Thoughts on Bahamas vs. Grand Turk vs. St. Thomas

[hmasters34]

My girlfriend and I are going on a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. I'm planning to go on two different dives, most likely one in Grand Turk and one in St. Thomas. We are also stopping at Nassau so that's a possibility but probably will go with the first two. Any recommendations on sites I should try to dive at, or companies to go with?

I think I will also be tagging along with the Discover Scuba Diver course with my girlfriend as she is not certified. Any input on which of these places will be best for her too?

 

[diversteve]

You probably have the right idea. Cruise diving on Nassau is with Stuart Cove's but they're on the south side of the island so it's a 45min. shuttle ride from the cruise port. Stuart Cove's Cruise Ships Shark Cage Diving Bahamas Stuart Cove's Aqua Adventures - Cruise Ships

We were talked into one of those shared van tours, it was actually better than I thought. Also there's the Atlantis Resort/Casino and all those attractions 10mins. away.

There's only two other operators on Nassau, Bahama Divers and Explore Scuba. I don't think you could get off the boat, thru customs and cab over to BD in time for their morning departure. They do a 1tank 1PM trip also. IDK anything about Explore Scuba.

On St. Thomas, there's a cruise operator at the WICO pier. I haven't seen many favorable reviews for them.

Both Admiralty Dive and Blue Island Divers are often recommended - both will pick you up at the cruise dock. (BID with their boat) They're mostly going to dive the sites just south of Charlotte Amalie so there's no worries about missing the cruise sailing. BID has an interactive map on their site showing them.

Scuba Diving in St. Thomas at USVI Dive Center | Admiralty Dive Center
Cruise Ship Divers

Can't help with Grand Turk. Except that IMO that will be the best diving you'll do. We did a week on the Turks/Caicos Explorer a couple years ago - probably some of the best wall diving we've done in a decade.

moved to the Cruise forum for more responses...

 

[mike_s]

Having been to St Thomas and Nassau... I'm not really impressed with either "topside". Most of it is just "tourist shopping".


If I had to go back to either, I'd dive at both of these as opposed to doing some "island tour".




The exception is Atlantis. It's pretty neat. Just expect to "pay out the ass" if you want a "day pass" into their facility. Depending on what package you get. a "Day pass" runs I think about $85 to $120.... PER PERSON.


as a note you can do a day pass to the Hilton, Wyndham or Sheraton for $20/day. (Note I think the Wyndham & Sheraton have been combined into some "big mega resort" since i was last there.