Diving and Snorkeling together on excursion

[TMJJS]

We are planning our trip for the summer and it looks like the Carnival Valor which will get us to: Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan & Cozumel. My wife, me and 14 year old son got certified two summers ago, but my soon to be 9 year old won't be certified by the cruise.

We are trying to figure out how to divide up since we don't want to leave the 9 year old on the ship while we go diving. The 9 year old loves snorkeling, so I was wondering if anyone knew of any operators in these ports that take divers and snorkelers out together. If it's a 2 tank dive, then maybe my wife can dive 1 and I can dive the other while we also switch off snorkeling with the 9 year old.

 

Of course if you have any other experience or suggestions for this situation, I'm all ears :D

[bruce-r]

In Grand Cayman, you might consider a shore dive at either Eden Rock, or http://www.sunsethouse.com Personally, I'd take a taxi to Sunset House, but you can walk to Eden Rock and there are a couple of nearby dive shops where you can rent whatever you need.

 

If you want a boat dive, I'm pretty sure that http://www.neptunesdivers.com will take a snorkeler along too.

 

 

In Cozumel there are several operators that offer combo dive/snorkel trips.

 

1st choice for me http://www.scubawithalison.com

 

http://www.eagleraydivers.com

http://www.blueangel-scuba.com/ <--- contact them directly 'cause it doesn't show on their website.

 

OR you could spend the day at Playa Palancar. There is an onsite dive op that takes divers and snorkelers to the near by and world famous Palancar reef. Their website ---->http://buceopalancar.com/index_en.html

 

In Belize I'd go cave tubing. Not that the scuba diving isn't good in Belize, it is just much harder to find a dive operator there since the ship anchors off shore of Belize City which isn't close to the good diving there. That, and going with the ship's excursion is really expensive.

 

I don't have any experience in Roatan.

[TMJJS]

Thanks for the reply!

 

We did the cave tubing last time on the Valor. While interesting and different, it's not something we want to do again. Liked it and glad we did it once, but it's not like snorkeling or diving where I can't get enough :D

 

I think the shore diving on Cayman might just work. Is there plenty of fish and coral to see?

 

Thanks again!

[tombo]

On Grand Cayman there is a good shore dive available in the West Bay area across from the Turtle Farm. Actually, the Turtle Farm has been redeveloped and now is known as Boatswain's Beach and has more attractions than just turtles. I haven't actually been to the Boatswain's Beach park but I believe it was designed to be a destination for families visiting on cruise ships.