Cruising and Diving

10 Best Cruise Ship Ports for Scuba Diving

1.  Cozumel, Mexic

When you arrive in the town of San Miguel you’ll want to head to the Scuba Club Cozumel, one mile away. You can shore-dive there or, if you arrive by 2:30 PM, join a one-tank boat tour. If you choose the latter odds are about 50-50 that you’ll visit the C-53 wreck that sits in 82 feet of water. It offers safe penetration of the interior corridors, galley, and engine and radio rooms.

2.  Roatan, Honduras

The first boat of the day at Tranquilseas Eco Lodge leaves at 8:30 AM. It’s likely headed for the wreck of the M/V Aguila or a wall dive in the Sandy Bay area. The former cargo ship is in pieces and sits in 100 feet of water. It is intriguing for its nooks that shelter crabs and spotted moray eels. But keep an eye out for the dog snapper and tiger grouper that dive-bomb the shallower stretches of the wreck. If you head to the wall, you’ll need to work a bit harder to locate the choice find.

3.  Grand Cayman

The best bet here is to take a 5 minute cab ride from George Town to Sunset House where you can shore-dive the house reef. Sunset House charges $12 a tank so this can end up being significantly cheaper than an excursion. First, you’ll meet Amphitrite, the mermaid-looking statue. Keep heading offshore to encounter small finds, like lettuce sea slugs and other nudibranchs, plus a litany of crabs.

4.  Key West, Florida

South point Divers’ departure times are 8 AM or 1 PM. The most likely stop will be the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg about half the size of the average cruise ship. The ship’s size leaves the biggest impression on its visitors.

5.  Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

From Grand Turk Cruise Center, Blue Water Divers is less than a mile away. Dive boat departure times depend on a vessel’s arrival time. The most likely dive will be the wall in Columbus Landfall National Marine Park. There is a wonderful contrast of color against a backdrop of very white sand.

6.  Kauai, Hawaii

The most popular dive site on Kauai is Sheraton Caverns. You can make the afternoon trip if you arrive at Seaport Divers, a 20 minute cab ride from Nawiliwili Harbor, by 12:30 PM. The caverns’ locals includes zebra, yellow margin and dragon moray eels plus the occasional manta ray. You may also come across a sleeping turtle or whitecap shark plus any number of other residents. The topography of the area makes this a really easy and memorable dive.

7.  St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Armando’s paradise has the greatest amount of sea life. The site itself is a pinnacle between 15 and 40 feed deep. This gives you ample bottom time to spot octopuses, lobsters, eels, and other critters. St. Thomas Diving Club regularly show cruise ship passengers around the dive site. If you arrive at the dive shop by 8:15 AM, they can have you back aboard their vessel no later than 11:30 AM. Keep in mind that it is a 10 minute cab ride from the Havensight pier to the scuba center’s dock and another 5 minutes by boat from the dock to the dive site.

8.  St. Maarten

The likely dive is the HMS Proselyte, a frigate ship that lies in 45 feet of water. St. Maarten Dive Adventures can get you there. However, take note that ship time and island time often differ by and hour – make sure to coordinate the clocks.

9.  Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Sail Caribbean Divers offers private excursions for groups of all sizes, from 1 to 20 or more. You control your itinerary. Each charter sends a guide for more one-on-one contact with the sea life he points out or to provide help brushing up on your skills.

10.  Nassau, Bahamas

If your ship leaves the port of Prince George Wharf after 6 PM, you’re in for a treat. You can join Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas for the afternoon reef shark feed. Don’t worry, you are NOT their lunch. You’ll kneel in the sand where these scavengers snap up herring just inches from you face.

If your ship is departing earlier than 6 you have the option of a morning dive.

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