Alternatives to Cozumel

[scubafanatic]

We are newly certified divers that have been to Cozumel a few times. We are wondering if there are any other destinations that have as good or better diving (that is good for beginners), and as economical as Cozumel?
Thanks

If you are open to a live aboard, consider JULIET, it's economical for a live aboard, it has a very romantic/classic/nautical feel about it, (it's a sailing vessel, but does have a single-screw prop if needed) and 4 day trips are only $ 1200 (7 day trips are pretty reasonable too @ $ 1700). Price out other comparable live aboards and you'll see how reasonable the pricing is. The vessel has been running trips for a LONG time and has a well-established reputation. They also service different itineraries: Bahamas / St. Croix (Virgin Islands)/ Florida Keys / Mona Island (western side of Puerto Rico)/ repositioning trips. They got me hooked on the live aboard style of scuba trip!

 

[Lorenzoid]

I did find the 'desert island' look to be a bit unexpected, like scuba diving in Arizona/New Mexico, but still beautiful in it's own unique way, the water displays an achingly beautiful array of different 'blues'! Moreover, grocery shopping in a Dutch grocery store is an amusing adventure as well, not everything is exactly as it seems, and not everything tastes like what you are used to in the USA.

Good points. Wherever I go, I like to not just make the best of it but soak in whatever local stuff there is, whether that means Mexican food and mariachis, as in the case of Cozumel, or visiting a donkey sanctuary or just the Dutch grocery store, as in the case of Bonaire. So, to me, "alternatives to Cozumel" would mean places where there is something at least somewhat unique to the location to experience, as opposed to being confined to a generic resort or liveaboard.