Older Divers looking for Re-entry Vacation

[profmason]

Thanks for the recommendations - we were thinking of Little Cayman as a possibility.

We travel to Baja and would really like to visit Cabo Pulmo - can anyone recommend a dive concern there and best times of year.

Excerpt from my Cabo Pulmo short trip report.

Engaged a driver (David) to take me to cabo pulmo. he showed up in CSL at 6AM and got me to the dive shop by 8 (including time to stop for breakfast on the way) Dove with Angel and Carla at Cabo Pulmo Dive house. Carla was great about arranging everything (driver, place to stay, diving) 4 other divers on the boat. Did esperanza, 40' visibility. Meh. Sea life was much like cabo. 2nd Dive at Merros. WOW. This is what I was expecting. Giant schools of jacks plus. Great dive. Comfortable in a 3/2 for all dives in cabo pulmo. Stayed in a 2nd floor apartment arranged by Carla. No AC but Fan. If you are not heat acclimated this is not for you.
Day 8: Dove Shipwreck and El Cantil. 3 other divers on the boat. Great dives! Bull sharks rays, giant schools. Tons of life. Free swimming eels.
Day 9: Dove isolote and Las Navajas. Isolote was not great at depth, but as we came up, the corals and fish showed up 45' visibility. More sharks and rays out at Navajas again 45'. This was the fullest boat, but two DMs for 7 divers (8 divers max on the boat). I guess my three years of high school spanish plus living in LA put me in the native dive briefing group.

Best times of year Sept - November. Warm water and good vis (Board shorts / 3mm). Dec - Feb is cooler waters (5mm - 7mm depending on you) It can get windy Dec - Feb and vis is worse. March - May is also good (water is warming, and vis is good 5mm) June - Aug is miserable on the surface, not as good vis, water temp ok (3mm).

 

[drewh1]

Great report thanks so much. Back in the 80's I used to windsurf down there every winter so I know how windy it can get in Jan, Feb, March. Can be a big swell on the reef. Fun for windsurfing not so much fun for diving.

 

[2New2Scuba]

I would go to Curacao (1st choice for boat or shore dives) or Bonaire (if you stick to boat dives), and Grand Cayman (3rd choice if boat diving, and higher prices are OK with you). I am at the far north end of 70, and while I like boat diving in Bonaire, shore diving there can be sporty with a good possibility of a damaged ankle or worse. Curacao's reefs are similar to Bonaire's, but the shore entries in Curacao are generally gentle sloping sand in sheltered coves. Much easier on 70 year old joints. Top side entertainment, activities, and beaches are also much better in Curacao IMO. Welcome back to diving.

I'm not sure why the poster said stick to boat dives in Bonaire. There are 66 beaches you can just walk in and shore dive. I am 76. Go slow and most of the reefs entries are fine. Videos on how best to approach each one on Youtube. But Curacao has more sandy beach entries instead of broken coral.

Whether Curacao or Bonaire, each has a fantastic dive guide book that tells you everything you need to know about:
- how to get there
- best entry spot
- Current
- level: easy, intermediate, expert
- reef status
- fauna status

Super helpful.

Within 20 feet of the shore my wife and I identified over 50 species in an hour. A 6-7 ft shark swam under me, saw an octopus and a long list of fish including:
- 2 Squid
- Spotted Moray eel
- Whitespotted Filefish
- Peacock Flounder
- Blue and brown Cherub fish
- Rock beauty
- Sergeant Majors
- 4 to 5 green turtles (swam right with us)
- Bluehead Wrasse
- Black Hamlets
- Schoolmaster Snappers
- French Grunts
- Blue Striped Grunts
- Striped Parrotfish
- Juvenile Parrotfish (totally different)|
- Banded Butterflyfish
- Sand Perch
- French Angelfish
- Stoplight Parrotfish
- Queen Angelfish
- Surgeonfish
- Spanish Houndfish
- Blue Parrotfish
- Yellow striped Snappers
- Yellowhead Wrasse
- Beaugregory Damselfish

Pickup tanks at Buddy Shop downtown (12 tanks air or Nitrox) for $100). Very easy.

Many of the dive resorts allow use of their facilities to access the reef vis ladders etc making it much easier. You do NOT have to stay at them to use their reefs.

But you don't NEED a boat. Most of the boats take you to the exact same parts of the reef you get to by swimming out 20-50 yards to access. The trip out on the bottom is full of things to look at. Distance to the reefs are much further in Curacao than Bonaire.

Curacao has many less reefs available for shore diving so close in. Our experience anyway and we like both. Forced to make a choice - for us Bonaire. We do a month here and a week in Curacao. That says it all.

Curacao does have 250,000 people versus 25,000 on Bonaire. Bigger, more spread out. You can skydive, swim with dolphins on Curacao. Maybe visit both. 30 minute plane trip between them.

 

[rhwestfall]

Curacao would get my vote. Tons of simple shore diving. Also, not just diving. Nice Island to chill on with plenty to do topside.

Been our favorite over the last 5-6 years. I'm sorry about your air travel to get there. From where I am, it is a 5 hour direct flight from Toronto. Plays a big part in why we like it. Nothing easier...

 

[Saboteur]

My partner and I are both now over 70 and haven't dived for 5 years since moving to New Mexico. I have a ton of diving experience, she has less.

We are looking for recommendations for a vacation spot to get back into diving in a very mellow and relaxing way. We definitely do not want to do multiple dives every day, no drift dives (Cozumel), maybe easy entry shore dives. We have both dived Roatan, Belize, Cozumel and some other places. I have done a lot of California coast cold water diving and spear fishing but don't want to put 14 mil on anymore.

I was thinking maybe the Keys or Cabo Pulmo, though I am not familiar with best places, times to dive.

Anyway, recommendations including best times of year would be appreciated.

thanks,

Drew.

Grand Cayman. Living the Dream divers for boat dives. Macabuca (diving and dining!), Eden rock and both Dive Tech sites for the shore dives.

 

[wizbangdoodle]

I'd also vote Cayman. Either Grand or Little. Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman is superb. We dive on Grand Cayman with Tortuga Divers and they are fantastic. Easy diving in both locations.

 

[Bookworm11]

I am 68. Boat dives are so much easier than shore dives for me its isn't even funny. Even the easiest shore dive isn't easy. Everyone is different. I am going to Egypt and will have to do shore dives there. But just having to put my fins on in the water isn't fun. I much prefer being on a boat and taking a giant stride off the end or a back roll in. Walking all geared up is difficult, and there is no way I can get out of the water with my gear on. I always take my BCD off in the water on a boat dive. You both need to decide how you may feel about having to deal with gear, especially after such a gap in time.