mitchdives
Registered
We got back on Saturday. Great cruise on a great ship! You should love it. I booked 2 of 4 dive days with private operators (Grand Cayman and Roatan). The other two (Coz and Belize) with ship excursion. Here's the skinny:
G. Cayman: Dove with Eden Rock, just a short walk from where the tender drops you. Their dive boat was out of commission so we had to do the shore dive to Eden Rock Grotto and Devils Grotto. Both were excellent dives despite our disappointment over the busted boat.
Roatan: Dove with Native Sons on the west side of the island. They gave very personal, friendly service. Alvin (owner/divemaster) was the best. We did 3 dives (walls, wreck of the Aguila, and reefs) and for 2 people it cost $170 including the round trip cab fare and tips. Our cabbie was punctual in picking us up at exactly 3:30 and we got back to the ship in plenty of time. Their website is www.nativesonsroatan.com. I highly recommend them.
Belize: Dove with NCL shore excursion. Although very expensive, the ship had to tender in Belize and the dive boat picked us up directly from the ship. The boat was a 46' Newton and the crew very competent and friendly. As far as a cattleboat, we only had about 8 divers so the boat wasn't full. The dives were a wall and the reef at Turneffe atoll. They were OK but not great. The viz was only about 50 to 75 feet, probably due to the weather, and the marine life was sparse.
Cozumel: Again dove with NCL excursion. This was the best dive in terms of marine life and water clarity. The boat, a 40' dive boat, was from the Sorkle/Dive Center. Again, it wasn't full so I didn't get the feeling of being on a cattle boat. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable and the dives were great (Palantar reef and wall, and Santa Rosa reef).
My overall recommedation is to book your own excursions with private operators. NCL charges literally double what the operators charge them, making the shore excursions a total rip off. Most of the private operators cater to cruise passengers and know that you need to get back to the ship. Check to make sure they are flexible in this regard. Those that I dove with were very accomodating.
You can view all the photos I took on the trip in my gallery on scubaboard.
Please let me know if you need any more info.
G. Cayman: Dove with Eden Rock, just a short walk from where the tender drops you. Their dive boat was out of commission so we had to do the shore dive to Eden Rock Grotto and Devils Grotto. Both were excellent dives despite our disappointment over the busted boat.
Roatan: Dove with Native Sons on the west side of the island. They gave very personal, friendly service. Alvin (owner/divemaster) was the best. We did 3 dives (walls, wreck of the Aguila, and reefs) and for 2 people it cost $170 including the round trip cab fare and tips. Our cabbie was punctual in picking us up at exactly 3:30 and we got back to the ship in plenty of time. Their website is www.nativesonsroatan.com. I highly recommend them.
Belize: Dove with NCL shore excursion. Although very expensive, the ship had to tender in Belize and the dive boat picked us up directly from the ship. The boat was a 46' Newton and the crew very competent and friendly. As far as a cattleboat, we only had about 8 divers so the boat wasn't full. The dives were a wall and the reef at Turneffe atoll. They were OK but not great. The viz was only about 50 to 75 feet, probably due to the weather, and the marine life was sparse.
Cozumel: Again dove with NCL excursion. This was the best dive in terms of marine life and water clarity. The boat, a 40' dive boat, was from the Sorkle/Dive Center. Again, it wasn't full so I didn't get the feeling of being on a cattle boat. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable and the dives were great (Palantar reef and wall, and Santa Rosa reef).
My overall recommedation is to book your own excursions with private operators. NCL charges literally double what the operators charge them, making the shore excursions a total rip off. Most of the private operators cater to cruise passengers and know that you need to get back to the ship. Check to make sure they are flexible in this regard. Those that I dove with were very accomodating.
You can view all the photos I took on the trip in my gallery on scubaboard.
Please let me know if you need any more info.