Riding Rock-San Salvador Trip Report 2/4/12 to 2/11/12

[frostfire]

Columbus discovered the New World when he landed on San Salvador Island (how lost & how lucky was he??)

Still exploring the vast reaches & reefs of the Indo-Pacific/Oceania Region, but when I return someday to visit the Greater Carribbean area, it will be at the walls of San Salvador Island.

This is why Club Med calls their San Salvador resort Columbus Isle. We stayed there twice and it was fantastic. Drop dead wall diving. During the surface interval they have a buffet of french bread, cheeses, cold cuts and fruit.

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

Great report! Am taking a group next week and hope to have as great a time as you did.
Safe Diving,
Brad

Please post a detailed report , am seriously considering it soon , thanks , coldwater

 

[frostfire]

I just want to mention that there is almost no development on the island other that Club Med and Riding Rock. Club Med has several restaurants, but there is not much off site. It makes Provo look like Las Vegas.

 

[drl]

True. There's so little development that some locals come to the bar at the Riding Rock, especially on karaoke night! It's very friendly and laid back.

 

[peeweediver]

There is a sandwich shop by the marina that has good things, but not really that much better than lunch at Riding Rock. We kept being told about a little bar and restaurant in the "town", but we couldn't find it. The "town" is a few government buildings that were always closed and a fairly well-stocked convenience store...easy walking distance from Riding Rock. It's all about the diving and relaxing. We always spent time in the bar after dinner and had a blast on karaoke night. Michelle, the owner was singing with us.

Rob

 

[bbdm120]

In almost 25 years of diving some 50 dive trips this is the first place where the sharks came right up to the porch to say hello!

Here is my Report​

San Salvador, Bahamas
Riding Rock Resort

April 14 to 21, 2012

Lead a group of ten to this small Island where Christopher Columbus first landed in the Americas. Flew in from various places to Nassau where we were meet with smiles from Southern Air who escorted us to the ticket counter then to the tarmac and our small 20 passenger plane.

We took off once everyone had arrived, a good 1 hour before plans but my group was there and off we went. First stop was Long Island, Bahamas where they had us all climb out of the plane while they gassed it up. Once that was done we re-boarded and heading on to San Salvador, thank god for GPS, I don't know how they would find this little island out there in the big Atlantic.

Once we arrived we were escorted to a van, out luggage was loaded into a truck and a short (5 minutes maybe) ride to Riding Rock. We were greeted by Michelle and given instructions, signed our registration forms and headed to our rooms. Our luggage was there with men waiting for instructions as to which room. Wow we had arrived. My roommate and I where on the second floor with What! A! View! From the sliding glass door balcony. The ocean was maybe 50 feet away. Just beautiful...

Okay... down for dinner good food, selection of either fish, beef or chicken each day, lunch was soup, salad burger, fish and other selections, sorry didn't keep track of it all, for me who does not like fish I had no problem eating here. Pork, Chicken, Fish, Steak, and more.

Breakfast was a buffet of cereals, oat meal, grits, eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, pancakes, omelets made on request from the kitchen. Wow great way to start the day.

Back up a little. Before dinner our first night on the island we meet with John who filled us in on the diving for the week. John would be our dive leader, dive-master and all round guide for the week. Anything you needed just ask John... Someone yelled shark and we all ran out onto the porch and sure enough there was a small reef shark swimming near the surface just off the sand, now that’s a first...

Up for breakfast by 7:30 AM then a short walk to the docks by 8:30. All our dive gear had been taken to the boat that morning from in front of our rooms by truck and was there for us to set up. After the first dive you leave everything set up with the regulator off the tank and the dust cover in place. Bruce, our boat Captain, and John would fill the tanks or change us over between each dives. Several times we would go out and do our first dive of the day and then return to the docks where our tanks would be refilled and we would then head out for the second dive. Third dive each day was after lunch the time depended on when we got back from the second dive. Usually around 2PM. Water temperature was about 75 degrees. After diving you rinsed your wet suit in the fresh water tanks and hung them up to dry in the cage. In the morning you grabbed your wet suit and got on-board. The boat had a fresh water tank for cameras and a buckets for dive masks, fresh water to drink and John supplied fresh cut oranges between dives. O2 was available if needed, no one did. The head was small as most are but worked just fine.

On the days we stayed out in the morning for two dives, we went south to the point about 1hour ride. This was the exception though as most dive sites where only 10 to 15 minutes from the docks.

Okay so by now you want to know about the diving. Well let me tell you I saw a shark on almost every dive and even had a hammer head shark come right up to me for a video. There was plenty of fish to see and lots of small stuff for macro. Swim throughs, and coral heads, even a coral head that looks like a rhinoceros. Very slight currant.

All our dives where from moorings which started in the sand at about 40' a short swim to the drop off which in most areas was straight down. So you can stay at 40' or drop over the edge and go down to 130'. No nitrox at the resort so use you computer and watch you nitrogen build up and you should have no problems.

On Tuesday we planned for a night dive so instead of doing an afternoon dive, we had a land tour lead my a local named Clifford. He sure knows the island as he told us all about it as he drove clockwise around it, telling stories, singing and playing his harmonica. We stopped at the light house and several of us climbed the 80 some steps to the top and stepped out so you can walk around the top and get a panoramic view of the island. Breath taking view. We also stopped where Christopher Columbus landed and saw several monuments.

The night dive was great with a medium sized octopus hunting in our flash lights. I got about 5 minutes of video of him climbing across the rocks and corals, hunting, changing colors and shape, just awesome. Several lobsters showed them selves as well.

Logged 16 dives for the week and had a great time, but all must come to an end. Saturday morning we meet at the office paid our room charges and where taken to the airport. Michele was off that day, but meet us at the airport to see that all was well. Our luggage was transported by truck from in front of our room to the airport. The plane arrived and off we went straight to Nassau and back to the real world.

I will definitely plan on returning someday to San Salvador and Riding Rock. It's my kind of dive resort. A little rough around the edges but a comfortable bed and great people willing to make your stay a pleasant one. Thank You and Safe Diving, Brad Burchell www.aquatictraveladventures.com, Anything Underwater Inc. Got questions about this or other places I have been feel free to contact me bbdm120@aol.com or 845-590-9721.

Octopus Night dive

 

[Headers]

Going to riding rock in two weeks. We received our itinerary info today and am a bit confused by the baggage on southern air. The way i am reading it the total allowance of all bags is 40lb. Bewteen 40 and 60 is 40cents per lb. anyone have info on this?

 

[bbdm120]

Just pack lite and don't sweat it. My checked bag weighed in at 40 pounds. My carry-on weighed in at 35 pounds and my camera case at about 25 pounds. All of it at no extra charge!
safe diving, Brad