Dive Operators - St Thomas

[cpayne]

We'll be in St Thomas in November for a land vacation. After numerous cruise stops to this port we've decided to stay awhile...2 weeks in fact. I'm looking for recommendations on dive operators. Any suggestions?

[BurBunny]

Cheri, I highly recommend Chris Saywer Divers. They're excellent, professional and truly top notch for the island.

[Orcrone]

BurBunny,

 

Would they be good for a 10 hour stop (10 AM until 8 PM) cruise stop?

 

Thanks,

Marc

[NorfolkSailor]

I really like the Patagona Dive Center associated with the Ritz Carlton. You will need to get over to the other side of the island from the port (if you're coming in by ship or staying downtown as opposed to one of the hotels or resorts elsewhere on the island) but it's worth it. The center is down by the beach after entering through the hotel. The Divemaster - Arnoldo Falcoff - has been working the waters around St. Thomas for decades and knows EVERYTHING about the area and what's best for any given day! I don't have any details on contacting the dive shop but we ususally just call the hotel and they can patch the call out to the shop. I believe there are two-tank dives available in the morning and the afternoon and charters can be arranged directly with the dive shop... The facility also has various day sail and boat rental options but, again, I don't have details as we always go diving...

 

Hope this helps.

 

- Kevin

[DiveCruiser]

Blue Island divers worked great for us!!!

 

www.blueislanddivers.com

Have a great dive!!

Bob, Diane and Bethany

[Hilary]

I'll second Blue Island divers, even though I'm not diving with them until December. ;-) They were really great to work with via e-mail scheduling our dives and their boat will pick us up at the pier rather than having to take land transportation to their dock. Heck, I say dive with both Sawyer and Blue Island and post a review when you return! <G>

[Woodsmaster]

We used Chris Sawyers on a recent cruise (July 2004). They were a good group.

[Tracy1]

We were on the Adventure of the Seas and stopped at St. Thomas on Mon. Aug. 30, 2004. We pre-booked a dive excursion with the ship. $90 per person. They used a dive shop right on the Pier, Underwater Safaris. (http://www.scubadivevi.com) Diane met us and she was very personable and knowledgeable, a fantastic host. I’d love to go diving with her again. There were only 4 certified divers with 1 dive master, Katie and 2 discover scuba students with Diane so it was a great experience. We’ve heard that there are often around 40 divers on the boat but maybe that’s in the busy season. One of the divers with us went diving with them last week (he did a back to back cruise) and said that it was a small group last week too. We went on two 35 minute dives (Taos Reef and Cartanser Sr. Wreck). The Reef was beautiful with lots of coral and lots of colorful fish. We saw an 18” diameter sea turtle hanging out on the ocean floor feeding. We got really close to him and he paid us no mind. We also saw fish that burrow into the sand and some really beautiful bright vivid purple tall coral. At the wreck we saw sergeant major fish guarding their eggs that looked like purple paint splotches on the side of the wreck. We also saw two 3’ barracudas, and a hiding lobster. I would do these dives again.