Going To Grand Bahama. Who Should I Dive With?

[dragonfly122556]

Going to Grand Bahamas Feb. 29 - March 6th. Really not into cattle boats. Usually dive Cozumel with large tanks with few divers at a time. Have problems with ears, so takes a little longer for me to get to the bottom. Any recommendations would be great. Also, water temp? Husband has shorty and I have shark skin. Is this enough?

Thanks
Scubadeb

 

[Doc]

Going to Grand Bahamas Feb. 29 - March 6th. Really not into cattle boats. Usually dive Cozumel with large tanks with few divers at a time. Have problems with ears, so takes a little longer for me to get to the bottom. Any recommendations would be great. Also, water temp? Husband has shorty and I have shark skin. Is this enough?

The above tells me that you might be new at this. And don't get me wrong, that's okay, we all start someplace.

:hideing_bhttp://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/202884-first-time-freeport-bahamas.html

It's just that "cattle boat" reference. You are going to one of the two islands in that nation that may have well perfected that phrase.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/221945-grand-bahamas-late-march-water-temp.html

There is a vast difference between a boat that can service 20 divers versus a "cattle boat". It may be a CB, but I have seen CB's that carried 4 divers. It's all in the operation.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/217754-diving-bahamas.html

Prepare for a big change from Cozumel. By going to Island of Grand Bahama (Freeport/Lucaya), you are going to an island which has a long established history of dealing with the hoardes of new divers from the US and Canada. Unless you throw down substantial cash for an upscale charter, you are likely to be disappointed.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/210062-way-past-due-trip-report.html

Yes- there are many boatsmen out there who regularly run 2 divers out, but their best use would be by very advanced divers. There still is good stuff to see, but it is located far from the population centers and not your Sunday walk-in-the-park dive.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/203290-diving-freeport.html

My advice? Go with an established operation that is used to us Northerners. A place that has large, easy to use boats, and they know how to show you a good time. UNEXSO, Grand Bahama Scuba and such.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/141810-lucaya-bahamas-diving.html

Water temps can range as much as 63~75 degrees, the variability is great because of the many sides of the island are exposed to different conditions.

Your wetsuit question belies your situation. it is excellent that you inquired as to local water temps, but to ask if you would be okay in some particular suit~ no one can tell you that but yourself.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/2422-bahamas-first-visit-help.html

 

[Jim Baldwin]

The above tells me that you might be new at this. And don't get me wrong, that's okay, we all start someplace.

:hideing_bhttp://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/202884-first-time-freeport-bahamas.html

It's just that "cattle boat" reference. You are going to one of the two islands in that nation that may have well perfected that phrase.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/221945-grand-bahamas-late-march-water-temp.html

There is a vast difference between a boat that can service 20 divers versus a "cattle boat". It may be a CB, but I have seen CB's that carried 4 divers. It's all in the operation.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/217754-diving-bahamas.html

Prepare for a big change from Cozumel. By going to Island of Grand Bahama (Freeport/Lucaya), you are going to an island which has a long established history of dealing with the hoardes of new divers from the US and Canada. Unless you throw down substantial cash for an upscale charter, you are likely to be disappointed.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/210062-way-past-due-trip-report.html

Yes- there are many boatsmen out there who regularly run 2 divers out, but their best use would be by very advanced divers. There still is good stuff to see, but it is located far from the population centers and not your Sunday walk-in-the-park dive.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/203290-diving-freeport.html

My advice? Go with an established operation that is used to us Northerners. A place that has large, easy to use boats, and they know how to show you a good time. UNEXSO, Grand Bahama Scuba and such.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/141810-lucaya-bahamas-diving.html

Water temps can range as much as 63~75 degrees, the variability is great because of the many sides of the island are exposed to different conditions.

Your wetsuit question belies your situation. it is excellent that you inquired as to local water temps, but to ask if you would be okay in some particular suit~ no one can tell you that but yourself.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bahamas/2422-bahamas-first-visit-help.html

My wife and I have dove all over the Caribbean with Dragonfly and her husband. They are excellent divers and she takes some great pictures. We dive in Cozumel a lot together with an excellent operator, Living Underwater, that uses bigger tanks and takes smaller groups.

She was looking for a recommendation of a good operator that specializes in working with veteran divers.

 

[Dr.RNA]

She was looking for a recommendation of a good operator that specializes in working with veteran divers.

Don't most veteran divers prefer to be left alone?

 

[Darnold9999]

Was just there a couple of weeks ago. Grand Bahama Scuba was very good to me. Nothing but good things to say about them and their operation. Give Fred and Melinda a call.

I would say that a shortie would not be enough thermal protection. At the end of a one hour dive in a 2/3 full suit I was starting to get cold. In Belize I was quite comfortable in a 1/2 shortie after a one hour dive.

 

[b1draper]

The times I've been there I've used Stuart Cove's. I've always liked the staff and the boats are well kept. I've always dove with a 3/2 with a dive skin underneth for places like Nassau, Grand Caymen, Cozumel and local waters during summer. Locally, around here N. FL this time of year I'm waring a 5mm.

 

[Doc]

She was looking for a recommendation of a good operator that specializes in working with veteran divers.

This may cost some money.

To see things off of Grand Bahama that will match or exceed your many dives in the waters of Cozumel, you're going to have to hire a private boatsman and dive guide. I would start by contacting all of the aforementioned dive-ops and request of them their ability to provide such off-the-beaten-path trips. There surely are also small independents that do this, but inherently they come and go, and they are of lesser reknown. I am ignorant of those current operators.

Remember- Grand Bahama is a long developed island that has suffered extensive fishing and reef degradation. You do not go there to savor lush reefs. It does have a grand cave system that I began paying for my guided tours through in 1979. Now they have all these lawyer required cave dive certs. Most do, anyway. The caves are the draw. That and Sharks- but then again, Stuart Cove can handle that (in 3,000 feet of water).

You get into a cost/benefit quandry here. You can see the same sea life a lot cheaper in any common dive-op in one of the outer islands of the Bahamas. Consider flying to Andros, Long, Cat, Andros (Two Turtle Inn), or San Salvador (Riding Rock).

Maybe they can advise if they have larger tanks available or if a shark skin might be enough thermal protection for you or your dive buddy. They handle very small groups and will show you the wonders of the Bahamian waters.

 

[pitdvr]

This will be our first trip to the Bahama's. We found a pretty good package at Bell Channel Inn using Grand Bahama Scuba. We are experienced divers-parents and 2 adult sons. Would appreciate any suggestions.
thanks

 

[deco_martini]

I'v been to Grand Bahama once. All of the major operators seemed to just fill the boats with as many people showed up that day.

You may not get a 6 person boat and personal service, but the diving is still fun. You can see sharks often without paying for a shark dive. Large grouper and dolphins like to cruise by. The Theo Wreck is a fun one.

Even if you do get stuck on a cattle boat, once you get underwater everything should be fine. The dive sites aren't too much of a ride from the channels, so your time spent shoulder to shoulder with other divers won't be prolonged.

 

[pitdvr]

Sorry,
The dive shop at Bell Chanel is Caribbean divers. That is the op we are checking on.