Dive Review of Wind Dancer in
Grenada

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Wind Dancer, Jun, 2009, by Charlene, CA, USA ( 1 report). Report 4869.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Overall, a great trip and I would not only recommend the Wind Dancer, but I see myself returning one day. Very good Caribbean diving, healthy reefs, beautiful islands, great crew and outstanding food make a very enjoyable week. The Wind Dancer originates out of Grenada but most of the diving was done in St Vincent and the Grenadines. We started in Grenada, diving around Isle de Ronde, the first and second day. We moved to Carriacou on the second day to pick up a couple of divers who missed their connections in San Juan. We spent the next three days in St Vincent waters around Young Island and Wallilabou Bay. The islands of St Vincent are gorgeous, absolutely beautiful! The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was filmed in this area and some of the props are still standing. The diving was very good. The reefs are very healthy, with plenty of fish life. In Grenada, we had several turtle sightings and a couple of big sleeping nurse sharks on Maybouya’s Reef. The Sisters Cave dive site around Isle de Ronde is an interesting dive. You go into a very large swim through but can “surface” when in it and take a breath of fresh air. The first two dives in St Vincent were at Critter Corner, kind of mini-muck diving. The site reminded me of an underwater golf course, lots of green grass with sandy patches. Divemasters CNN and Victor found flounder of all sizes, nudibranch, pipe fish, snake and goldentail eels, flying gurnards, and spotted drums for us to see. One of the afternoon dives was at Sub Rock, which was one of my favorite dive sites. Great reef with lots of fish activity, with an underwater rock wall (not really sure how to explain it any other way.) The rock had some corals growing on it and some crevices to explore and find my personal favorite porcupinefish but for the most part was a big rock wall underwater. We also did a couple of dives where we started on a steep sloping sandy wall looking for flying gurnards, seahorses and other small critters. Once we found these little guys, we headed to the wall to complete the dive. Flying gurnards often “walk” on their ventral fins, kind of funny to watch. I believe these dive sites were Coral Castle and Anchor Reef – by mid week, I was in full vacation mode and not really logging dives. Divemaster Elsie can find about anything and proved it on Indian Gallow’s site by finding the smallest decorator crab on soft coral and a pregnant seahorse. This was a great late afternoon dive site, not too deep (61 ft) and lots to see. We also found a chain moray, spotted lobster and an arrow crab eating a worm. The last dive day included my other favorite dive, Stratmann’s wreck - a great little wreck with lots of critters. I found, and stalked a colorful mantis shrimp, very interesting little guy. My dive buddies spent their time watching sailfin blenny dance around and looking at the garden eels. The wreck is covered with soft corals and lots of fish call it home and you could easily spend the dive working your way around it. We also did another wreck called Lireco, where 3 or 4 stingrays call home. It’s a little deeper than Stratmann’s – max depth 66 feet vs 77 feet – and does not have the same soft corals or fish life around the boat. On the last day you have the option of diving the Bianca C or a reef dive. The Bianca C is a deeper dive, I think up to 120+ feet and is one of the been there, done that dive sites. I wasn’t in the mood and opted for the reef site. Divemaster Joel led us on a very nice long last dive of the trip – finding the only green moray eel of the trip – on Grenada’s Boss reef. A couple of interesting things to know about diving in these waters – I have never in my life seen so many arrow crabs, spotted drums and spiny sea urchins (the big prickly guys). Arrow crabs by the millions, seriously, and some of these guys are huge! On one dive, we found a hole with 14 juvenile spotted drums. They are everywhere, so much that after a few dives, seeing them is not that big of a deal. Dive starts with a briefing on the Wind Dancer. Once wet suites are on, you board the tender for the short ride to the dive site. Travel times ranged from 1 to 15 minutes. The divemaster would get in the water to check the current and then divers would do a simultaneous back roll into the water. 23 dives were offered including 3 night dives. The Wind Dancer has a great crew! These guys work so well together. Running two tenders, with a divemaster and driver on each, keeping our rooms in order and food on the table is not easy, but they make it look like it is. Special thanks to Mark the Engineer who found just the right tool to open the battery compartment on my second – yes second – dive computer to burn through a battery on this trip. Captain Simon and Divemaster/Instructor/Hostess Andrina round out the wonderful diving crew. Last but not least are Chef Ryan and his assistant Natalie. The food on this boat is unbelievable! It is with out a doubt the best food I have had on a liveaboard.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Cozumel, Cayman, Curacao, Tobago, Fiji, Palau, Yap
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	81-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	First dives included a 45 minute time limit, toward the end of the week 60 minutes was standard. Start safety stop @ 750lbs; return to the boat with 500lbs
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Wind Dancer in Grenada

Wind Dancer, Jun, 2009,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Wind Dancer in
Grenada