cruise diving

[bigfishK9]

On our last cruise, we booked everything ahead of time with an independent operator. Worked out good for us. Will be a little more expense than booking through the cruise line, but they will cater to you a little more. In our case, only two of us were diving. They had someone else come with to entertain the swimmers/snorklers in our group. With all the blogs, forums, and internet access you should be able to find a operator you feel comfortable with. Some have toll free numbers. Call and get on a first name basis with them before you arrive.

[jaxjags64109]

I have been to grand cayman a few times via a cruise and I would recommend Eden Rock Dive shop. You will be tendered to Georgetown from the ship and if you walk off the pier turn right and walk about 3 blocks on the right you will see a red apple dive sign for the Eden Rock Dive shop. Tell them you are on the cruise ship and you will be able to either do some shore dives and/or boat dives. You will need a dive buddy if diving from shore but you can pay for a shore dive with a dive master and get the full tour of the Devil's Grotto and have a built in dive buddy, with no worries about missing your ship. I never book through the cruise lines and I have never had any problems with getting back on time and I usually save some money going on my own. Just my opinion and $.02 worth. Here is a website;

www.edenrockdive.com

[mselizann]

Originally Posted by jaxjags64109

I have been to grand cayman a few times via a cruise and I would recommend Eden Rock Dive shop. You will be tendered to Georgetown from the ship and if you walk off the pier turn right and walk about 3 blocks on the right you will see a red apple dive sign for the Eden Rock Dive shop. Tell them you are on the cruise ship and you will be able to either do some shore dives and/or boat dives. You will need a dive buddy if diving from shore but you can pay for a shore dive with a dive master and get the full tour of the Devil's Grotto and have a built in dive buddy, with no worries about missing your ship. I never book through the cruise lines and I have never had any problems with getting back on time and I usually save some money going on my own. Just my opinion and $.02 worth. Here is a website;

www.edenrockdive.com

Don Fosters is right next to Eden Rock- both very convenient...Don Foster's is very affordable though- probably the best deal on the island, and they do have shore diving Talk to both- see who you like, and go from there
Welcome to Don Foster's Dive Cayman Come Dive with Us

If you are concerned about time, Sunset House may be a bit far- but great shore diving

[easyrider003]

I just got back from a cruise in may 08 with royal caribbean to the bahamas. I decided to go through the cruise line. Reason being if anything happened to the dive boat and it was going to be late getting back to the ship, then the cruise ship would wait on you to return to the ship. I dove in Nassau with Stuart Cove's and must say they were extremely helpful and would definitly do it again.

[Rockhound76]

I was in Grand Cayman (diving with Divetech..highly recommend these guys). Anyway, we took of a day from the north wall to try out the west.

We went with Don Fosters. They were hosting a cruise group and YES there were some neophyte divers, but the diving was great and the dive ops were well run. Our boat was the "non-cruise" boat, but I didn't think theirs looked any more crowded. We only had about 10 divers on the boat.

I second the notion that you take some of the risk out of shore excursions by booking through the cruise line.

Note: Bring a dive computer or rent one...to maximize your bottom time.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by John Yaskowich

I would suggest booking in advance with an outside agency rather than going through the cruise line.

I don't 100% agree with that for Grand Cayman. (other ports maybe, but not Grand Cayman).

When we were there, on Royal Caribbean, they only had 1 'tender' running early that morning. It took an hour of waiting to be able to get off the ship. And first priority was given to those who had an excursion booked directly through the cruise ship for initial arrival time.

so everyone else who might have had a privately arrange excurision had to wait until those with cruise ticket excursions got off first.

They were highly recommended by the people on the Cruise Forums - Cruise Message Boards - Cruise Critic forum. .

This is a good website you reference. You can learn anything you need to know about the cruise you are on on this website by reading posts there...

Originally Posted by navyhmc

On my cruise, we left a few folks in Cozumel (they took off on their own and couldn't get back to the boat in time.) .

I wondered how often they have left people. I've only been on one cruise where they left a port late, and that was Grand Cayman (problem with getting everyone back on again with the limited tenders available. took an hour to get back on the boat, but as long as there was a line of people there, they keep loading them even if we were an hour or two late loading).

And if you have choice, you should care where your cabin is: amidships gives the best ride in heavy seas.

I agree with this... amidships is always the best place to avoid swaying in heavy seas.

Dinner times are up in the air: .

my personal preference is the "2nd seating". They do the first seating at 6pm or 6:30pm (depending on ship) and the second seating 2 hours later.

The reason we like the 2nd one better is that we aren't rushed when we get back on the ship to get back and get ready to rush to dinner. But that's just our preference.

-mike

[allknighter237]

my family has been on the Sovereign of the Seas in the past and we would always go snorkeling in coco cay...i think part of the reason for me wanting become a scuba diver! I think we would always have the second dinner too so you don't have to rush. When you say amidship do you mean one of the middle decks or an interior cabin? my ship lingo is a bit limited...

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by mike_s

I don't 100% agree with that for Grand Cayman. (other ports maybe, but not Grand Cayman).

When we were there, on Royal Caribbean, they only had 1 'tender' running early that morning. It took an hour of waiting to be able to get off the ship. And first priority was given to those who had an excursion booked directly through the cruise ship for initial arrival time.

so everyone else who might have had a privately arrange excurision had to wait until those with cruise ticket excursions got off first.

This is a good website you reference. You can learn anything you need to know about the cruise you are on on this website by reading posts there...

I wondered how often they have left people. I've only been on one cruise where they left a port late, and that was Grand Cayman (problem with getting everyone back on again with the limited tenders available. took an hour to get back on the boat, but as long as there was a line of people there, they keep loading them even if we were an hour or two late loading).

I agree with this... amidships is always the best place to avoid swaying in heavy seas.

my personal preference is the "2nd seating". They do the first seating at 6pm or 6:30pm (depending on ship) and the second seating 2 hours later.

The reason we like the 2nd one better is that we aren't rushed when we get back on the ship to get back and get ready to rush to dinner. But that's just our preference.

-mike

As far as being left goes, if you are in line waiting for a tender, they aren't going to leave you. But I have seen people running for the ship on the pier in Cozumel when they were running late and miss. So it does happen. I have also been on ship excursion's where they were running late, and the boat waited for us. We literally drove right up on the pier in costa maya and dropped us off at the door. as soon as the last of us got on, the boat immediately left.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by allknighter237

my family has been on the Sovereign of the Seas in the past and we would always go snorkeling in coco cay...i think part of the reason for me wanting become a scuba diver! I think we would always have the second dinner too so you don't have to rush. When you say amidship do you mean one of the middle decks or an interior cabin? my ship lingo is a bit limited...

CoCo Cay is a great stop. I with that Royal Caribbean would just stop there 2 days instead of including Nassau on their trip.



[quote=georoc01;193593As far as being left goes, if you are in line waiting for a tender, they aren't going to leave you. But I have seen people running for the ship on the pier in Cozumel when they were running late and miss. So it does happen. I have also been on ship excursion's where they were running late, and the boat waited for us. We literally drove right up on the pier in costa maya and dropped us off at the door. as soon as the last of us got on, the boat immediately left.[/quote]


That would suck so much to come running down the pier and see the ship leaving....

do they send a launch to collect anyone late or pretty much you're screwed and have to find your own way back to the States (or the next port of call).

[John Yaskowich]

Originally Posted by allknighter237

When you say amidship do you mean one of the middle decks or an interior cabin? my ship lingo is a bit limited...

Amidship (or Midship) means part way between the bow (pointy end) and the stern (back end). You could be anywhere along the middle third to half of the ship. In rough water the ship more or less piviot about the midpoint so movement is less (think the mid point of the teeter-totter. The ends move 4 feet, the middle gently rocks a bit.) When choosing a cabin have a look at the deck plans for the decks above and below yours. Make sure there are cabings there - you don't want to be trying to sleep above the all night disco or below the dragging deck chairs around the pool. I also love a veranda for the privacy of a drink on the balcony, watching the sun set and the world go by. (Next cruise is booked for Feb 09).