Looking for Florida Luxury Beach Resort w/ Diving

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SmashMonkey

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Messages
54
Reaction score
48
Location
Mid-Atlantic, USA
# of dives
100 - 199
I'm looking for a luxury beach resort with diving and non-diving activities in March. We have a newly minted OW diver and possibly one who would get their OW cert during the vacation. Soft sand beach is a must have. Places like Turks & Caicos, ABC islands, Caymans etc., would have been the obvious destination, but this year we prefer to stay domestic. Any recommendations for places around Miami or anywhere else in Florida?
 
Closest thing I can think of is Bahia Mar in Ft Lauderdale with on-site diving with Sea Experience. The beach is right across the street and the diving with Sea Experience is primarily basic entry level stuff. That would be your best bet that includes a nice beach along with good, entry level diving right there at the same resort.

 
Luxury hotels with onsite operators and near/on the beach are few and far between in the US.

Other than the Double Tree mentioned by @Divin'Papaw the only other one I can think of is the Sands in Pompano, but unless they've remodeled recently they wouldn't qualify as luxury. But if you are willing to drive a short distance you can find an operator and typically find a luxury beach hotel or AirBnB near by.

Also expect to pay through the nose, as March you not only have the usual snowbirds, but more affluent spring breakers to compete with.
 
Also expect to pay through the nose, as March you not only have the usual snowbirds, but more affluent spring breakers to compete with.

Amen! Coastal hotel rates in Southeast FL are currently astronomical and look to remain so through the end of spring break & snowbird season. I don’t expect rates to come down much until Apr-May. Even hotels more inland are charging 2-3X their rates from last summer.
 
Amen! Coastal hotel rates in Southeast FL are currently astronomical and look to remain so through the end of spring break & snowbird season. I don’t expect rates to come down much until Apr-May. Even hotels more inland are charging 2-3X their rates from last summer.

And for luxury hotels their off season rates aren't really that great either, and that is without resort fees, valet parking fees, internet fees (if you aren't an upper tier reward member), etc. Add it all up together you are paying $200 a night off season and $400-500 during the season.
 
Several Hotels on suger white sand beaches in Panama City Beach and although there may not be diving right at the hotel, there are lots of Dive Shops to choose from in town.

The BIG drawback in March is that PCB has become a Spring Break destination.
 
Hotel and BnB prices have gone crazy in the Florida Keys. Seems like only yesterday Marina Delmar was about $125 per night, now the prices are at least 2.5 times that amount.

You can't get 4 nights in the Florida Keys at a decent place for anything less than close to $1000.

For whatever reason, there are still cheap hotels in the West Palm Beach area.
 
I'm looking for a luxury beach resort with diving and non-diving activities in March. We have a newly minted OW diver and possibly one who would get their OW cert during the vacation. Soft sand beach is a must have. Places like Turks & Caicos, ABC islands, Caymans etc., would have been the obvious destination, but this year we prefer to stay domestic. Any recommendations for places around Miami or anywhere else in Florida?
I live in SE Florida. I would go outside the USA. Quick flight to Caymans from MIA. Bonaire…

You can get a dive package with Rainbow Reef (Key Largo) and stay at the Marriott Courtyard. Not luxurious—but the prices (if you do not get a dive package) are set as if you were at a luxurious resort. $400/night. We paid $175/night (or close to that) because we booked through Rainbow Reef dive shop. No room service. No great restaurants nearby.

Good luck. Personally, I would go to the Caribbean.
 
I live in SE Florida. I would go outside the USA. Quick flight to Caymans from MIA. Bonaire…

You can get a dive package with Rainbow Reef (Key Largo) and stay at the Marriott Courtyard. Not luxurious—but the prices (if you do not get a dive package) are set as if you were at a luxurious resort. $400/night. We paid $175/night (or close to that) because we booked through Rainbow Reef dive shop. No room service. No great restaurants nearby.

Good luck. Personally, I would go to the Caribbean.

No beaches really in Key Largo. That rules out that area as an option given the OP’s desire for being on a nice beach.
 
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https://xf2.scubaboard.com/community/forums/cave-diving.45/

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