New Diver here

[anje77o]

Hello everyone. I'm going on a cruise soon that will stop at Cozumel, Cayman and Montego Bay. I'd like to only dive once. Which is the best island to dive? And is there such a dive as one where the boat stops in an area where the drop point isn't too deep? I don't want to go too deep and prefer where I can see the bottom and it's still nice and bright. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[diversteve]

Which is the best island to dive?

One of the first two.

I can't speak to Cozumel but on Cayman most of the cruise operations are very aware of the experience level of their clientele and pick sites accordingly. Don Fosters is the official cruise operator for many of the lines, Red Sail the other.

There you can also shore dive at Eden Rock/Devils Grotto - it's a 500' walk from the cruise tender dock. Or Sunset House which is a short cab ride away. Depending on your cruise arrival/time in port, Red Sail Watersports also does an afternoon dive that won't much exceed 40' but still be on a good dive site. The Aquarium is one to ask about.

There's about 1/2 dozen other options in Georgetown for boat diving from a cruise - most walking distance. Contact options:

http://www.edenrockdive.com/ - the Silversides shown are in the Grotto. Only in summer.
www.sunsethouse.com - more of a DIY day - I'm not sure if their morning boat dives would be available - they do afternoon specialty dives, there's 2-3 shore dive options there and My Bar for lunch. Finding a buddy won't be a problem either most likely - it's one of two dive resorts there.

http://www.donfosters.com/pages/cruise_ships.php
http://www.redsailcayman.com/cruise-ship
http://www.lobsterpotdivecenter.com/cruise-ship-visitors/ - Deep Blue, Off the Wall Divers and Wall to Wall diving are all options. My pick would be WtoW but I know the owner slightly.
https://www.diversdown.net/cruise_divers.html

If the issue is depth, you should be able to find someone doing shallower dives. If it's light/water clarity that won't be an issue there - on a sunny day the visibility can exceed 200' on the wall.

 

[claymore]

My preference in descending order are Cozumel Grand Cayman and Montego Bay. Jamaica is not known for the diving there.
My personal preference is Cozumel. I like drift diving and the Big coral there.
In Cozumel If you use the cruise operator, Sand Dollar Sports, they do not take you to any of the sites that would not be suitable for new, inexperienced or rusty divers. The dives are usually good dives. You should have no problem staying in the 60' - 80' range on the first dive and even less on the second. A majority of their clientele is cruise ship divers which tend to be new, inexperienced or vacation divers.
In Grand Cayman many of the cruise lines use Don Fosters. Again if it is a cruise excursion they will take you to sites that are rated as easy because of the diverse dive skills of the divers they get.

 

[iamrushman]

howdy and welcome from south Florida...have a great cruise.

 

[anje77o]

Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[robint]

As a beginner... skip Cozumel. It is all drift and will be uncomfortable for you.

Roatan would be my number 1 choice for you.
Cayman would be second.

I have done all 3. Videos of all 3 on the website.

 

[claymore]

The dives the cruise ship operator on Cozumel takes you on will be suitable for a new diver as a large percentage of their cruise passengers are new or vacation divers that are not very experienced.

Some of the dives in Cozumel can have some fairly fast currents at times but many sites generally have little or no perceptible current.

 

[robint]

yes, the cruise ship ops are going to take divers to easier dive sites, so not really the best of Cozumel.... because of the current. Last thing they want is to be chasing divers, who get too high in water column (water moves at different speeds at different levels off the reef... lower is slower). Having been there, doing lots of dives over the past 16 years, I can say I have seen once a year divers suddenly at the surface because they weren't paying attention to the current, or staying close to the reef. They end up getting separated from the rest of group...which is terrifying for the DM as well as the divers. THAT is why they take divers to what they hope will be "easy" Cozumel dive sites.
Current varies day to day, and is affected by moon cycle and weather conditions. No way to know for sure until the DM drops in the water to check it out.

 

[The Chairman]

Geez, you're gonna have fun which ever you choose! Be sure to post some pictures for us.

 

[anje77o]

Ok now I just went from excited to scared. So no drift diving for me. I heard to never book with the cruise. Is there no such thing as no drift diving in Cozumel? I'd like to dive both Cozumel and GC for sure. What to do? =/