Scuba On Carnival Cruise Recomendations

We are looking at a Western Carrib. cruise (on Carnival Lines) starting
2/14/06 & I am looking for dive recommendations for the best two sites to
dive out of these four places:
Cozumel
Cayman Islands
Roatan Island, Honduras
Belize

Also......Any tips on how these cruise dives work, what I should do/avoid,
etc.

Thanks

Dick wrote:

> We are looking at a Western Carrib. cruise (on Carnival Lines) starting
> 2/14/06 & I am looking for dive recommendations for the best two sites to
> dive out of these four places:
> Cozumel
> Cayman Islands
> Roatan Island, Honduras
> Belize

No choice for me, I'd do all 4 - a great diving itinerary.

If you're looking to do only 2 to cut costs, you could do shore dives at
Roatan and Cayman (Cayman - turn right after walking down dock - see
Eden Rock in less than 5 minute walk / Do a boat dive scheduled thru the
ship at Belize (only way the ship will wait if you are late returning
and most of the Belize excursions have that possibility), and in Cozumel
book your own boat dives with one of the many ops.

If you're limiting your diving because you have a SO who doesn't dive,
they will likely be happiest left alone with your credit card for a few
hours in Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
>
> Also......Any tips on how these cruise dives work, what I should do/avoid,
> etc.

How they typically work, YMMV - sign up on-line before you go or as soon
as you get on the ship - cabin staff will leave your excursion vouchers
in your room, it will have meeting details on it - meet at appointed
time in appointed place on the ship - show C card to dive staff - wait a
half hour - go to dock/tender as a group - wait 20 minutes - get in van
or boat to dive shop - fill out forms and sign waivers - wait 30 minutes
for everyone to get equipment - get on boat with fellow divers (minimum
requirements are one dive in the past 3 years in some cases) - dive
30-45 minutes - SI 30 minutes - dive 40-45 minutes - return to shop -
wait 30 minutes for everyone to rinse gear, return equipment rentals and
buy t-shirts - get in boat/van for return to dock/ship.

Best bet if you are an experienced diver is to book your own dives
(saves a few bucks as well) or buddy up for some shore dives.
Just remember, the ship can be late arriving or change itineraries at
the last moment, and it won't wait for you if you return late.

If you have time constraints, or have limited dive experience go with
the ship offered tours - the ops the ships use are generally safe and
attentive to new divers since they see quite a few.
>
> Thanks
>
>

"greatviz" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:3mla0sF17dvb4U1@individual.net...
>
>
> Dick wrote:
>
> > We are looking at a Western Carrib. cruise (on Carnival Lines) starting
> > 2/14/06 & I am looking for dive recommendations for the best two sites
to
> > dive out of these four places:
> > Cozumel
> > Cayman Islands
> > Roatan Island, Honduras
> > Belize
>
> No choice for me, I'd do all 4 - a great diving itinerary.
>
> If you're looking to do only 2 to cut costs, you could do shore dives at
> Roatan

shore dives from where?

>and Cayman (Cayman - turn right after walking down dock - see
> Eden Rock in less than 5 minute walk / Do a boat dive scheduled thru the
> ship at Belize (only way the ship will wait if you are late returning
> and most of the Belize excursions have that possibility),

True. It is definitely not recommended to do a self-tour of any kind during
the Belize layover.

>and in Cozumel
> book your own boat dives with one of the many ops.
>
> If you're limiting your diving because you have a SO who doesn't dive,
> they will likely be happiest left alone with your credit card for a few
> hours in Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

Agreed, assuming the SO is really into shopping. If that is not your SO's
thing, then the foregoing is wrong.

(snip some more good advice)

chilly wrote:


> shore dives from where?

The resorts. CoCoView was picking up cruisers who made arrangements
with them in advance. At least, they did last year.

>>If you're limiting your diving because you have a SO who doesn't dive,
>>they will likely be happiest left alone with your credit card for a few
>>hours in Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
>
>
> Agreed, assuming the SO is really into shopping. If that is not your SO's
> thing, then the foregoing is wrong.

Car rentals. Margaritas on the beach. A trip to Hell...it can be fun to
spend even if you don't like to shop.

greatviz <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> chilly wrote:
> >
> > Agreed, assuming the SO is really into shopping. If that is not your SO's
> > thing, then the foregoing is wrong.
>
> Car rentals. Margaritas on the beach. A trip to Hell...it can be fun to
> spend even if you don't like to shop.

The most straightforward thing to do is to take a clean sheet of paper
and make a list for each port of call:


Option a) He Wants: _______________

Option b) She Wants: ________________

Option c) Together, We Wants: ________________


Final choice: ______________


YMMV on how the negotiation goes for those ports where the option for
the spouse is considered highly undesirable, since this pragmatically
forces the decision to become Option (c) for purposes of wedded bliss.



-hh

Thus spake "Dick" <devil505@adelphia.net> :

>We are looking at a Western Carrib. cruise (on Carnival Lines) starting
>2/14/06 & I am looking for dive recommendations for the best two sites to
>dive out of these four places:
>Cozumel
>Cayman Islands
>Roatan Island, Honduras
>Belize

The Valor is a great sampler cruise. You get four of the major stops
in the Carib.

For your first cruise, and since you may not know the islands (if you
do, ignore this), I'd recommend you book through the line. You don't
say now experienced you are, but that may be a major factor in your
choices.

You arrive Belize 9 am, leave 6 pm. In theory, plenty of time. But
it depends on when the dive operator leaves the dock. This is a
tender port so timing may vary.

Roatan arrives 7 am, leaves 3:30 pm. Might be kind of iffy with an
8-8:30 dive boat departure. It depends on where they go.

Grand Cayman arrives 9 am, departs 5:30 pm. This another tender port.
You may not reach the dock until 10, unless you have a ships excursion
(same applies to Belize). This is probably the least iff of these
three.

Cozumel arrives 11 am, leaves 11 pm. Plenty of time, if you can find
somebody who does an afternoon dive. Plenty around, others can
probably suggest one. And you can still get trashed at Senor Frogs
and crawl back to the ship.

I also recommend flying in the day before, especially if you are
flying from anywhere in the north. If your flight is delayed, you may
find yourself waving at the ship.

>
>Also......Any tips on how these cruise dives work, what I should do/avoid,
>etc.
>
>Thanks
>
--
dillon

Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid"