We arrived Saturday, flying Delta out of Greensboro via Atlanta. I am happy to report flight was smooth, on time and uneventful. We found transit throught the GC airport very easy and was soon at the Avis counter to pick up our rental. It was just a two minute walk from the terminal. I have to say that the agent at Avis was the most pleasant rental car employee that I have ever met! So far off to a great vacation.
Frinding our way from the airport plus driving on the wrong side of the road was a little challenging at first. I knew we needed to head south and east and that there were not that many main roads so I pulled out the map, opened my compass app and it worked. Only one misstep on our way to Turtle Nest Inn and we realized it immediately.
Turtle Nest Inn. Everything we expected. Small, very personal resort with a wonderful owner that really wants you to feel comfortable and welcome. Meticulously maintained. Obvious attention to detail. Staff unobtrusive but very friendly. We rented a one bedroom apartment. Room clean, plenty of room for two and a gorgeous view. Quiet. Grill at poolside for guests. Perfect location in Bodden Town to stage trips both west and east.
Woke up early Sunday for a 2 tank am trip with Ocean Frontiers. Calm seas and only a small breeze. Water temp 82. Dove the Maze and Playing Fields. I have to admit I was very disappointed. Viz was ok but I wasn't too impressed with the dive sites. Worried about the rest of the week. For lunch we had the fish fry at Eastern Star, sitting on their picnic tables on the beach. Liked the relaxed atmosphere and eating on the beach but the fish was cooked a bit too much for our taste.
Wind and waves picked up the next day but my worry about the dive sites was gone after Monday's two dives, Kangaroo Gorge that started with a swim through to 107 + feet then a float along the wall for about 15 minutes before going shallower. Loved that dive. Next was Ironshores Garden. Very nice dives. That afternoon we walked the Botanical Gardens which I probably enjoyed more then Eric and then drove out to Rum Point, had a cocktail and watched the sunset from the dock. Considered the buffet dinner there but decided to save our money for dives.
Tuesday was Elmo's Wall and Little House. Best dives yet. Had an audience of 12 reef squid at the safety stop. We were late for the last tour at the Crystal Caves so did a short walk through Mastic Trail. It is 2 miles out then back. By then it was very hot and humid so we only made it half way. That night we had the dinner buffet at Compass Cove and it was good food at a good price. Today we headed around the east end and dove Split Rock and Black Rock Reef. Reefs were beautiful and looked very healthy with more marine life then our southern dives. This time it was a large group of juvenile barracuda at the SS. It was a georgeous end to our four days diving with Ocean Frontiers.
So a little about diving with OF. Would definitely do it again. The staff was wonderful and extremely safety conscious. Our guides Olivia, Rubin, Elliott and Mike were excellent. It was our first experience with concierge dive ops and I have to admit I was a little spoiled. They are very organized and extremely efficient. Gave us a crate labeled for each of us to stow our gear under the bench. I dove nitrox 80's and Eric had 100's. Not sure what to expect we brought our own analyzer but the staff came around with one and a clip board to record readings so we left ours at the apartment after the first day. Readings were 31.6 to 33.7. They even supplied Eric with a free 13 cf pony for each trip, rigged and ready to go.
First dives were typically dives 90 to 100 feet the first 15 minutes or so then headed shallower to 50 to 60 feet until we reached the boat again at around 35 minutes into the dive. The guide would signal boat then head up. We were left to then finish out our dive however we liked, only limit was gas and NDL. Total time on the first dive was 50 to 60 minutes. We also had the option to dive as buddy groups from the start but we all elected to go with the guide since we had no prior experience with these sites. On the deeper dives the boat drops a hang line. Both dives have a regulator for OOA divers. Never saw it used.
Second dive averaged 50 feet. Again we would start as a guided dive then finish on our on. Most of these dives were around 70 minutes. Could have stayed a little longer but we knew the boat was waiting.
We were on the Eastern Sky for all our trips. Never crowded, they don't fill to capacity. Two quides each trip, split the group into two. I think it was air vs nitrox that determined which group you were in. Don't know if typical of their clientele but the group each day seemed very experienced, friendly and considerate.
Tomorrow my conference begins, a necessary evil to help pay the bills, so mornings are a bust. But tomorrow afternoon is Divetech and the Kittiwake then a reef. Looking forward to checking out the other end of the island.
Frinding our way from the airport plus driving on the wrong side of the road was a little challenging at first. I knew we needed to head south and east and that there were not that many main roads so I pulled out the map, opened my compass app and it worked. Only one misstep on our way to Turtle Nest Inn and we realized it immediately.
Turtle Nest Inn. Everything we expected. Small, very personal resort with a wonderful owner that really wants you to feel comfortable and welcome. Meticulously maintained. Obvious attention to detail. Staff unobtrusive but very friendly. We rented a one bedroom apartment. Room clean, plenty of room for two and a gorgeous view. Quiet. Grill at poolside for guests. Perfect location in Bodden Town to stage trips both west and east.
Woke up early Sunday for a 2 tank am trip with Ocean Frontiers. Calm seas and only a small breeze. Water temp 82. Dove the Maze and Playing Fields. I have to admit I was very disappointed. Viz was ok but I wasn't too impressed with the dive sites. Worried about the rest of the week. For lunch we had the fish fry at Eastern Star, sitting on their picnic tables on the beach. Liked the relaxed atmosphere and eating on the beach but the fish was cooked a bit too much for our taste.
Wind and waves picked up the next day but my worry about the dive sites was gone after Monday's two dives, Kangaroo Gorge that started with a swim through to 107 + feet then a float along the wall for about 15 minutes before going shallower. Loved that dive. Next was Ironshores Garden. Very nice dives. That afternoon we walked the Botanical Gardens which I probably enjoyed more then Eric and then drove out to Rum Point, had a cocktail and watched the sunset from the dock. Considered the buffet dinner there but decided to save our money for dives.
Tuesday was Elmo's Wall and Little House. Best dives yet. Had an audience of 12 reef squid at the safety stop. We were late for the last tour at the Crystal Caves so did a short walk through Mastic Trail. It is 2 miles out then back. By then it was very hot and humid so we only made it half way. That night we had the dinner buffet at Compass Cove and it was good food at a good price. Today we headed around the east end and dove Split Rock and Black Rock Reef. Reefs were beautiful and looked very healthy with more marine life then our southern dives. This time it was a large group of juvenile barracuda at the SS. It was a georgeous end to our four days diving with Ocean Frontiers.
So a little about diving with OF. Would definitely do it again. The staff was wonderful and extremely safety conscious. Our guides Olivia, Rubin, Elliott and Mike were excellent. It was our first experience with concierge dive ops and I have to admit I was a little spoiled. They are very organized and extremely efficient. Gave us a crate labeled for each of us to stow our gear under the bench. I dove nitrox 80's and Eric had 100's. Not sure what to expect we brought our own analyzer but the staff came around with one and a clip board to record readings so we left ours at the apartment after the first day. Readings were 31.6 to 33.7. They even supplied Eric with a free 13 cf pony for each trip, rigged and ready to go.
First dives were typically dives 90 to 100 feet the first 15 minutes or so then headed shallower to 50 to 60 feet until we reached the boat again at around 35 minutes into the dive. The guide would signal boat then head up. We were left to then finish out our dive however we liked, only limit was gas and NDL. Total time on the first dive was 50 to 60 minutes. We also had the option to dive as buddy groups from the start but we all elected to go with the guide since we had no prior experience with these sites. On the deeper dives the boat drops a hang line. Both dives have a regulator for OOA divers. Never saw it used.
Second dive averaged 50 feet. Again we would start as a guided dive then finish on our on. Most of these dives were around 70 minutes. Could have stayed a little longer but we knew the boat was waiting.
We were on the Eastern Sky for all our trips. Never crowded, they don't fill to capacity. Two quides each trip, split the group into two. I think it was air vs nitrox that determined which group you were in. Don't know if typical of their clientele but the group each day seemed very experienced, friendly and considerate.
Tomorrow my conference begins, a necessary evil to help pay the bills, so mornings are a bust. But tomorrow afternoon is Divetech and the Kittiwake then a reef. Looking forward to checking out the other end of the island.
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