freeport, bahamas...good, bad or no way

<moyolawn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:0c3rm15sig035lma3i72hsn6k3ndi7bola@4ax.com...
> I'd like to go to Freeport, dec 1-7 and don't know what to expect from
> either the diving or hotels. Has anyone gone there this year and have
> comments pro or con.

I was there this year and it was my second trip there. Not much to do there
unless you want RxR after diving. Diving is okay but the highlight there
for diving is probably the shark dives and the dolphin dive. Dove with
UNEXSO both times and they were okay. My partner appreciated their service.
The market centers are very American. One can go for a long weekend just to
try it out as it's not too far away.

Clint

In article <Pizbf.23894$5u4.219402@wagner.videotron.net>, "Clint" <pepmax@videotron.ca> writes:
>
><moyolawn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:0c3rm15sig035lma3i72hsn6k3ndi7bola@4ax.com.. .
>> I'd like to go to Freeport, dec 1-7 ...
...
>I was there this year and it was my second trip there. Not much to do there
>unless you want RxR after diving. Diving is okay but the highlight there
>for diving is probably the shark dives and the dolphin dive. Dove with
>UNEXSO both times and they were okay. My partner appreciated their service.
>The market centers are very American. One can go for a long weekend just to
>try it out as it's not too far away.

CAUTION -- my experience is about 15 years out of date, but here it is:

UNEXSO at Freeport -- actually Lucia -- was my wife's and my first
SCUBA experience. The "resort course" we took was excellent -- _FAR_
superior to what we have observed at some resort locations! UNEXSO
was also our first dive destination as certified divers. My take is
that the experience is great for new of moderately experience divers.
More experienced divers may consider it too much of a cattle boat and
too mild for there taste.

UNEXSO used to offer some reasonably O.K. hotel/dive packages.
I assume they still do, but compare other prices too.
WWW.UNEXSO.COM

We did find some decent restaurants and night life in the area.
I don't know if that has changed for the better or worse.

It did seem that about 95%+ of the population is in the business of
selling time shares. You do have to be moderately agressive in saying
"NO!" -- and just keep walking. You will also encounter some agressive
salesmanship at some shops, and, naturally, in the "straw markets".
We did not find it especially difficult to ignore this.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

moyol...@yahoo.com wrote:
> I'd like to go to Freeport, dec 1-7 and don't know what to expect from
> either the diving or hotels. Has anyone gone there this year and have
> comments pro or con. I went to Paradise Island 2 years ago and was not
> impressed. the diving was nice but the attitude of the people was
> B A D

I have had some good experiences on Paradise Island. Dove with Stuart
Cove. Did a scooter expedition (they followed our bubbles and sent
down new scooters when our batteries ran low.) that included sharks,
wrecks and some of the sets from the Bond movies. Treated us very well.
Had great dives with Valentynes near Elutheria. Also did some inland
cave / blue hole diving on Cat, that was really unique. Good
experiences on other Bahamas Islands but info too out-of-date to be
worthwhile.