RCCL's dive operator in St. Marten?

[ColumbiaMDCanadian]

Can anyone tell us who Royal Caribbean contracts dive tours with in St. Maarten?

 

If you've used them, what were they like and where do they tend to dive? We're trying to decide whether to go with the cruise ship's tour or book our own once again.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

M

[bruce-r]

Can anyone tell us who Royal Caribbean contracts dive tours with in St. Maarten?

Sure, (I think) they use: http://www.divestmaarten.com/

 

I was pretty under-whelmed by the diving in St. Maarten because all the dive sites are out in the open water. We had 6-8 ft swells and a strong surge which made for challenging conditions. I wouldn't dive there again unless the ocean was flat calm.

 

To their credit, Dive Safaris did offer everyone a full refund if they chose not to go on the excursion because of the sea conditions. Two people got sick on the boat ride out to the first dive site. They should have taken the refund.

 

If you do dive St. Maarten, I hope you have a good time.

[ColumbiaMDCanadian]

Thanks for the info!

 

Yeah - I've read that the diving isn't the greatests but we're on Liberty of the Seas with stops in San Juan (essentially only for hte afternoon and evening), Phillipsburg, and Labadee (where there is no diving). We can't go to the Carib and not try and dive at least once... so we'll pack regs and masks and hope for calm waters!

 

I'll contact divestmaarten and see what they have to say!

 

M