Dive recommendations for the St. Martin area?

I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this past
weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.

In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day trip
over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?

Thanks!

-Tim

"Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
past
> weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
>
> In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
trip
> over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
>
> Thanks!

Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.

When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
have that kind of time that trip.

Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
go over to Saba for the day?

Have fun.

"Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
past
> weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
>
> In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
trip
> over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
>
> Thanks!

Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.

When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
have that kind of time that trip.

Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
go over to Saba for the day?

Have fun.

"Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
past
> weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
>
> In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
trip
> over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
>
> Thanks!

Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.

When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
have that kind of time that trip.

Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
go over to Saba for the day?

Have fun.

"Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
past
> weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
>
> In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
trip
> over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
>
> Thanks!

Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.

When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
have that kind of time that trip.

Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
go over to Saba for the day?

Have fun.

"Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
past
> weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
>
> In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
trip
> over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
>
> Thanks!

Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.

When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
have that kind of time that trip.

Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
go over to Saba for the day?

Have fun.

I'll never forget the time I went diving in the Red Sea...low and behold, there
was a group of Texas diviers during their "checkout"...of all places...one of
the true summits of diving...and in the Red Sea no less!

They even brought along their Baptist minister who was going to "instruct" them
on their subsequent tour of the "Holy Land"

Isn't that obscene?

Well, since this person has chosen one of the weakest spots in the world for
their check-out dive...I only hope it doesn't turn them off to diving.

chilly wrote:

> "Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
> news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> > I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
> past
> > weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
> >
> > In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> > Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
> trip
> > over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> > shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
> enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.
>
> When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
> ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
> quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
> owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
> have that kind of time that trip.
>
> Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
> go over to Saba for the day?
>
> Have fun.

I'll never forget the time I went diving in the Red Sea...low and behold, there
was a group of Texas diviers during their "checkout"...of all places...one of
the true summits of diving...and in the Red Sea no less!

They even brought along their Baptist minister who was going to "instruct" them
on their subsequent tour of the "Holy Land"

Isn't that obscene?

Well, since this person has chosen one of the weakest spots in the world for
their check-out dive...I only hope it doesn't turn them off to diving.

chilly wrote:

> "Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
> news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> > I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
> past
> > weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
> >
> > In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> > Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
> trip
> > over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> > shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
> enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.
>
> When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
> ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
> quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
> owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
> have that kind of time that trip.
>
> Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
> go over to Saba for the day?
>
> Have fun.

I'll never forget the time I went diving in the Red Sea...low and behold, there
was a group of Texas diviers during their "checkout"...of all places...one of
the true summits of diving...and in the Red Sea no less!

They even brought along their Baptist minister who was going to "instruct" them
on their subsequent tour of the "Holy Land"

Isn't that obscene?

Well, since this person has chosen one of the weakest spots in the world for
their check-out dive...I only hope it doesn't turn them off to diving.

chilly wrote:

> "Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
> news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> > I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
> past
> > weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
> >
> > In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> > Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
> trip
> > over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> > shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
> enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.
>
> When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
> ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
> quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
> owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
> have that kind of time that trip.
>
> Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
> go over to Saba for the day?
>
> Have fun.

I'll never forget the time I went diving in the Red Sea...low and behold, there
was a group of Texas diviers during their "checkout"...of all places...one of
the true summits of diving...and in the Red Sea no less!

They even brought along their Baptist minister who was going to "instruct" them
on their subsequent tour of the "Holy Land"

Isn't that obscene?

Well, since this person has chosen one of the weakest spots in the world for
their check-out dive...I only hope it doesn't turn them off to diving.

chilly wrote:

> "Tim McDonough" <tmm@sdd.hp.com> wrote in message
> news:fmivlr$ij6$1@epgc964.sdd.hp.com...
> > I'm finally certified! Did my open water diver certification dives this
> past
> > weekend at Octopus Hole, near Hoodsport, WA.
> >
> > In Feb, my wife (certified many years back) and I will be heading to St.
> > Martin. Any recommendations for diving in the area? It is worth a day
> trip
> > over to Saba? Do folks recommend the ferry or by plane? Any dive
> > shops/boats to look for (or to run away from)? Any other general advice?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> Has your wife been diving regularly? If not, then the two of you are new
> enough divers, that I think you will enjoy the St. Martin dives just fine.
>
> When I look back now, I realize that it wasn't some of the best diving I've
> ever done, but my St. Martin dives were early enough in my dive life that I
> quite enjoyed them. When I went, the visibility was quite clear. The
> owner of the shop did tell us that the best diving is at Saba, but we didn't
> have that kind of time that trip.
>
> Why don't you do a few dives off St. Martin and then decide if you want to
> go over to Saba for the day?
>
> Have fun.