where to dive? Aruba, Curacao or Dominica?

[JulieBen]

we're going to all three, but can only dive two locations. Which do you recommend?

Thanks.

[bruce-r]

Curacao is definitely my first choice.

 

I don't know between Aruba and Dominica. I have a hunch it would be Aruba, but since I haven't been to Dominica, I can't say for sure. One way to decide would be to consider what else there is to do on Aruba or Dominica. If there was something special you'd like to do on one, dive the other.

[Capt_BJ]

I've had god dives at all three - so that doesn't help much

 

But I find Curacao to be the most interesting island to explore - just hitting downtown, the floating bridge and market ... good stuff. The other two look like most of the other islands....

[JulieBen]

thanks Captain BJ.

[JulieBen]

Curacao is definitely my first choice.

 

I don't know between Aruba and Dominica. I have a hunch it would be Aruba, but since I haven't been to Dominica, I can't say for sure. One way to decide would be to consider what else there is to do on Aruba or Dominica. If there was something special you'd like to do on one, dive the other.

 

Thanks for the response, Bruce.

[divadiverfl]

Dominca for sure--back to nature

Aruba

 

As all the places I have dove--Dominca is the bes-if you like nature

[Nitrodog]

We'll be diving in both Dominica (Nature Island Diveing) and Aruba (Fly n Dive). we're really look forward to Dominica as we hear it's totally unspoiled and a diamond in the rough. Auruba is great for wreck diving and not so well known for it's reefs and coral.

[scubamargie]

Definitely Dominica is first choice -- book with Nature Island Divers who will pick you up at the cruise pier. This is a MUST dive location - pristine water, lots of moray eels, rare fish, lobster & crab -- maybe even a whale!

 

Second would be Curacao because you can shore dive easily by taking a taxi to Caracas Bay and shore dive the tugboat. There's a dive operator there at the Baya Beach Club and facilities (rest room, shower, bar). While there check out the remains of Fort Beekenburg just north of the beach. For more info http://www.curacao-actief.com/index.php?id=3&dl_id=57

 

Aruba can be great diving too, but it depends on the dive operator. Don't book through the ship.

[DiveCruiser]

Dominca for sure--back to nature

Aruba

 

As all the places I have dove--Dominca is the bes-if you like nature

divadiverfl, Who did you dive with in Dominica

 

Bob

[w&k]

I can heartily reccomend Nature Island Dive in Dominica - the diving was awesome, and we had a great time with them. http://www.natureislanddive.com/index.html I posted a review on this board. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=121704

 

For our trip on the Empress next week, we are booked on Curacao with Suzy & Mark at The Dive Bus. http://www.the-dive-bus.com/ I have a group of 17 divers, discover divers, snorkelers, and hanger-outers going over. I can't wait to get there - we are going to have a blast. Here's another link that points directly to their cruisers page. http://www.the-dive-bus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=182&Itemid=91

 

We also have booked dives with Clive at Dive Aruba from reccomendations on this board. Clive dives a schedule, and we will be doing the Jane Sea wreck, followed by a reef. http://www.divearuba.com/

 

My dive pix are posted at http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyandkeith

 

Have a great trip!

 

Wendy

[bruce-r]

For our trip on the Empress next week, we are booked on Curacao with Suzy & Mark at The Dive Bus. http://www.the-dive-bus.com/ I have a group of 17 divers, discover divers, snorkelers, and hanger-outers going over. I can't wait to get there - we are going to have a blast.

Wendy

Wendy, thanks for the like to the dive bus. It looks pretty good. I you haven't used them before, I hope you'll give us a report about your experience with them and how the diving was at their Hut site.

[WesW]

Karen from Nature Island Dive quoted us, $40 to take a taxi to their location next month (we're on the SS Whisper docking at Roseau), another experienced diver strongly recommended Aaron of Anchorage Dive Center in Dominica..we are going with them (they are picking us up at the pier)..r/wes

[cal2632]

We also have booked dives with Clive at Dive Aruba from reccomendations on this board. Clive dives a schedule, and we will be doing the Jane Sea wreck, followed by a reef. http://www.divearuba.com/

 

Wendy

 

Did that dive with Clive a few weeks ago. Really liked the wreck - very intact as it is less than 20 years old and teeming with schools of fish. Husband enjoyed the reef dive, too (I was hanging over the side chumming the fish at the time - water was pretty rough). This was our second trip with Clive and we'll be booking with him again next year. Enjoy your dives!

 

Mona

[cmdchiefthom]

Dominica is a must dive location. Volcanic vents, seahorses, it's just so much different than anything else in the Caribbean;)

[infopaul]

Maybe because I do a lot of diving in Hawaii with lava tubes etc.,etc. but my two choices would be Curacao and Dominica (it's sooo much closer).

 

Hey Thom,

 

Hope everything is going well. I have Guatemala independantly booked. I have to admitt that Guatemala was tough to find someone. In Belize i'm with Linda and John, hopefully I can get the paxs for S Turneffe to dive the Elbow. I'm sure I will. I'm udecided about Mahahual. Dreamtime could be it unless someone chimes in with a better idea. Anyway, this Fri. is it. Warm weather for me. All I do is stare at the clock all day...Paul:)

[cmdchiefthom]

Paul,

 

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for in in Costa Maya. The winds can really turn on you there and it can get as rough as a cobb, real quick and no leeside to get behind.

 

I booked Admirality yesterday for either the hospital ship, or the Shoal...depending on the level of divers we end up with. I asked Porshe(?sp) how many she had booked for April 5th, and so far my wife and I are it, so I have a better than even chance of doing one of those two wrecks.

 

You enjoy;) ....I know I will!:D

[Carl2860]

:)

Dominica is a must dive location. Volcanic vents, seahorses, it's just so much different than anything else in the Caribbean;)

 

 

 

Which cruise ship are you leaving on and diving where?

[cmdchiefthom]

Carl,

 

I'm leaving on the NCL Sun out of Miami on April 1st, diving in Cayo Lavantado DR, the RMS Rhone in Tortola, and one of the deep wrecks in St. Thomas. I did the exotic Southern Caribbean last year on the NCL Spirit, which included Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts, Dominica and Tortola on a nine day itinerary. I did a couple of trips on the Sun to the Western Caribbean which included Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel, and have done the St. Thomas, St. Marten, San Juan route a couple of times as well, and a southern route to the Panama Canal, stoping in Aruba, Curacao, the San Blas Islands, Cozumel and Cayman.