Grand Bahama

[Big Jim]

Hi,
I'm off to Grand Bahama later this year, I'll be staying in Freeport so I'll be near the centre of things.
Does anyone have any reccomendations for Dive Centres to use (I was thinking of Xanadu at the moment) and any dives I should or shouldn't miss.
Also, the dive centres web-sites make a big thing of Shark feeding, Cavern diving and Dolphin dives, are these worthwhile or rip-offs? At the moment I was thinking of doing a shark feed and missing out on the dolphin dive as it seems to be extremely manufactured and bloody expensive, would I be correct? I've done a bit of cavern diving in Menorca, how do the Bahamas compare ?
Any other tips regarding the holiday in general as well as the diving would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[JasonP]

I went a few years ago. There's a trip report on my website. I dived with Grand Bahama Scuba. They were an alright bunch. Didn't nanny you too much and picked me up from the hotel every day.

I didn't do the shark feed, but we went to the site where they feed them and about 6 turned up hoping to be fed and hung around for quite some time.

I did a couple of cavern dives too. I've not been to Menorca, but they were similar to the dives in Mexico. The caves go for miles and the island is riddled with them.

Jason

[finooks]

Hi Jim

I did my Open Water course with Xanadu dive centre in Freeport. One of the four open water dives I managed to do in Shark Alley!! Fantastic experience, and well worth the money. Before starting the open water course, I did a try dive with them - looking back they were really efficient compared to many other dive setups I've experienced since then. The try dive consisted of an hour in the classroom, an hour in the pool, then an hour out at the Magic Kingdom dive site. Really efficient. The guy I went on holiday with wasn't as comfortable jumping in the sea for his try dive, so he went back to the shop, and they spent an extra hour with him practising skills and building up his confidence. This paid off, as he ended up signing up for his OW course, too. I am eternally grateful to Chris for this, as if he didn't do this I wouldn't have ended up taking up diving!! (I would've felt too guilty leaving my ex on the beach for a week on his own!! hehe)

The staff at the centre are great, especially Chris (the Manager), and Shanna (in the shop).

I also went swimming with the dolphins - also a 'must do' when you are out there. Xanadu don't organise this - you have to go with Unexco (I think that's how you spell it) in Port Lucaya. This is a much bigger dive centre, but I did prefer Xanadu.....ah, the memories...!!!

Where are you staying? I have stayed in both the Xanadu hotel and Port Lucaya Yacht Club.

I'm so envious!!! Room in your suitcase for me....? ;o)

Lisa x

[Seadeuce]

Few years since I was there too.

Did dives with Xanadu and Unexso. Was not impressed with Xanadu. They never asked for C-cards or logbooks, paired a non-diver with his girlfriend, who hadn't dived for over twelve months, and let them off on a 25m dive!
They did survive BTW.
Unexso had you doing a check-out dive in their pool before taking you out to Theos wreck (nice one). They had decent standards.

As an experienced diver I prefer the stricter approach as the diving will be unaffected by unguided newbies, who are an unwitting liability to all below.

Shark Junction was where the sharkfeed was. Having seen a few since then it compares with the best of them. I even got to touch a shark.

Maybe Xan. has cleaned up its act since then, but the other one def. has the same policy. BTW they are not in your face, or regimental underwater once they know you can dive.


Cheers,

Seadeuce

[Big Jim]

Thanks for the info everyone, though you've confused me even more now, I'll be staying at the Ocean Reef Yacht Club in Freeport where I believe Grand Bahama Scuba are based. Based purely on thier websites I'd thought of using Xanadu even though Grand Bahama Scuba will be on my doorstep, but the differing opinions above have given me food for thought, therefore any further input will be welcome.
For further information there will be three divers in our party all relatively experienced ( I'm an Instructor and my mates are Divemasters ) would that change your reccomendations at all ?