Stuart Cove's
Stuart Cove's
4.5
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Nassau, Bahamas
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
986 reviews
Excellent
707
Very good
112
Average
63
Poor
37
Terrible
67
KaitlynK0033
20 contributions
Mar 2020
As a long time diver and Shark Week viewer, diving with Stuart Cove's was always a 'bucket list' item! It was as good as their reputation would suggest. My boyfriend finished his open water dives there, and they were very accommodating in getting him in in short notice. Tauren was his dive instructor; I got to join them on a two tank trip and he was so great! He is very laid back but also very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a blast diving with T! We went to the James Bond Wreck which was really cool, and the Sand Chute- saw sharks on both dives! Our next day was the Two tank shark dive, which was one of the COOLEST things I have EVER DONE! I have seen many sharks while diving, but this is different! The first dive, you are free swimming with the sharks down there before the bait comes out. It was a beautiful dive, made better by the numerous sharks. The second tank was the baited shark dive, and you are kneeling in a circle. Travis, our shark feeder, really gave us a great show!! They take turns taking the bait in front of each person, so the sharks are literally gliding right over your head and right next to you! It is so cool. They also offered transportation to and from your resort, and they have a grill so you can eat after your dive. Our bus driver, Vernon, was a lot of fun! They are definitely famous for a reason.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett Galambos
Collegeville, PA363 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Great day of two dives with many sharks to observe. The staff is excellent and the shark 🦈tour was very educational and exciting. If you choose to go from a cruise ship, make sure you inform them, and remind them,so they ensure you get back in a reasonable amount of time to board leisurely and without the stress of potentially missing your boat... We came very close!🛳
Overall, we would recommend STUART COVE as a great dive charter destination ... Our crew was EXCELLENT!
Thank You!
Brett Galambos and Joyce Tomlinson
Overall, we would recommend STUART COVE as a great dive charter destination ... Our crew was EXCELLENT!
Thank You!
Brett Galambos and Joyce Tomlinson
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather R
3 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
We were staying at Atlantis and didn’t realize it would be a 45 min trip on a bus to where the boat was located. Once we got there the check in process was really slow and had to wait 45 min on the boat until we finally left. Once we left though we had a great experience. The guides were super friendly and knowledgeable. The highlight was swimming with the sharks. I would only recommend going with this snorkeling company if you are staying in Nassau to avoid the long bus ride.
Written March 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William L
3 contributions
Aug 2021
We booked 4 days of diving with Stuart Coves 4 am and 2 Pm trips. The first day we had the same pickup problems, They were supposed to be there at 8:10, and at 8:30 we called and they were running late, arrived at 8:50. When we arrived, the site was very busy, disorganized, and disjointed, unlike the old place we remembered 10 years ago. I had two pony bottles that needed to be filled and were out of VIP. They knew we were traveling with the pony bottles and performed the VIP and put a piece of tape not a label on them that stated the date of the VIP, not a regular VIP sticker, see attached picture. The diving was sub-par as the area was basically void of animal life. we did two dives and canceled the upcoming afternoon dives and it was not worth the experience. We later canceled one of the morning dive trips as there was very little to look at as the reef was severely damaged, so they were taking us to wrecks.
Since we were traveling we had to remove the valve from our tanks to fly home. I drained the tanks and attempted to remove the valve but it would not budge. We finally had to clamp the tank to a stationary post and took a 14" adjustable to break the valves loose. There was no reason to have to tighten the valves that tight especially since we were traveling. Had I not had access to the tools I would have not been able to travel with the tanks. Also, I don't understand what they did not put a proper VIP sticker on the tanks.
Needless to say I will not be going back to Stuart Coves EVER.
Since we were traveling we had to remove the valve from our tanks to fly home. I drained the tanks and attempted to remove the valve but it would not budge. We finally had to clamp the tank to a stationary post and took a 14" adjustable to break the valves loose. There was no reason to have to tighten the valves that tight especially since we were traveling. Had I not had access to the tools I would have not been able to travel with the tanks. Also, I don't understand what they did not put a proper VIP sticker on the tanks.
Needless to say I will not be going back to Stuart Coves EVER.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ande C
3 contributions
Feb 2020
Our experience with Stuart Cove's dive trip was exceptional! David, our very experienced and personable dive guide and Leslie, the ship captain were efficient, friendly and took us to the dive sites we envisioned after determining our dive abilities and photo goals (even with our crummy point and shoot as we left proper gear at home). We saw sea turtle, reef sharks, multiple angelfish, parrot fish, trumpet fish, blue tang, grouper and almost every aquarium fish known. The corals were vibrant - best I have seen, sponges and anemones full of color. The fact that the weather broke in our favor, full sun as we arrived at the shop, clouding back up as we climbed into the boat after the second dive was icing on the cake. Great dive and we will be back! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Worth every penny.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsay
5 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
This tour had some excellent aspects and also some super disappointing periods of time. We arrived at 8:45 on a windy morning and departed around 9:45. The ship was not overcrowded, but combined snorkeling with a diver certification. 9 snorkelers and 5 divers. The first spot was fairly deep, 30-40 ft, with not great visibility and terrible snorkeling conditions. I saw less than a dozen fish. The water was so choppy it was difficult to swim at all. The guide didn’t even get in the water. This would have been fine if it were a quick 15 minute spot and we moved on. However, we were stuck waiting for the diver instruction course for over an hour. The boat was getting tossed all around in the wind and waves. If you get seasick- thankfully we didn’t- this is NOT THE TOUR FOR YOU. Honestly it was miserable. The second stop was at the state park beach to see reef, sunken statues and the crashed plane. We were about 100 yards off the beach. There were some great fish, the guide showed us around on this stop and we saw dolphins which was super cool. Again this was a long stop for the scuba instruction, but the conditions were better. The final, very quick because we were out of time, stop was to watch the shark feeding. You jump in with snorkel gear and hold on to a rope to view the reef sharks eating from a feeder below. The sharks are fairly close maybe 20 ft, which was super cool. We were in the water for 5 minutes before we returned back to the dock which was a 20 minute ride. We got back to the dock around 2:00. Without the first stop, this would have been a great tour. It could have been an excellent 1.5 hour trip. Just know if you book a snorkeling trip, you are going to sit, waiting in less than ideal conditions for very long periods of time. Also, there is no food or beverages provided so bring your own. I don’t think I’d book this tour again. It was a lot of waiting for about 20 minutes of cool snorkeling. On a calm day, you might be able to talk me into it.
Written February 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole Boarman
Grandview, IN105 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We booked a two tank dive with equipment through Carnival for our port stop at Nassau. We enjoyed both of our dives and would recommend Stuart's Cove! Sue & Nathaniel were our dive masters and they were A+! We are still "newer" divers with only 13 dives now and they were very helpful if/when needed. They guided us and pointed out sites/sea life. We dove a wall and then the James Bond site. We saw several Caribbean reef sharks, sea turtles (including one that was 5-6 ft long), eel, many fish, and different plant life. Each dive was about 40-45 min. They stay on time and you can tell they do this everyday, multiple times a day. Equipment was in good quality even with being a large dive center. The bus ride from the cruise ship dock was about 35 min each way.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Haley F
12 contributions
Aug 2022
We booked the two reef snorkel by boat through Carnival and this was truly the highlight of our trip. Kenja was THE BEST! Clear with instructions, competent, and so helpful. She made me feel so confident as I'm relatively afraid of the ocean and I had the most amazing time.
The reefs themselves were absolutely insane. Niko hopped right off the boat and had us follow him to show us some AMAZING things. We saw amazing colorful fish, staghorn coral (OMG), lobsters, a fish nursery, and I even spotted a stingray. There was buzz that some people even spotted a sea turtle. He also helped us fix our masks when they wouldn't seal correctly. The water was a bit rocky but the crew made us feel so safe, providing options for swimmers of all levels (which was awesome as our group had 7 people).
The boat was packed but so much fun, they even let us do karaoke on the way back. A few people were seasick but they got back into the boat really early and sat while it rocked. I regularly get seasick and had no issues.
In general, this tour was absolutely outstanding. It was 3 hours which was the perfect amount of time for an excursion like this. We maybe would have liked a few extra minutes at the first reef but all in all it was perfect. The price was absolutely reasonable and they were not pushy about tips at all as most tour guides are. This absolutely ignited my passion for the ocean and I can't wait to come back and snuba with them someday!
The reefs themselves were absolutely insane. Niko hopped right off the boat and had us follow him to show us some AMAZING things. We saw amazing colorful fish, staghorn coral (OMG), lobsters, a fish nursery, and I even spotted a stingray. There was buzz that some people even spotted a sea turtle. He also helped us fix our masks when they wouldn't seal correctly. The water was a bit rocky but the crew made us feel so safe, providing options for swimmers of all levels (which was awesome as our group had 7 people).
The boat was packed but so much fun, they even let us do karaoke on the way back. A few people were seasick but they got back into the boat really early and sat while it rocked. I regularly get seasick and had no issues.
In general, this tour was absolutely outstanding. It was 3 hours which was the perfect amount of time for an excursion like this. We maybe would have liked a few extra minutes at the first reef but all in all it was perfect. The price was absolutely reasonable and they were not pushy about tips at all as most tour guides are. This absolutely ignited my passion for the ocean and I can't wait to come back and snuba with them someday!
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pshurd
Everywhere USA968 contributions
Jun 2022
Advertised as 2 Reef Snorkel by boat. Booked from Carnival Dream. The crew were organized & helpful as they met us immediately as we left the ship. The boat was not particularly comfortable for the almost hour ride to our 1st snorkel destination of Thunderball Reef - it appears to be a dive boat with holders for the tanks interfeering with comfortable seating. But it was obvious that the water was clear & calm & the ride out was pleasant. Kenja gave clear & concise instructions for our first 30 minute snorkel stop & the snorkeling was exceptional - water was very clear & fish were numerous & the coral gorgeous & healthy. We were brought back to the boat for a 15 minute move to our 2nd site. This was closer to Rose Island. We anchored over Little Sister of the 3 Sister's reef & were given instructions on where to swim to see Big Sister & the Elkhorn Coral. We were given permission to swim to the beach if we wanted to. My husband & I spent the 30 minutes snorkeling over Big Sister & it was amazing. Clear, calm, shallow water. We were easily able to stay away from the crowd of swimmers & highly enjoyed the beautifully colored healthy looking coral & the hundreds of fish. Wish I had carried my underwater camera, the fish were amazing, but the highlight was seeing the Elkhorn Coral. Absolutely loved it. The crew were enthusiastic & their obvious pleasure of being there made it easy for us to enjoy it also. On the way back to the Dream, Kenja narrated info about wealthy owners of the many extravagant homes & resorts. The only real problem was that her sound system was abysmal. It was frustrating to not be able to understand much of her information. If she had had better equipment, it was have been one of the top experiences for snorkeling that we had had, but this was definitely a detriment to the overall experience. Also disappointed that they charged for sodas & chips. That seems a little chintzy after the price of the trip. But overall, we highly recommend this adventure. The entire crew was wonderful.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
billpa81
Pittsburgh, PA58 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
My group of 12 booked a snorkeling tour with Stuart’s cove. We have been on many snorkeling tours all over the Caribbean and this one was the worst. First we left the dock an hour late because they were waiting for cruise passengers that missed their pickup time. The boat was overcrowded. Next we went to the shark spot. They put out a rope off the stern of the boat that was around 30’ long and told everyone to hold on with both hands. I was near the end of that rope with my teenage son (great swimmer) and 3 of his friends. The 5 of us had to use the last 3’ of the rope to hold on to. We basically treaded water for 20 minutes because if you tried to snorkel the ball at the end of the rope would hit us in the head. I think they tried to get all the passengers on the rope at once! It was very dangerous!!!
We then went to a snorkeling spot that was pretty good. We were told by the first mate we had 25 minutes at this spot. After 25 minutes almost everyone had come aboard when the captain said we had another 25 minutes! Terrible communication!
There were also divers and snuba divers on board which is fine but it was too crowded for them and their gear was everywhere. They had dedicated staff for them the snorkelers did not.
There were first time snorklers aboard and I thought the safety practices and procedures were rushed.
We then went to a snorkeling spot that was pretty good. We were told by the first mate we had 25 minutes at this spot. After 25 minutes almost everyone had come aboard when the captain said we had another 25 minutes! Terrible communication!
There were also divers and snuba divers on board which is fine but it was too crowded for them and their gear was everywhere. They had dedicated staff for them the snorkelers did not.
There were first time snorklers aboard and I thought the safety practices and procedures were rushed.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are looking to book this excursion for September 2022. Will be in Nassau on a cruise ship. We will be snorkeling. How likely are we to see sharks?
Written August 5, 2022
Sorry for the late reply as I did not see your question earlier. I hope you went of this excursion because you will definitely see sharks. I believe Stuart Cove is not the only operator doing snorkel with Shark tour. There was a bowie to mark the spot. They throw shark bait to attract the sharks. I believe the sharks know they can get easy food when boats arrive so the sharks are in the area. We saw 20 plus sharks (large and small).
Written October 29, 2022
Hi,
how far is the pick up spot for the bus coming from a cruise ship, trying to find out if we can make it in time. ( snorkel trip )
the website says Meet the Stuart Cove bus in front of the Tourist Information Center
I cannot find any tourist information center on google earth
thanks
Written January 12, 2022
We drove a rental car from a Vrbo. It is about a 45 minute drive to Stuart’s from cruise ship terminal. The pick up is downtown close to margaritaville resort , probably a 10 minute walk to shuttle bus.
Written January 14, 2022
How deep are the shark dives? The Wreck?
Written January 30, 2021
For sub use is it necessary for wet suit? Also, is it safe for hearing aids/glasses? The review about the oxygen problem did not sound too safe- for anyone!
Written January 21, 2020
Hello, I'm planing to Visit Nassau On June 9th. Our ship Navigator of the Seas's itinerary says it's arrival time is 8am. I talked to Stuart Cove person and she mentioned their shuttle leaves the port at 8.30am. This is the first time I'm going on a cruise. Will I have time to get off the ship and meet the shuttle by 8.30? Royal Caribbean does not have this excursion on their list so I have to book separately through Stuart Cove. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks
Written January 21, 2020
Hi, for anyone that was on a dive recently dec/Jan, what was the visibility and temperature of the water? Have heard water temp is around 23-25 C and am curious if anyone did a dive without a wetsuit. And, how warm was it once out of the water on the boat waiting for 2 nd dive. Our recent dive in Cape Verde was pretty chilly even with wetsuits and similar water temp but ambient temp was a bit cooler than Bahamas this time of year. And, visibility was not fantastic with little marine life. Your opinion on your recent dive would be appreciated as we will be in Bahamas late Feb. thx
Written January 15, 2020
I wore a wetsuit, so I can’t speak to the temperature without one. But as for clarity/visibility, it was crystal clear. I dove on 26-Dec and it was perfect.
Written January 16, 2020
Paradise253354
Colorado Springs, Colorado
When is the best time to go to see sharks?
Written May 1, 2019
Almost anytime is a good time to see sharks !!! The shark feed is exhilarating and a must do if you want to see them up close !!!
These guys have a top notch operation that I've had the pleasure to dive with on over 20 dives. 5 stars from me.
Written May 2, 2019
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