drrich2
Contributor
Since Barbados was mentioned, and I think it's one of their free access articles even though it's older (Sept. 2011 issue), Undercurrent did an article on Hightide Watersports and Gibbs Bay Inn, Barbados. It came to mind because of this line from the article - "The time comes in every diver's life when he must at least once vacation to a nondiving destination to please the family. Barbados, I discovered, fills the bill -- and you can get a few decent dives as well. If the white sand beaches don't impress you, then the palms swaying in the breeze flanked by colorful blooming trees surely will." Also "Barbados is an ideal spot for a family vacation, especially when there are nondivers. It is one of the few Caribbean islands with a large variety of well-developed possibilities, so you don't have to feel guilty about diving."
I haven't dove Barbados; I've been twice briefly on cruise ship stops. The ocean surrounding the island viewed from water craft is very beautiful (only St. Martin do I hold (slightly) superior), it does indeed have white sand beach (that's where our little girl was in the ocean the 1st time), and I've seen some reports on Scuba Board and some people like it.
I've got a question about Barbados. Bonaire & Curacao are often praised for being below the 'hurricane belt,' so travel there in the Fall (e.g.: September) isn't as risky as, oh, say, to Roatan, and that same far southern location means winter water temp.s only dip slightly (as opposed to the Caymans, which I read get cooler in winter, and the Bahamas were winter water gets cold). Barbados is similar in placement, but it's east of the main chain of Caribbean islands.
Wonder how Barbados stacks up for year round warmth and reliably benign weather?
Richard.
I haven't dove Barbados; I've been twice briefly on cruise ship stops. The ocean surrounding the island viewed from water craft is very beautiful (only St. Martin do I hold (slightly) superior), it does indeed have white sand beach (that's where our little girl was in the ocean the 1st time), and I've seen some reports on Scuba Board and some people like it.
I've got a question about Barbados. Bonaire & Curacao are often praised for being below the 'hurricane belt,' so travel there in the Fall (e.g.: September) isn't as risky as, oh, say, to Roatan, and that same far southern location means winter water temp.s only dip slightly (as opposed to the Caymans, which I read get cooler in winter, and the Bahamas were winter water gets cold). Barbados is similar in placement, but it's east of the main chain of Caribbean islands.
Wonder how Barbados stacks up for year round warmth and reliably benign weather?
Richard.