I was to board a WINDJAMMER cruise there a year and a half ago, so I thought about going in a day early to dive there. Shopped possibilities, made a paid reservation with this operator, flew in a day early, paid the extra night in a hotel, took a taxi to the operators, and they greeted me with :upset: "Mr.Henderson, we tried to call you yesterday to let you know we didn't have enough booked to go out." :boom: No, I think I was polite, but went through the above with them, and suggested that if if they take my money, they owe me a ride! :deal:
We compromised: They took me out with an OW class, gave me my own DM for the easier, sand bottom dive, then I followed an instructor and students on a surging reef dive. Worked out okay.
Since you'll be on the Big Boat - if this is the operator the boat uses, you'll have no problems. If not, you'll probably be better off to go with the operator the boat arranges.
HOWEVER, you might consider the :beret: French side operator. I'd suggest a French side lunch and afternoon after the dives anyway, so - you might justify booking the dive there, then making a day of it over there. The operator might be willing to watch your gear for the rest of the day? It'd help if you had a number of friends willing to share to cab over early that morning, for the entire day.
If you get to St.Barths, there's an okay operator there who books with ships. Now if you get to St.Kitts & Neivis Austin is a really great operator, and you'll see sites there you'll not see elsewhere. Ever sit in a hot spring :fire: 100 feet down on a reef?!
Happy bubbles, D-Don