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Dive Review of The Dive Shop/Grand Barbados in
Barbados/Carlisle Bay

The Dive Shop/Grand Barbados, Jul, 2002,

by jim morus, ohio, usa . Report 195.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 1 stars
Comments

Newly learned rule: When someone at a dive resort extols the virtue of a different resort, ask if they own part of it.

The Dive Shop: Two locations. One beachside within walking distance of the Grand Barbados Hotel, the other in Bridgetown. Owner, Haroon Degia, extremely friendly and cooperative. Has rental equipment available and I heard no complaints about it from any of the customers who used it. Boat had no ladder for entry. It had been broken for several months, but “nobody complains much.” No dock at beachside location. You carry your gear and tank to the boat from 25 to 150 yards from dive shop to boat. They carry if you ask. No water on boat,from beachside, but warter and juice on larger boat from downtown. Dive masters harvested conch for dinner while on dives with customers. The last dive of the day was always the Carlisle Bay Wreck dive.
Water temp was in the mid 80’s.

One unusual thing was that they would leave the mooring, with divers still in the water, if someone was taken by the current. The first time you surface at the mooring and see the boat as a spec on the horizon is a bit unnerving. They said. “We knew you would be down a while longer and they were lost. You know how to dive.” We were never that far from shore to induce fear. The second and third times were not nearly as upsetting.

We did see turtles on most of the dives, one dive as many as six. As bad as the vis was the turtles sometimes were within 3 to 4 feet of the divers and were clearly visible. One was so close I saw my reflection in his eye. Small fish life was a little sparse, but mid size had been nearly harvested dry by fisherman.

Dived Stavro Nikita 4 or 5 times. Spent most of those dives near the mast, as that is where the fish were. Went down to the deck and to the sand bottom once, not much to see.

Beautiful island, a great place for a family vacation. If you dive and your wife doesn’t it would be a great place because the beaches are as beautiful as any in the Caribbean.

As a dive only destination, we won’t go back. Food prices were exorbitant -. KFC $40 American. That was our cheap date. There was a converted camper near the beach at the hotel and dive shop called “Cuz’s.” Pepsi in real glass bottles fresh fish steak or flying fish sandwiches and burgers for inexpensive prices. He opens at 9 and stays until about 5.


If you need medical attention go to the old military outpost. Modern facility with English trained doctors. It is right near the horse racing track.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Curacao, Bonaire, Bahamas, Belize, Cozumel
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 81-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 10-50 Ft/ 3-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Let divemaster see you were comfortable in the water and dive youe own profile
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 1 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments No rinse tanks on boats, no tables on boats
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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