Bahamas report

Just came back from 9 day dive vacation in New Providence, Bahamas. The
first two days the diving was not great, dying reefs and not much fish. Got
better later in the week at other dive sites. Caribe Breeze was a good
dive, as well as Pumpkin Patch, Shark Arena, Palace Wall and new Treasure
Wreck...a man made wreck...made for a movie due out this fall. Stayed at
South Ocean Golf and Beach Resort. It was obviously a nice place when
built...about 30 years ago, but no maintenance since built. Nothing works,
the paint is falling off the walls and exterior. Every time we asked for
something, it took at least 6 requests to get it done. Don't be fooled by
the web page. We heard the lack of maintenance is common all over the
island. Friends stayed at the Wyndam and said they observed the same
things. We are used to 'island time' as we have been to Belize 3 times,
Cozumel, Fiji 3 times, however, it has a new LOW meaning here. It was very
obvious they are not interested in tourists as most locals were not
friendly, helpful, or even interested.

In article <Ns5sc.14060$wa.13441@fed1read07>, ginmill01@cox.net says...
> dive, as well as Pumpkin Patch, Shark Arena, Palace Wall and new Treasure
> Wreck...a man made wreck...made for a movie due out this fall.

Were they doing feeding dives at Shark Arena?

I had a similar experience in Grand Bahama which was not too great.

My 2nd time I went which was a few years later than my first the island had
slid even more downhill.

I will not be going back.

Greg

"Ginny Miller" <ginmill01@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Ns5sc.14060$wa.13441@fed1read07...
> Just came back from 9 day dive vacation in New Providence, Bahamas. The
> first two days the diving was not great, dying reefs and not much fish.
Got
> better later in the week at other dive sites. Caribe Breeze was a good
> dive, as well as Pumpkin Patch, Shark Arena, Palace Wall and new Treasure
> Wreck...a man made wreck...made for a movie due out this fall. Stayed at
> South Ocean Golf and Beach Resort. It was obviously a nice place when
> built...about 30 years ago, but no maintenance since built. Nothing
works,
> the paint is falling off the walls and exterior. Every time we asked for
> something, it took at least 6 requests to get it done. Don't be fooled by
> the web page. We heard the lack of maintenance is common all over the
> island. Friends stayed at the Wyndam and said they observed the same
> things. We are used to 'island time' as we have been to Belize 3 times,
> Cozumel, Fiji 3 times, however, it has a new LOW meaning here. It was
very
> obvious they are not interested in tourists as most locals were not
> friendly, helpful, or even interested.
>
>

I agree with you regarding the rudeness of the locals towards tourists and
it just completely baffles me. Why slap the hand that is feeding you? I know
that a huge portion of the Bahamas economy is tourism and you would expect
better treatment but go figure. Contrast that with a place like a Aruba
where the locals have honed their skills in treating tourists quite well, so
much so that at times, it almost feels affected and fake. Still, I would
rather have that than the rudeness that a lot of people experience in
Nassau/New Providence.

"Ginny Miller" <ginmill01@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Ns5sc.14060$wa.13441@fed1read07...
> Just came back from 9 day dive vacation in New Providence, Bahamas. The
> first two days the diving was not great, dying reefs and not much fish.
Got
> better later in the week at other dive sites. Caribe Breeze was a good
> dive, as well as Pumpkin Patch, Shark Arena, Palace Wall and new Treasure
> Wreck...a man made wreck...made for a movie due out this fall. Stayed at
> South Ocean Golf and Beach Resort. It was obviously a nice place when
> built...about 30 years ago, but no maintenance since built. Nothing
works,
> the paint is falling off the walls and exterior. Every time we asked for
> something, it took at least 6 requests to get it done. Don't be fooled by
> the web page. We heard the lack of maintenance is common all over the
> island. Friends stayed at the Wyndam and said they observed the same
> things. We are used to 'island time' as we have been to Belize 3 times,
> Cozumel, Fiji 3 times, however, it has a new LOW meaning here. It was
very
> obvious they are not interested in tourists as most locals were not
> friendly, helpful, or even interested.
>
>

"cb" <cb@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xh3tc.2327$ch2.2302@news.cpqcorp.net...
> I agree with you regarding the rudeness of the locals towards tourists and
> it just completely baffles me. Why slap the hand that is feeding you? I
know
> that a huge portion of the Bahamas economy is tourism

But that doesn't mean by ratio it equally impacts the most of the locals. If
all tourists are doing is mucking up what traditionally had been a somewhat
idylic, if difficult, lifestyle, and little of the dollars spent by tourists
reaches the pockets of the general local inhabitants, then if this was my
home I too would rather see tourist go than stay. In fact I would probably
do more than be rude.

Point of fact: Your tourist dollars spent in most island communities "feeds"
very few of the local inhabitants. It may, in your mind, enrich their
environment with paved roads, franchise food and pretty resorts, but it is
probable those too come between them and their traditional way of island
living. The truth is that island living is tradition bound, almost
tribe-like in nature, and the tourist trade both disrupts and corrupts it.

Given that a fair portion of New Providence is tourist-ridden as well as
ruined because of tourists, if the lady at the market downtown can sell you
a hat and be rude to you...well, her day has been made :^)

> and you would expect
> better treatment but go figure. Contrast that with a place like a Aruba
> where the locals have honed their skills in treating tourists quite well,

The thing to always remember is that how and why these people treat tourists
as they do, is really none of your business. Your business is to measure
these things against your desire to visit ever again.

I have to agree with the rudeness of some locals. But I also remember
the kindness of others, like the baby girl that sat with us on a
restaurant wanting to share her food with us, like the manager that
returned my credit card when i left it the night before at his
restaurant, and the poeple that made many free recommendations of good
places to eat, drink and have fun.

So yes there is some rudeness, but not everyone.

Beside I saw more rudeness out of visitors than any locals.


Good diving


On Sun, 23 May 2004 10:47:17 -0700, "Ginny Miller" <ginmill01@cox.net>
wrote:

>Just came back from 9 day dive vacation in New Providence, Bahamas. The
>first two days the diving was not great, dying reefs and not much fish. Got
>better later in the week at other dive sites. Caribe Breeze was a good
>dive, as well as Pumpkin Patch, Shark Arena, Palace Wall and new Treasure
>Wreck...a man made wreck...made for a movie due out this fall. Stayed at
>South Ocean Golf and Beach Resort. It was obviously a nice place when
>built...about 30 years ago, but no maintenance since built. Nothing works,
>the paint is falling off the walls and exterior. Every time we asked for
>something, it took at least 6 requests to get it done. Don't be fooled by
>the web page. We heard the lack of maintenance is common all over the
>island. Friends stayed at the Wyndam and said they observed the same
>things. We are used to 'island time' as we have been to Belize 3 times,
>Cozumel, Fiji 3 times, however, it has a new LOW meaning here. It was very
>obvious they are not interested in tourists as most locals were not
>friendly, helpful, or even interested.
>

[Kia06]

Not everyone is rude, some people just have "issues", I personally apologize for the whole island for what you have experienced and hope that it will not effect your decision to come back. Yes the hotels are in a state of disrepair but i think as of now they are fixing them up.