Recommendation for Excursions and Islands

[ssabaste]

We are taking a cruise in early December and will have the opportunity to dive on 5 different islands. But, due to budgetary restrictions we will only be doing 3 two tank dives during the trip.

 

Of these islands / areas which 3 would you recommend that we do:

 

Aruba

Bonaire

Dominica

Grenada

St. Thomas

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide. Also, we have a non-diver, but snorkeler that will be traveling with us, would the snorkeling be the same recommendations as the certified dives?

 

Thanks!!!

[tammymacb]

Bonaire could be cheap....the entire island is a big shore dive, so you would just need to rent equipment. ( Unless you own your own, then you just need tanks and weights..) It's a don't miss for divers...

 

Dominica would be on my list...I'm hoping to get there for a week, it's supposed to be lovely..

[Carl2860]

I spent one week diving in Dominica in 2006 and it was awesome, you can obtain my email address from my profle and will provide pictures.

 

I spent one week this year in the Dominican Republic and it was also great but in my mind's eye I can still see the walls diving Dominica.

[Bassethound]

I would suggest

 

Dominica (due to the above references, not been there myself)

 

Aruba (good diving and no so much else interesting about the island)

 

Bonaire (cant' miss diving and snorkeling)

[bruce-r]

For St. Thomas I suggest looking at http://www.cokidive.com for a shore dive your you and snorkeling for the non-diver. It isn't the best diving St. Thomas has to offer, but it meets your budget requirements and you can stay together. It is a nice beach. Go there first thing in the day before it gets busy.

 

For Aruba, I'd go with http://www.divearuba.com

[Bassethound]

I didn't think St Thomas had any good diving to offer. Any suggestions are welcome

[w&k]

I heartily second Bruce's Aruba op - Clive at Dive Aruba. http://www.divearuba.com.

 

On Dominica, we went with Nature Island Divers and had an awesome time. http://www.natureislanddivers.com We're heading back there in a few months, and I posted a review on this board.

 

Am currently looking into Grenada myself, but supposedly Bonaire is not to be missed.

 

Sounds like a great trip!

 

Wendy

 

dive pix

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

[bruce-r]

I didn't think St Thomas had any good diving to offer. Any suggestions are welcome

 

Oh HO, think again. I did three quite enjoyable dives with http://www.admiraltydive.com and Here are the photos from them.

 

I thought the diving there was considerably better than St. Maarten.

[wnctarheel]

In Bonaire we walked off the ship and walked to Divi dive and had a great time. If you want to do a shore dive I would also go to Coki beach in St. Thomas. The diving in St Thomas would be my last place that I would dive of the places that you are going put it still will be a nice place to go.

[ssabaste]

Thanks for all the great advice!!! We are booking dives in:

 

Aruba, Bonaire, and Dominica

 

We will probably do a snorkel trip in St. Thomas; Princess offers a sail / snorkel to Buck Island Turtle Cove that we are looking at...has anyone done that excursion or been to Buck Island?

 

Thanks again. And we'll post a review and photos when we get back!:D