Dive stops in Western Caribbean (Carnival Cruise lines) - Advice!

[livi120]

Looks like I'll be booking a week on the Carnival Valor the week of June 7-14 out of my hometown Miami. I wanted to thank everyone for the good info, since I was seriously thinking of diving Belize instead of Roatan, but since changed my mind.

Definitely Cozumel is a must, this is my diving mecca!!


As for Cozumel does Blue XT pick you up at the pier or do you make it to the shop??
Looks like Anthony's Key Resort will be my other operator on the second dive.

I will be doing the stingray city tour in Cayman, easy for the family and we can enjoy it together.
As for Belize don't know, does anyone have any good suggestions?

I found this site helpful for other excursions while on the trip that you could book on your own and may save you some $$$
Cruises Forum: Carnival VALOR - TripAdvisor

Thanks for the excursions site tip! I'm planning to also be on the Valor the week of June 7th. Looking forward to some great dives. This thread has been very helpful in getting some thoughts together and I'll post how it went once I get back. My very first "own my own" dive with two friends after getting certified back in 93 was Eden Rock in Cayman Island and I'm kind of looking forward to revisiting it. Cozumel I only did snuba in a previous cruise with some non certified friends that wanted to experience it. And I've never been to Roatan or Belize.

 

[kuma1720]

Well I just booked the Carnival Valor for the week of June 7th today.

Now to research the excursions before the trip. If anyone have any ideas on Roatan. Is there an operation on West Bay that I can take the family and get a few dives there. the problem is the time of arrival is noon, although the ship leaves at 7 p.m. Anyone have any ideas??
I was thinking of Bananarama, but don't know how far they are from the ship.

 

[kuma1720]

We have chosen Sea Sports Belize for this destination.

Sea Sports Belize - Cruise Ship Diving

El Orans thank you for the inside information looks like a great dive op for Belize. How about Roatan?

 

[El Orans]

There will be a trip report somewhere this week (hopefully).

 

[timetraveler]

Well I just booked the Carnival Valor for the week of June 7th today.

Now to research the excursions before the trip. If anyone have any ideas on Roatan. Is there an operation on West Bay that I can take the family and get a few dives there. the problem is the time of arrival is noon, although the ship leaves at 7 p.m.

Are you aware that in Roatan, ship's time will be two hours earlier than local time?

was thinking of Bananarama, but don't know how far they are from the ship.

I don't know about Bananarama, but you might want to look into Subway Watersports. They'll pick you up at the pier. They're a PADI dive op and they also offer activities for your non-diving family members. I haven't dived with them before, so I can't recommend them at this time, but I've booked with them for May 22 when I'm in Roatan on the Legend.

Here's the link to their website:
Roatan scuba diving - diving courses - snorkeling - fishing - sailing - kayaking - waterskiing - Bay Islands

 

[mikeyjoe]

I was in Coz last July for two weeks - had a great experience with Aqua Safaris.

Santa Rosa Wall was my favourite site.

Have a great trip!

 

[TN Traveler]

Just got back from a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl and dove in Roatan, Belize and Cozumel.

Roatan - Coconut Tree Divers - grabbed a cab at the pier and the driver came back to get us. Diving was good and the operator was good - very typical caribbean diving.

Belize - ships excursion with Hugh Parkey. A little bigger boat, but they broke the group up into 3 smaller groups, base on experience. We did our dives on N Creekozeen (drift) and S. Creekozeen. This is the 2nd best reef I have been on (best was Watamula in Curacao). Great coral and sea life. Although I rarely use the ship's excursions, this is the exception to the rule - high quality, high price, but worth every $$$.

Cozumel - Scuba with Allison. Great operation. Dove Palancar Horseshoe and Delilah. Palancar Horseshoe is an awesome wall - coral is just unbelievable. Delilah was so loaded with sea life it was hard to concentrate on what to take pictures of. The other time we were in Cozumel it was after Hurricane Wilma and we did not find the diving exceptional - now we know why folks rave about diving here.

Hope this helps.

 

[timetraveler]

Just got back from a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl and dove in Roatan, Belize and Cozumel.

Roatan - Coconut Tree Divers - grabbed a cab at the pier and the driver came back to get us. Diving was good and the operator was good - very typical caribbean diving.

How long was the trip from the pier to Coconut Tree Divers? What did the cab cost?

 

[TN Traveler]

How long was the trip from the pier to Coconut Tree Divers? What did the cab cost?

It was about a 20 min drive. We had 3 in the cab and gave him $60 for the round-trip.

 

[kuma1720]

Finalizing the ops for my June 7 trip. They will be:
Roatan: Bananarama (has a great beach for family)
Cozumel: Dive with Allison

Please if there are any others interested and travelling on the Carnival Valor for the June 7th cruise PM me. The trips should be smaller in numbers and better than that offered bt the Carnival.