drrich2
Contributor
I think changing hotels will be needless hassle and drama. Your 1st trip to a new destination, I suggest not adding needless complexity. You won't lack for 'newness.'
A vehicle will let you enjoy a drive through the park up north (keep your receipts from buying the marine park tag for free entry), the donkey sanctuary, and just driving around the island. In my experience in past years rental trucks default to manual unless you arrange in advance and pay a substantial upcharge.
Many entries are over rough, at times jagged 'iron shore,' and weighed in gear & lead, you can hurt your feet walking on it. Get medium or thick-soled scuba BOOTS, not thin-soled 'booties.'
A resort with a nice house reef encourages convenient night dives, a higher dive count for the trip, and may offer you a pier with ladder for entry & exit. The option to head to your room for an after dive shower or snack is nice. Buddy Dive Resort has a nice house reef.
There are non-house reef sites with fairly easy entry & exit; Windsock and Bachelor's Beach (aside from the steps up & down) come to mind.
Doing some 'just you guys' dives may offer a low stress 'nobody to keep up with' experience. I've read good things about VIP Diving; no personal experience but I'm glad to see others recommending them.
Last I checked, the Asian supermarket up the street from Buddy Dive Resort was Zhung Kong. Not real big, but quite adequate for me.
Richard.
A vehicle will let you enjoy a drive through the park up north (keep your receipts from buying the marine park tag for free entry), the donkey sanctuary, and just driving around the island. In my experience in past years rental trucks default to manual unless you arrange in advance and pay a substantial upcharge.
Many entries are over rough, at times jagged 'iron shore,' and weighed in gear & lead, you can hurt your feet walking on it. Get medium or thick-soled scuba BOOTS, not thin-soled 'booties.'
A resort with a nice house reef encourages convenient night dives, a higher dive count for the trip, and may offer you a pier with ladder for entry & exit. The option to head to your room for an after dive shower or snack is nice. Buddy Dive Resort has a nice house reef.
There are non-house reef sites with fairly easy entry & exit; Windsock and Bachelor's Beach (aside from the steps up & down) come to mind.
Doing some 'just you guys' dives may offer a low stress 'nobody to keep up with' experience. I've read good things about VIP Diving; no personal experience but I'm glad to see others recommending them.
Last I checked, the Asian supermarket up the street from Buddy Dive Resort was Zhung Kong. Not real big, but quite adequate for me.
Richard.