Dive Review of Admiralty Dive Center/Bluebeard's Castle Resort in
Virgin Islands/St. Thomas

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Admiralty Dive Center/Bluebeard's Castle Resort, Jun, 2011, by Faithe A Evans, TX, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 6094.
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	Admiralty Dive Shop owners Duane and Laura are the best!! We arrived late on Saturday and stopped by the shop to sign up for Sunday dives but it was way past closing. Upon arrival at our resort, Bluebeard's Castle, we found them waiting for us at the bar. We got to meet and talk and get to know each other before our first dive! Dwayne is an awesome divemaster and on the way to each site he gave us an in depth description and history of what we were about to see. He has a "special" USCG safety briefing for anyone that has not been onboard his vessel. Lots of fun but with safety being a priority. I made 25 dives and Hubby 27 during our 2 week vacation. Dwayne and Fishbutt, our alternate great divemaster and CORE Dive Coordinator, even made a special night dive for us having only 3 divers. The reef life is great. We saw green and hawksbill turtles, many, many lobster and prolific conch everywhere. There were nurse sharks sleeping under overhangs on several dives. The wrecks are making great reefs as well as wonderful backdrops for underwater photo ops. Eels, spotted eagle rays, huge southern sting rays, tiny crabs, big crabs and cleaner shrimps, all kinds of reef fish, anemones and corals and sponges and I learned of other reef creatures like corallimorphs from Duane. Duane and Fishbutt worked with several new divers completing certification as well as some very young divers that had been certified recently. I can't say enough good about each of these men as divemasters, boat captains, environmentalists, historians of the island and all-round nice guys. Go dive with them if you are on St. Thomas - they will even pick you up!! Full service?? YOU BET! The one day I didn't get to dive I was in pain with an ear fungus. Laura was great to get me in to see her "doctor", a nurse practioner on the island. I was able to get some drops from the pharmacy right away and didn't miss any more of the fun. Bluebeard's Castle is so centrally located and convienent to everything, sitting just above the main Charlotte Amalie Harbor for a spectacular view. There have been recent renovations and some still ongoing to make the resort up-to-date and clean. The staff was always quite cheery and helpful. Beverly was the clerk on duty when we arrived and directed us to find Duane and Laura at the Banana Tree bar. She and I chatted several times and shared a few laughs. The concierge was helpful to arrange and re-arrange reservations for us and supplied great directions to a number of locations we needed around the island. Tho' Bluebeard's Castle is not a 5-star resort I would certainly be happy to stay there again and again as our 1 bedroom condo apartment more than suits our needs. The Banana Tree Grill was our favorite restaurant on the island being so convenient for us at least 6 times. The food was superb and we were always greeted by either James or Chris at the bar and chef Douglas would always check on us. Need I say the food was fantastic. Several other restaurants we enjoyed were Oceana near the Frenchtown Harbor, The Old Stone Farmhouse on the north side near the golf course, Funchi's was a fun snack place with good conch fritters and local cuisine and Pie Whole had great pizza. Good breakfast at the Frenchtown Deli on the waterfront.
Websites	Admiralty Dive Center Bluebeard's Castle Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Cozumel, Maui, Bonaire, Palau, Yap, Aruba, Belize
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	80-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	25-50 Ft/ 8-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Because these are boat dives 1 hour is maximum time or 700 psi minimum air return. Nitrox is a $15 upcharge per bottle.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	1 or 2	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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	FREE USE OF 35MM CAMERA WITH ANY PACKAGE advertised on Admiralty's website but I have my own. No rinse tank on boat but there is a fresh water shower available. Boat captain will pass and receive your camera from the water. Duane would find me underwater for "special" pictures of marine life he would find. Never more than 30 minutes to the dock.

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Dive Review of Admiralty Dive Center/Bluebeard's Castle Resort in Virgin Islands/St. Thomas

Admiralty Dive Center/Bluebeard's Castle Resort, Jun, 2011,

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 Admiralty Dive Center/Bluebeard's Castle Resort in
Virgin Islands/St. Thomas