Celebrity Constellation - Scuba Diving Recommendations?

[jtandgh]

We're cruising next month on the Constellation and plan to dive in St. Lucia, Barbados, Bonaire, and Aruba. Thinking about diving in Curacao and/or Grenada as well. Any suggestions for best places to dive/best dive operators? We do not usually go with the ship's planned excursions. Thanks for all suggestions!:)

[G.C]

With the choices listed Curacao would be my first pick. The Dive Bus is the operator I would recommend a very good small family dive business with an amazing house reef. Walk in dive no boat ride there is a taxi ride of about $15 each way. The reef tapers off from 20' to 200' live coral everywhere tons of fish. We were there two months ago saw 5 different types of eels, squid, swam with a school of tarpon, saw an octopus in his hole and got to watch an eagle ray feeding along the bottom. With 100'+ viz and we had it all to ourselves just us and the divemaster.

[jtandgh]

Thanks so much for the reply - we weren't really sure about Curacao, but it sounds fantastic!

[phillie gal]

I agree, diving in Curacao with Mark & Suzy of the Dive Bus!

[Loves_Dogs]

With the choices listed Curacao would be my first pick. The Dive Bus is the operator I would recommend a very good small family dive business with an amazing house reef. Walk in dive no boat ride there is a taxi ride of about $15 each way. The reef tapers off from 20' to 200' live coral everywhere tons of fish. We were there two months ago saw 5 different types of eels, squid, swam with a school of tarpon, saw an octopus in his hole and got to watch an eagle ray feeding along the bottom. With 100'+ viz and we had it all to ourselves just us and the divemaster.

 

I agree, Curacao would be my first choice and I highly recommend The Dive Bus. They couldn't have been more fun or helpful (battery on my sons dive computer died and they did not have one, Suzy ran us to the local grocery store to buy one). The dives were amazing. Here is a link:

http://www.the-dive-bus.com/

 

Safe diving and have a GREAT cruise!

[njbirdnutz]

You mentioned a stop in Aruba. If you plan to dive there, look up JADS Aruba. They will pick you up/drop you off at the pier. Their boat is located behind the airport, so it's a quick trip from the dock. I've been using them for several years. Very friendly, informative and a lot of fun.

 

Happy sailing!

 

Debbie

[Sailfish]

We're cruising next month on the Constellation and plan to dive in St. Lucia, Barbados, Bonaire, and Aruba. Thinking about diving in Curacao and/or Grenada as well. Any suggestions for best places to dive/best dive operators? We do not usually go with the ship's planned excursions. Thanks for all suggestions!:)

 

We will be diving in a few of the ports you are looking to get info in February - please visit our group BLOG where you'll find lots of good dive related information, including detailed dive shop references. You'll also find detailed port by port dive info at our Dive Boat BLOG

 

Good luck!

[w&k]

Here's our picks - we have only been out with Dive Grenada once, but that's because we haven't been back to Grenada yet. We have been diving with all the other folks for years.

 

I would put Curacao at the absolute top of the list!

 

Curacao - we dive with Suzy and Mark at The Dive Bus. http://www.the-dive-bus.com Awesome diving with insane people - right off the beach beats the boats! (cheap beer and blackmail photos afterwards)

 

Grenada - we dive with Phil, Helen, (and Capt. Jack) at Dive Grenada - small boat, and an awesome marine park right around the corner from the shop. http://www.divegrenada.com/

 

Barbados - we dive with John of Dive Barbados if you're into small boat diving at cool, off the beaten track locations. http://www.divebarbados.net/

 

Aruba - we gotta dive with Clive! Essential small boat diving made simple. http://www.divearuba.com

 

Unfortunately, I can't help with either St. Lucia or Bonaire (haven't been there yet). We went on a huge (14 divers?) ship's excursion with Scuba St. Lucia on our first visit (odd port time), and blew a lot of air doing skills, of all things. Very odd. VERY spendy. Since then, we have done tours with Cosol or Frank. Dive Fair Helen and Island Divers get good reviews on this board, but your port times have to be right.

 

Enjoy, wherever you decide to dive!

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith