Freeport in November

[xsbeech]

Hi all - my husband and I are headed to Freeport in November and are wondering which dive op you recommend out there - Xanadu, UNEXSO or Grand Bahama Scuba...or anyone else

Any suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Puck]

I will be going there in mid September. I will let you know about the one I select. I am leaning toward GBS, but am still waiting for a reply from one other.

Hi all - my husband and I are headed to Freeport in November and are wondering which dive op you recommend out there - Xanadu, UNEXSO or Grand Bahama Scuba...or anyone else

Any suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks

 

[xsbeech]

Thanks Puck - look forward to your comments...

 

[herman]

I have not dove with UNEXSO or Xanadu is several years but if they have not changes, I much prefer Xanadu over UNEXSO. I don't like excessive "hold my hand "diving and I found UNEXSO to be too controlling for my taste. For example, they would not allow you to do a deep (100ft) dive unless you had dove with them within the last 6 months, reguardless of your training or experience. I have not had any experience with GBS but have seen some good reports on them. Let us know how it goes

 

[Natasha]

Herman just wondering how long ago that was. I dove with UNEXSO in 1998 and we all dove the wreck of Theo which was at 100ft with no problems even though we hadn't dove with them in the past.

 

[herman]

It's been a while, early to mid 90's so things may have changed. It was Theo's wreck I got peaved about. I quit using UNEXSO and went to Xanadu. They were cheaper and did not have the restrictions. I started going to Bonaire in 99 so I have not been back since about 97. I need to get back. Are the street venders still a huge pest? They were another reason I stopped going. NO I DON'T WANT MY HAIR BRAIDED!

 

[Natasha]

LOL Herman.
I love getting my hair braided, so they don't bother me.
I don't recall them being a bother when I was there. We stayed at the Port Lucaya Yacht Club.
I'd like to get back there too. So many places so little time.

 

[Bluefish]

We dove with Unexso a couple years ago, and it was a LESS than satisfying experience. Disorganized, nasty falling apart billowing black smoke boat, jackhole divemaster, rude, and the excessive hand-holding was just icing on the cake. GBS seems to be excellent from everything I've heard, though I haven't been able to get back to Freeport since. Have fun! Make sure you stop by George's at Port Lucaya for a beer and cracked conch.

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

I dove with UNEXSO just last week, and had a pretty good experience. I think part of it was that I established a rapport with the staff after my first day there, and once they saw us dive and assessed our level of competence that myself and my buddy (who's an instructor) demonstrated, they pretty much let us do what we wanted on subsequent dives as long as we didn't keep everyone waiting - we were always first in the water, and last in the boat.

Boats weren't crowded - the biggest crowd was the shark dive - 11 divers.

They had no restrictions for deep diving, and we went to Theo's Wreck, and my buddy also went to the Sea Star.

I hear plenty of comments about being babysat on dives, but after what I've seen at some of these resort destinations I don't blame the operators at all. I still can't get over the number of near OOA episodes I've seen the past couple of years where divers have had to be escorted to the surface by the DM becasue they weren't paying attention.

Marc

 

[Natasha]

Thanks Marc. It's good to hear they're not so bad. When I used them I was happy and thought I would use them again. I also did the shark dive and dolphin dive and enjoyed both. I heard that aren't doing the dolphin dive anymore. Is that correct?