Trip Report and Pics, St. Croix 10/3-10/10

[chinacat46]

Originally Posted by azdiver

Loved the pics Chuck... can't wait to get some pointers from you in person when we head to Lembeh!!

Here are my three biggest pointers.

1. Put the camera in macro mode.

2. Get as close as possible. When you think you are close get closer.

3. Learn to use photoshop elements or some other program.

[azdiver]

Originally Posted by chinacat46

Here are my three biggest pointers.

1. Put the camera in macro mode.

2. Get as close as possible. When you think you are close get closer.

3. Learn to use photoshop elements or some other program.

[ParrotheadDiver]

I enjoyed your detailed report....and your pictures are awesome.....
nothing worse than being sick on vacation.... glad you are feeling better....

[longtailbda]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

the only addendum would be food, which, as you reported, was plentiful, but not great...

just ask Cruzan when they (Kelly and Scott) when they get back and report - they have dove with us all week long... I have a feeling they will have a wholly better trip report of St. Croix... I just wish I could have dove with them (more, possibly, I'll dive with them tomorrow) - but I've been a little busy tending to the broken legged wife

From Cruzans heavier half.
Sorry it has taken so long to give our trip report. I've been finishing up DM test and paperwork.

Our trip was terrible, the water was cold (fell all the way down to 83 degs at 110'). There were way to many fish in the way of diving and the shop was terrible to my wife. We've been going to St Croix off and on for 22yrs and will continue till they get things right.

Due to my sinus problems we only did 17 dives.

We didn't stay at the cottages when we went. There's a nice condo about 15 min. drive away. It is a one bedroom unit on the beach. Corian counter tops, living room, dinning room, large kitchen and a 36 x 10 gallery overlooking the water.

We rent a car for 2 weeks to get around, but the shop will send their van to pick you up if you need it.

Food was great, "Off the wall" for pizza and sunsets. The Deep End, Angry Nates The Brew pub ect. for great bar food. The selection of restaurants is unbelievable. We happen to prefer places where good jeans are formal wear.

2 weeks lodging, food, drinks, trinkets, dives ect, for 2 was about $4500.

The picture is the moon rise from the Gallery.

For our sake we hope that everyone stays away. I'm doing a separate dive report to follow.

[chinacat46]

Originally Posted by longtailbda

From Cruzans heavier half.
Sorry it has taken so long to give our trip report. I've been finishing up DM test and paperwork.

Our trip was terrible, the water was cold (fell all the way down to 83 degs at 110'). There were way to many fish in the way of diving and the shop was terrible to my wife. We've been going to St Croix off and on for 22yrs and will continue till they get things right.

Due to my sinus problems we only did 17 dives.

We didn't stay at the cottages when we went. There's a nice condo about 15 min. drive away. It is a one bedroom unit on the beach. Corian counter tops, living room, dinning room, large kitchen and a 36 x 10 gallery overlooking the water.

We rent a car for 2 weeks to get around, but the shop will send their van to pick you up if you need it.

Food was great, "Off the wall" for pizza and sunsets. The Deep End, Angry Nates The Brew pub ect. for great bar food. The selection of restaurants is unbelievable. We happen to prefer places where good jeans are formal wear.

2 weeks lodging, food, drinks, trinkets, dives ect, for 2 was about $4500.

The picture is the moon rise from the Gallery.

For our sake we hope that everyone stays away. I'm doing a separate dive report to follow.

Kewl.

[longtailbda]

On our last day diving we did finally get dive with Mitsuguy and had a couple of great dives.

Ok here's the dive op report.

We know several of the operators on the island and most are very good. We continue to use Cane Bay because we feel that ,for us, they give the best service and we consider their employees as friends and in some cases almost family.

If the group is small the shop uses an inflatable with a zip out bow. This makes for easy entrances and exits from the water. It also allows the shop to really dive where and when you like; weather conditions permitting.

The service that the captains and divemasters give is fantastic. They are always on hand to help or set up your equipment if you choose and they do all that they can to make the dive enjoyable.

In our case they did 2 things that I have never seen any shop do. (Diving almost 30 yrs) My wife generally has no problems with seasickness but this trip she was suffering from a mild case of mal de mar, for a couple of days.

On one set of dives the 2 sites were about 150 yards apart. She had problems during the surface intervals the day prior. The capt dropped his mooring and took the "direct route" to the second site, it took 45 mins of runtime to get there. Although she felt ok this second day, they ran the boat just in case.

The next day between dives the boat ran into the salt river for shelter to avoid the rocking. They did that for Kelly and another poor girl who was actually having problems.

I've seen rude and bad divers being treated like gold and have never seen nor heard of anybody having a bad experience with Cane Bay.

Having seen divers from the Nekton and reading about the trip, if it were me I'd skip the Nekton trip to St Croix and stay on island. most of the dives are or can be shore dives if you want and I can tell you the staff at Cane Bay and the other shops on island know the sites like the back their hands.

[chinacat46]

Originally Posted by longtailbda

On our last day diving we did finally get dive with Mitsuguy and had a couple of great dives.

Ok here's the dive op report.

We know several of the operators on the island and most are very good. We continue to use Cane Bay because we feel that ,for us, they give the best service and we consider their employees as friends and in some cases almost family.

If the group is small the shop uses an inflatable with a zip out bow. This makes for easy entrances and exits from the water. It also allows the shop to really dive where and when you like; weather conditions permitting.

The service that the captains and divemasters give is fantastic. They are always on hand to help or set up your equipment if you choose and they do all that they can to make the dive enjoyable.

In our case they did 2 things that I have never seen any shop do. (Diving almost 30 yrs) My wife generally has no problems with seasickness but this trip she was suffering from a mild case of mal de mar, for a couple of days.

On one set of dives the 2 sites were about 150 yards apart. She had problems during the surface intervals the day prior. The capt dropped his mooring and took the "direct route" to the second site, it took 45 mins of runtime to get there. Although she felt ok this second day, they ran the boat just in case.

The next day between dives the boat ran into the salt river for shelter to avoid the rocking. They did that for Kelly and another poor girl who was actually having problems.

I've seen rude and bad divers being treated like gold and have never seen nor heard of anybody having a bad experience with Cane Bay.

Having seen divers from the Nekton and reading about the trip, if it were me I'd skip the Nekton trip to St Croix and stay on island. most of the dives are or can be shore dives if you want and I can tell you the staff at Cane Bay and the other shops on island know the sites like the back their hands.

Somehow I don't think I would have enjoyed it that much more if I was land based. To each his own but St Croix doesn't do it for me. Of the two places I've dove in the caribbean this year I'd pick St Vincent and the Grenadines over St. Croix but even that pales to most places I've been to in the pacific. It's great that you enjoy the place but it ain't my cup of tea.

[Travelnsj]

ChinaCat what are you talking about????....Pacific diving especially Palau and Indonesia SUCK!

[chinacat46]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

ChinaCat what are you talking about????....Pacific diving especially Palau and Indonesia SUCK!

Don't worry they love St. Croix so much they will never find out how much it SUCKS.