Accomodations

[art.chick]

On a diving excursion, where do you stay & what criteria do you consider? Do you look for a cheap hotel close to the beach, camp in your car, live-aboard diveboat? Do you try to make it a romantic weekend with some diving on the side?

 

[jbd]

I like a hotel close to the departure location. I look for reasonable price at hotels and could care less about the view out the window since about the only time I'm in the room is to sleep.

 

[Dee]

If I've flown to a dive location, I prefer to stay in a hotel close to the dock where I'll be picked up. If I have several departure location choices, I go with the cheapest hotel possible. One with a kitchenette is preferred. I don't care views from the room or fancy digs as long as the water is warm and the sheets are clean...and the bed is softer than the tile floor.

If I'm driving to a US dive destination, I hunt for a bargain hotel with kitchenette and within 20 min. driving distance to the dive operation. These are generally easy to find. I prefer to spend my money on the diving, not expensive meals or fancy accommodations.

 

[Iguana Don]

A hotel close to departure. I don't look for a 5 star hotel, just one that has comfortable beds. I don't spend much time in the hotel. Just someplace to SS & S. I spend most of my time in the water and out on the town.

ID

 

[Rooster1]

unless you want to be pampered I would not put a lot into the hotel as long as your not staying at the cockroach inn. I have been in many hotels, everything from modest to very fancy with all the bells and whistles and I found I sleep just as well in both and dont need the mirror on the ceiling and a jucuzzi in the living room. All in all I would rather not pay much for the hotel cuz all I do in it is sleep and shower and I am gone, most of the time don't even eat breakfast there. I would rather put my money into other activities such as, sight seeing, shoping for dive goodies, more lobster dinners and of course more diving

 

[art.chick]

YES YES YES to the kitchenette. I like to be close to a grocery & just make my own chow; restaurants add up BIG TIME!

 

[ladycute1]

Depends on the duration of the trip -- a liveaboard is awesome in terms of convenience -- but usually I look for an inexpensive condo located close to the diving -- kitchen so I can cook, and preferably washer/dryer to deal with all the soggy things.

 

[art.chick]

Yes, sogginess is an issue, & it can make a trip less pleasant. If I go out just for a boat dive for 1 day, I don't remove my suit all day. Once I have to put that yucky wet suit back on, I'm done for the day - so I just keep it on till I KNOW I am finished!

I like those cheap-o hotels that understand that divers are drippy.

 

[Louie]

When the option is available, I like to book with accommodations that either specialise in divers or at least cater to a lot of dive traffic. It's good to have facilities such as a wash and dry area for equipment (it's a pain having to hang everything in your bathroom), meal times arranged around dive times and have the hoteliers contact and make bookings with dive shops.

And then, you still have to consider other important things such as cleanliness, safety, cost and overall quality.

 

[Red Rover]

Hi Artchick,

For the best in diving, nothing beats a liveaboard. If I do stay on land, I prefer something clean, close to the nightlife and with air con! I know what you mean about hanging all your equipment in the bathroom. It really gets to be a pain and it really can get in the way!

I would suggest hooking up with a dive operator that will keep your equipment for you as well as rinse it and hang it. Often times, I make contact beforehand and arrange all my diving through one operator. Most shops I've contacted, have always been happy to accomadate me. Just make sure you pick a good dive shop and that (just in case!) all of your equipment is insured.

I hope this helps!

Thanks,
Red Rover