Advice on best scuba destination for a new diver

[Outbound]

Speaking as a newbie myself - I recommend Roatan. I was there last week. The West Bay/West End area has lots of easy sites with enough options to please the more experienced divers on the same boat (i.e swim-throughs, options to to go deeper etc). 5 to 10 minutes by boat in calm water. Nice coral, not many big fish but enough smaller ones and other critters to stay amused with, including spotted eagle rays and free-swimming morays.

I would second Roatan if you want a combination of easy diving and fun stuff/relaxation topside. As Arcie said, West Bay Divers is a great outfit. West End also has plenty of dive shops. I prefer the West Bay area, but they are only a short and cheap water taxi ride away from each other.

If all you want to do is pack in as many dives as possible, Bonaire is a great choice. The current testing requirements are a little annoying, but certainly manageable. You could choose to stay at a dive resort and do a couple of boat dives in the morning and then as many shore dives in the afternoon/evening as you like. Or you can just rent a car and do only shore diving.

 

[peeweediver]

As they say in sports, “Let the game come to you”. Let the love of diving come to her at her pace. If she wants to dive, dive, dive, great. If only 2 per day or even some off days, great as well. What does she like to do on an “island” vacation? Lay on the beach, kayak, hike, bike? Make sure to go somewhere that has her “non diving” interests. Finally, don’t over-help. She can set up her own equipment and talk to you about your shared dive plan. In Coz, I watched a guy hold his girlfriend’s inflator hose for the whole dive. Yikes!! I’ve taught too many students being nudged by an avid diving spouse, significant other and it can go south fast. You are starting from the best of all places…. You think she’s a gem and want to create a special trip FOR HER. Best possible motivation. Enjoy.

Rob

 

[jonhall]

I want to take her on a trip somewhere so she falls in love with diving. I'm fairly advanced and looking for something that will be easy for her (shallow reef, minimal current) but still be engaging.

I will 2nd or 3rd St. Croix. With easy and engaging diving as your only requirements, St. Croix will cover the diving bases. The west side of the island is generally calm and provides reefs, wrecks, and THE pier dive (must do day and night.) It's also the side to stay on to see beautiful sunsets. Nep2une Diving is near the Frederiksted pier and provides tanks and guides for the pier dives (or you can go on your own.) Also a very short walk from their shop to their boat.

 

[drrich2]

My girlfriend is getting certified and I want to take her on a trip somewhere so she falls in love with diving. I'm fairly advanced and looking for something that will be easy for her (shallow reef, minimal current) but still be engaging.

It's a good question, with more than one potential answer. I'll post some resource links, but start with some thoughts on various places already mentioned.

1.) Key Largo (upper Florida Keys) - shallow reef diving over flat bottom, pretty nice corals, fishier than some other places, some medium/large creatures, viz. maybe 50 feet so not up there with the Caymans or Cozumel but good enough, and it's U.S. so money, language, laws...pretty much what she's used to. But don't expect nice sandy beaches sloping into the ocean for wading. I was there once, in 2013. Others mentioned seas can get rough, and boat rides aren't real short; consider time of year you plan this trip and ask how seas tend to be then.

2.) Bonaire - great for packing in shore dives, but that means changing tanks and gearing up on the tailgate of a pickup truck. Limited topside. Love Bonaire, but at this point...not what I'd recommend, especially if you've never been and aren't comfortable driving around it yet. Not a sandy beach destination.

3.) Curacao - more happening topside than Bonaire, people seem to mix shore and boat diving more than just shore diving only trips, and you get sandy beaches. But...for a first time newbie, I wonder if staying closer to Willemstad rather than the rustic Westpunt might be a better choice? I've been to Curacao once - staying at Sunscapes Resort Curacao (an A.I.; since then, there are now 2 more A.I. places, I'm told).

4.) Roatan - Just got back from CocoView Dive Resort; really liked it! But if a sandy beach is a big deal, you'd pick a different place than CCV. Be mindful of the biting 'noseeums' and the need to use bug repellent.

5.) St. Croix - loved our trip, but not convinced the diving is quite on par with some other places. Topside is a varied, engaging island...but in a somewhat subdued way. Not a 'water park, roller coaster, zip line, paid dolphin interaction' kind of place. Sandy beaches.

6.) St. Thomas - 2 training dives, 2 'regular' dives there. Sandy beaches, popular cruise port so plenty to do topside (including shopping), what I saw entailed shallow diving over hard bottom, good viz. but not on part with Cozumel or the Caymans, wasn't as fishy as Key Largo. Jaan Leemet made a post that may come in handy -

Thanks Steve and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Tell the folks at Aqua Action hi from the Jaan and Nat, the DRYFOB folks In case anyone else is interested in reading Nathalie's write-up I've also included a link here: Scuba Diving Vacation at Secret Harbour Beach Resort in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | Freedom Tour Travel

7.) Ambergris Caye, Belize might work. I've only dove Belize via live-aboard.

Loved Cozumel, but it's drift diving in current, and not everyone readily takes to or likes that. Turks & Caicos tends to be deeper diving, and land-based has a rep. for long boat rides and Provo. is expensive. Not recommended for a newbie aiming for shallow diving. Too bad Grand Cayman's not open right now.

Key Largo with Rainbow Reef Dive Center 2013 - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fl...iving-key-largo-rainbow-reef-dive-center.html
St. Croix Research Report Aug. 2017 - Trip Report - St. Croix Research Report Aug. 2017
Turks & Caicos Research Notes - Turks & Caicos Research Notes
My Research Notes from Planning Cozumel Trip - My Research Notes from Planning Cozumel Trip
Curacao Trip Research Notes
Curacao Trip Report with SB Surge Jan. 2019
My Research Notes for Bonaire - My Research Note For Bonaire
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

Out of all that, my short list would probably be Key Largo, Roatan (some places), Curacao or Ambergris Caye, Belize. If your trip will be in peaks times of 'hurricane season,' Curacao sounds really good (the ABC islands miss most of the hurricane and tropical storm drama).

 

[chillyinCanada]

My list would be Ambergris Caye, Belize
West End or West Bay, Roatan
Grenada

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

15 posts in and no one suggested Puget Sound?!?!?!?!?!

 

[lowwall]

Cozumel. Current is only difficult if you have to fight it. Drift diving is low effort and you get to see a lot. Remember that most new divers are excited to see lots of bigger stuff, nudibranch life lists comes later (if at all).

With the money you save on airfare compared to some of these other locations, you can even hire a private guide until she's really comfortable.

 

[Jaan]

It's a good question, with more than one potential answer. I'll post some resource links, but start with some thoughts on various places already mentioned.

Thanks for sharing drrich2. In addition to the USVI, Nat has also written up some reports on Cayman, Grenada, Bonaire, Roatan, Cozumel, Maui, Oahu, Big Island on her blog at Dive Vacations Archives Some are a few years old but perhaps still recent enough to give some inspiration.

Those coming to South Florida can also find some writeups on local dive sites South Florida Dive Sites and even some top-side activities South Florida Archives

Also wanted to thank everyone. She was thrilled by the visitors and comments.

For the new diver.. best to try lots of variety and see what YOU like. We've been at it for a while and have returned to a few spots but really enjoy the thrill of visiting new places. With some luck we might make it to the Mnemba Atoll in Zanzibar next year (fingers crossed). If ok with the group, I can share links to any new writeups.

 

[formernuke]

If your looking for just one a day and do other stuff then blue heron Bridge in FL is very easy for a new diver.

You can do charters in the same area but it's all drift diving and I'm not sure how she would feel about that.

 

[lowwall]

If your looking for just one a day and do other stuff then blue heron Bridge in FL is very easy for a new diver.

You can do charters in the same area but it's all drift diving and I'm not sure how she would feel about that.

The drift diving is nice from Boynton Beach. Lots of sea life and it's shallow, 65' max and easy to stay above 60'. One partner in each buddy pair pulls a dive flag (or you can hire a DM) and the boat follows along and picks up wherever you ascend.

You might want to hire a guide for at least your first dive at Blue Heron Bridge. You have to time the tides just right and navigation is a little confusing the first time through