier and asked around for Fisheye but all the cab operators thought that Fisheye was out of business. I found a pay phone, gave them a call, and was on my way to the boat with little hassle. The great part of this story is how helpful cab drivers, tour operators, and bystanders where in helping me find out where I needed to go and then LENT me their personal cell phone to make the call. The folks working the pier in Grand Cayman understand the value of the tourist industry and went out of their way to help us even though they did not directly benefit. GREAT JOB!!!
We got to the public beach where the Fisheye boat is running out of right now, loaded our gear and set out for the dive site with no delay. The boat ran with only 4 divers on board which made for some very nice un-crowded dive conditions. The first dive was accompanied by Mat, the captain/DM. After our first dive Mat was comfortable with our skills and let us do our own thing on the remaining 2 dives. All dives were briefed well with lots of details and suggestions on what we would be seeing, terrain, conditions, wildlife, etc. We made maximum use of our bottom time and got in some 50-60 min dives on the last two tanks. At the end of the day Mat gave us a ride back to the pier and we got back on ship with no problems. I give five stars and a great thanks to Mat and Fisheye scuba for the excellent trip!
Day Two - Jamaica (Ochos Rios):
I booked our dive though the ship shore excursion desk. The ship brought us to the dive boat and we waited a few minutes on the beach waiting for the boat. After the boat showed up we left immediately and filled out paperwork/checked credentials on the way to the dive site.
I have to admit that I was not impressed with the boat crew on their customer service and friendliness. The first dive was done with a very minimum dive brief and was lead by the DM at 100 ft. After the first dive the DM asked for a $25 dollar tip to take us to a "Better Dive site" than was the original destination for the second dive. Not wanting to be dropped in the sand flats at 35ft, we gave up the money and set off for the second site. Have way to the site we stopped at the Sandals resort to pick up a second diver. This is where the story really gets good! The boat did not have enough gear on board for the additional diver, so the DM gave his BC and second tank to this diver and led the second dive by carrying the tank he used on the first dive in his arms... he was wearing a 5 mil suit so he had to add weight to his belt to be negative... but I'm sure this is NOT PADI approved (maybe that is the way they teach it in NAUI?) We were rushed through both dives with a bottom time of about 40 min and I came up with over 1000psi on both tanks. After we got back to the pier they loaded hustled us off and loaded a group of snorkelers. I wasn't able to get the name of the operator but I know they service both the cruise ships and sandals resorts.
The diving was great in Both GC and Jamaica, warm water with miles of Vis. Lots of pretty fish, etc. But the experience was night and day. If Jamaica ever wants to get on the map, the had better start with the idea that the customer is not a cash register and needs to be cared for.
