Bahamas or BV Islands?? - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/20/2011 07:08:16 PM · #1

So any recommendations on which to go to?

Tons of snorkeling a must
Tons of underwater photographing
Crystal clear blue waters
Sandy beaches
And as an added bonus surfers?

So has anyone been to either of these places and would say I could check off my entire list?

01/20/2011 08:58:50 PM · #2

Been to St Thomas and I would go back, my sister got married there and it was too short of a trip. I stayed on the south side by the harbour, snorkling wasn't so hot there, i heard it was better on the north side.

I would love to go to St John. Never been to Bahamas.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/20/2011 09:03:38 PM · #3

Closest I have been to there is NY and Cape Cod. So I am rather lacking lol

Good to know about the south and north side though Mike, thanks!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/20/2011 09:45:46 PM · #4

My brother lives in St. John, USVI. He and his wife have a business managing luxury rentals, villas etc. I highly recommend St. John; most of the island is a national park, given to the government by the Rockefellers. Great snorkeling, great beaches, great water.

This is at or near Caneel Bay, St. John:

Here's the view from one of my brother's rentals:

Check the folders for more :-)

R.

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/20/2011 10:46:08 PM · #5

Hands down... the BVI's or USVI's. Compared to them, the Bahamas totally suck (IMO). Not kidding.

The Bahamas is a port for Cruise ships, with some very high end shopping along the Atlantis boardwalk. Pretty cool place, but all of a square mile. Get off of the beaten path, and it's a 3rd world country that has (sadly) has been completely ignored by the government.

USVI (St. Thomas, St. John's) and the BVI are a chain of islands that will absolutely blow you away (no matter where you happen to be).

Take a schooner out to Water Island

and they'll stop at some small islands along the way for snorkeling - the highest salt content lagoons in the Caribbean, so you can snorkel for hours with little effort.

My 2c :O)

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/20/2011 11:19:59 PM · #6

We went to Nassau Bahamas this past October, I have never felt so unsafe in my entire life. Place feels like someone could rob or kill you at any moment. Personally I'd avoid the Bahamas and head to St. johns.

On second thought, you may want to go there, have your 7D stolen collect the insurance and buy a camera you will be happy with. :p

Message edited by author 2011-01-20 23:24:33.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/21/2011 01:24:14 AM · #7

So I know you can get:
Tons of snorkeling
Tons of underwater photographing
Crystal clear blue waters
Sandy beaches
But I think you have to go the Hawaii to get the added bonus of surfers, ie. to get it all

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/21/2011 06:52:53 AM · #8

I know Tortola has surfing but it is irregular.

So we have crossed off the Bahamas ,

SO BVI here I come

Now which one!!! LOL

01/21/2011 06:55:50 AM · #9

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

plus the latest attraction, stomach parasites...

01/21/2011 06:58:49 AM · #10

Originally posted by JulietNN:

I know Tortola has surfing but it is irregular.

So we have crossed off the Bahamas ,

SO BVI here I come

Now which one!!! LOL

My vote is St john, the best thing is you fly into St. Thomas and take a boat over so you get to see both islands. When i was there, a few family member took a ride over for the day, its really close.

A friend of mine stayed there and loved it.

Message edited by author 2011-01-21 06:59:08.

TonyT

Nikon D3X

01/21/2011 09:07:06 AM · #11

I am partial to St. Thomas/St. John. We stayed in St. Thomas. The beaches and snorkeling are the best.

I liked Coki beach the best. It's on the east side of St. Thomas. If you go there, walk all the way down to the end...the rocks and view are awesome. I can't wait to go back.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/21/2011 09:22:07 AM · #12

all this talk has me thinking, my wife has been bugging me for a vacation, i may have to seriously look into going back... unfortunately unless we go soon, which is difficult with school, its going to be wicked hot in the summer months there i suppose.

the other option we were looking at is a cruise to Bermuda. they leave out of NY and because of no airfare since i live so close, they are reasonably priced.

Message edited by author 2011-01-21 09:23:04.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

01/21/2011 02:32:49 PM · #13

Originally posted by mike_311:

Originally posted by jbsmithana:
So I know you can get:
Tons of snorkeling
Tons of underwater photographing
Crystal clear blue waters
Sandy beaches
But I think you have to go the Hawaii to get the added bonus of surfers, ie. to get it all

plus the latest attraction, stomach parasites...

?? - tell me more as I'm headed over to Kauai for the month of Febraury.

alanfreed

Nikon D6

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

01/21/2011 02:40:57 PM · #14

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

?? - tell me more as I'm headed over to Kauai for the month of Febraury.

Apparently nothing to get too excited about:

//watchdog.org/8036/health-department-official-disputes-claim-that-president-obama-has-hawaiian-parasites/

Enjoy your trip! I really enjoyed Kauai last spring (as well as the other main islands)!

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/21/2011 02:47:51 PM · #15

Originally posted by mike_311:

Depends what you call "wicked": 82 degrees or so would be nominal I think. It's very rarely extremely hot in the Caribbean. Winter averages around 78 degrees.

R.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/21/2011 03:01:19 PM · #16

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by jbsmithana:
?? - tell me more as I'm headed over to Kauai for the month of Febraury.

Apparently nothing to get too excited about:

//watchdog.org/8036/health-department-official-disputes-claim-that-president-obama-has-hawaiian-parasites/

Enjoy your trip! I really enjoyed Kauai last spring (as well as the other main islands)!

Thanks, should have know. I go there quite a bit and have never seen a problem with any kind of worms. Sounds more like an issue of unwashed organic produce and rats on the Big Island.

TonyT

Nikon D3X

01/21/2011 03:02:05 PM · #17

I bought my D3x in St. Thomas. I got really good price. If you are going there, PM me for the name of the to talk to. I have his business card at home. I saved $1,500 on it. Since I had to shoot a wedding down there it worked out really good. There is something different about the electronics prices.

Message edited by author 2011-01-21 15:02:26.

TonyT

Nikon D3X

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

01/21/2011 03:04:06 PM · #18

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by mike_311:
all this talk has me thinking, my wife has been bugging me for a vacation, i may have to seriously look into going back... unfortunately unless we go soon, which is difficult with school, its going to be wicked hot in the summer months there i suppose.

Depends what you call "wicked": 82 degrees or so would be nominal I think. It's very rarely extremely hot in the Caribbean. Winter averages around 78 degrees.

R.

I looked on Wikipedia and every day passes through 83 degrees, summer and winter. I am sure it's more humid in the summer. We went in January. It was perfect.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/21/2011 03:08:16 PM · #19

We were there this past summer, in the midst of some unusual weather activity, and it WAS very humid. According to my brother, much more so than usual.

If anyone wants to book a vacation villa in St. John, btw, be SURE to contact me; my brother manages some of the best on the island.

R.