Question Most versatile Caribbean destination?

[jonhall]

This is a tough one: My trips are generally 2 weeks in length, so I'm always 1) checking to see there are plenty of dive sites that an op doesn't repeat over and over, and 2) there are several things to do topside.

1. Lots of wrecks and other (man-made) 'structures' (swim-throughs, canyons, walls) at recreational depths (<40m), not just reefs

St. Croix - Has several wrecks: 1 deep (Rosa Marie) at about 80-100' and 3 shallower that are generally done on the same dive. Man-made structure is the Frederiksted Pier which is usually listed as one of the top diving sites in the Caribbean (can shore dive it and should also be done as a night dive.) Canyons and walls can be found on other sides of the island which are not that far or hard to get to - some pretty neat topography. Nep2une Scuba is a good op by the pier.

Aruba - has many wrecks (the Antilla is one of the largest in the Caribbean) that have swim-throughs; a few that I've never been to are said to be great dives but the ops don't go to them due to conditions. There can be drift diving towards one end of the island and regular boat dives on the other.

Grand Cayman: has several wrecks (the Kittiwake is pretty popular) and a lot of neat topography that offers swim throughs. As long as the conditions are good, you can dive different sides of the island - no shortage of dive sites as they advertise 365 dive sites for each day of the year.

St. Maarten: has some nice small wrecks - Gregory II was probably the most fun wreck I've gone through - lots of life inside and around it. Can dive on different parts of island which offers different scenery/topography. I would go to St. Maarten anytime, but overall diving isn't as good as what I've mentioned already. As @rick00001967 maybe tie that in with a day trip to Saba.

Dominican Republic: I dove in the small town of Sosua (probably where many Puerto Plata dive ops go.) Not too exciting, but I got wet. Bayahibe is where one has to go for the better diving - there are a couple of wrecks there.

2. Interesting landscape on land, i.e. volcano, jungle, mountains - not those flat, scrubby wind-swept planes with a palm tree every few miles

St. Croix: varied landscape - also has the "rainforest" (not a real rainforest, but very lush vegetation.) One could get lost driving through it. Mostly rolling hills with some amazing ocean views from the bluffs.

Aruba: Pretty flat with a couple of big hills. Some pretty cool features along the shoreline.

Grand Cayman: Flat

St. Maarten/Saint Martin: Low mountains and hills and actually has lagoons and a salt flat.

Dominican Republic: mountains and desert area.

3. Interesting things to do (not just beach-going or ATV rides)

I think this is the toughest to answer since what's interesting to one may not be interesting to others and is there enough for a 10-12 day stay.

St. Croix: Has a botanical garden (often an event is happening like Mango Melee), casino, 2 small forts (one on each side of the island), sugar mill plantations, trip to Buck Island (national marine park with snorkeling trail), hiking to the lighthouse, and some nice places to snorkel, and depending on time of year, Carnival or the Christmas boat parade. There is also the Cruzan Rum Factory!!

Aruba: has some sites to see, but one can cover those (lighthouse, small museum, old church, a walk through the capital city) in a few days. Phillips Animal Garden is a shelter, but not very well kept, IMO. Several sites in the Arikok NP can only be seen via a tour (ATV, horses, etc.) There is also an Atlantis submarine if non-divers want to go under. The Balashi Beer distillery (tour) was closed when we were there.

Grand Cayman: The Turtle Farm has a great snorkeling lagoon. Seeing Hell only takes a few minutes. On the East End, there is a botanical garden that is nice as well as caves (not extensive, but still pretty cool) which can be toured. Starfish beach is pretty neat as long as starfish are still there. An evening beach dinner/party is fun. I want to say that there is a diving museum, but I haven't gone to it yet. A jet-ski tour (or some other tour) that takes you through the mangroves is different. There is also Stingray City where you can get in with the stingrays. There is also an Atlantis submarine if non-divers want to go under.

St. Maarten: Two sides of the island, one Dutch and one French for 2 different cultures. Nude beach on the French side (I haven't done that!) Catamaran tours go around the island. Think there are a couple of touristy things like a zipline and water slide. The Marigot Market (like a straw market) is on the French side. There is a super small fort (Fort Amsterdam) that can be hiked to - its out on a small peninsula, Dutch side and Fort St. Louis on the French side. Some great "Old Man" rums to be had there!

Dominican Republic: lots to do here. A tour through Puerto Plata is interesting. Rum factory tour was nice. Tram up to the "Christ the Redeemer" statue. Extreme (to me) water sport activity like sliding down waterfalls is available. As large as it is, my guess is that there are plenty of things to do on other sides of the island.

If I were looking for really interesting things to do, it would be Costa Rica - can't say anything about diving on the Caribbean side, but interesting things to do is 100x more than anything on an island. You can spend full days doing/visiting different volcanoes, hot springs, parks, hiking, sightseeing, etc......

 

[noserider]

Who mentioned Grenada? I forgot that place existed.

Researching it now, sounds like a place I want to try, when we can freely travel again. Pricing is good. Flights seem normal. Looks like plenty of non diving stuff to do.

I did, it is next on my list for a long break, but might tie it in with a week in Barbados as well. Diving is supposed to be excellent. I am just concerned that there might not be enough to do for a non diving spouse to warrant 2 weeks on the island.

EcoDive in Grenada have a good reputation and are linked to Barbados Blue who are friends.

 

[d^2b]

If I were looking for really interesting things to do, it would be Costa Rica - can't say anything about diving on the Caribbean side, but interesting things to do is 100x more than anything on an island. You can spend full days doing/visiting different volcanoes, hot springs, parks, hiking, sightseeing, etc......

From that point of view I can strongly recommend Belize. You need to move between locations (a few hours drive), but there is very cool Mayan ruins to see, some nature reserves (that we found less impressive, but I think that was mainly our diver expectations of seeing critters). And of course the diving is among the best in the Caribbean (at least on the outer atolls). Costa Rica might win for land stuff, but as a compromise non-island I would take Belize.

 

[drrich2]

Funny I didn't think of it till I saw @Doc post, but Roatan could work.
CocoView Trip Report May 2021 - Trip Report - CocoView Resort May 8-15, 2021

My Research Notes from planning a Roatan Trip - My Research Notes from Planning Roatan Trip

It's got lush areas, it's not flat, it does some cruise ship business and has topside excursions (e.g.: sloth and monkey encounters), CocoView Resort has shore diving, you can do A.I. or not, there are different regions to choose from (e.g.: CocoView Resort vs. Turquoise Cay Resort vs. Anthony's Key Resort vs. West End), reef is lush, there's some interesting topography (e.g.: Calvin's Crack, Mary's Place), some wreck diving (at CocoView Resort, you can get a wreck shore dive), and while it's not associated with lots of wrecks or bit a lot of big stuff (though I was blessed to get in close with a goliath grouper there, and saw eagle rays and black and yellow fin grouper), Roatan rocks. CocoView Resort has 100-cf tanks, if that's of interest.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

What about the Dominican Republic? Enough great diving, including quite a few wrecks, canyons, caverns, walls, and of course reefs. If we were to go at another time of year, there's also a large amount of whale activity...

On the island, enough great nature, jungle, mountains, history, culture.

The Dominican Republic would be a great choice for a diver & non diver trip, my wife is a non diver. The best diving is on the south Caribbean Sea side of the Dominican in the Bayahibe/Dominicus area. There is reef diving, wall diving, wreck diving and even a cave dive. The diving is "similar" to Cozumel except the dive sites only avaerge about 60 deep with a few exceptions (the wall & wreck) and their is no current to speak of. We have been their 4 times so far and will be returning( For reference, I have been to Bonaire 17 years ago and won't return) There are 2 wrecks there, the St. George being the main attraction. It is only about a 45 to 50 minute transfer from the Punta Cana airport on the new 4 lane highway. Bayahibe is a small fishing village that is within walking distance of a national park that has hiking trails, bird watching and over 400 caves. The historic city of Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the new world (founded in 1496) and is a UNESCO world heritage site, there is zip lining through the mountains in the Punta Cana area, etc. There is more than enough great nature, jungle, mountains, history, culture on the island.
If you are interested, you can message me and I can link you to some of my dive pics on Scuba Funs Facebook group and our Facebook page.

 

[Doc]

Funny I didn't think of it till I saw @Doc post, but Roatan could work.

nsfw:

I am a Roatan fanboy, but for it’s diving only….

Roatan has a 4 person Dopplemeyer Chair Lift (but no skiing), a number of “Jungle Canopy Tour” carnival slides, some broken down zombie trail horses, an ATV follow-me ride, a sloth fondle where you get Poupon, a Honduran submarine (I mean, consider that), a rum “factory” with the nearest sugar cane 250 miles away, West End shopping where you can jostle with Pod People to buy Guatemalan Imports, a golf course with chem soaked silt run-off that is killing the North side reef, a Dolphin Pester, a canned Shark Dive Rodeo, a much derided French Key ‘zoo’, a “Casino” (just more slots for the Pod People), West End shopping where you can jostle with the other Pod People, and the very best Sand Fleas of anywhere in the Caribbean.

Honduran cigars, coffee and rum are third rate, Nicaraguan Rum (Flor de Cana) is top rated, as is their coffee and cigars. Things are all mirror imaged by one border crossing (and volcanic soil on the Nicaraguan side)

Roatan‘s South side has the best remaining diving in the Caribbean, I would stake my flag to that. Topside? It’s just the Caribbean Twitty City. Hooterville. The entire island morphed overnight from a pleasant Rain Forest (Jungle) Island to serve (milk) the Pod People.

Come to Roatan for the diving, absolutely.

Otherwise, for now, skip it (By OP criteria) Soon enough it will get the topside money machine all sorted out and will have Burger King instead of ”just” two Bojangles Chicken stands.

@Cheizz - I looked at your prior posts, you’re well travelled, you know your criteria is a unicorn hunt.

 

[Marie13]

What about the Mexican Yucatán/Cozumel?

 

[BoltSnap]

And extremely expensive

I don't believe so, not more expensive than the touristy places in the Caribbean.

 

[Cheizz]

@Cheizz - I looked at your prior posts, you’re well travelled, you know your criteria is a unicorn hunt.

That's why I rephrased my original question to 'which destination BEST suits my criteria'. I got a fair amount of responses so far. Maybe most of the destinations are not a 100% score on all criteria, but that's for me to prioritize then.

 

[Doc]

What about the Mexican Yucatán/Cozumel?

Bingo. By OP criteria, Cancun would also work.