AnthonyKey vs Coco View

[Clinto]

I know I am probably splitting hairs, but my wife and I are planning our 10th anniversary and want to take a nice dive vacation. I like the front yard look of Coco View and overwater bungalows. Anthonys has pool and looks very nice as well.
We also want to do other activities on top of diving, rapids, canopy tour, island tours etc.

Does anyone have an opinion for me, or are there even better choices to look at in the Bay Islands?

Thanks

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.
I have not stayed at AK but have stayed at CCV several times. From what I understand AK is more of a "resort"......pool/kids/ect. CCV is a dive/eat/sleep place not much else to do and any kids are divers......my idea of an ideal place. Try a search on the board, this has been discussed a lot over the years. The staff, dive facilities and boat at CCV are all geared to diving and are well run. CCV is not fancy but clean, safe and well equiped. Some love the food, I found it OK. A 4star restaurant it's not but it's not bad either. So far CCV is #2 on my favorite places to go list.

 

[lmorin]

... So far CCV is #2 on my favorite places to go list.

Please elaborate. What's #1?

 

[philmayer]

You're going to do a LOT of walking at AKR. It's quite a hike from your bungalow to the boat shuttle and then up the hill to the restaurant. Shore diving also requires a lot of effort -- you're going to walk a LONG way in all your gear to the shore entry point.

You'll get much more info if you look in the correct forum. This forum is more for general diving questions. There's a forum specifically for travel to the Bay Islands here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/

Enjoy your trip.

 

[herman]

Please elaborate. What's #1?

Bonaire.
I prefer the 24/7 no schedule, no boat, no DM, no anything but diving the way I want. CCV does a good job of minimizing the BS and for a turn the brain off (except during the dive) vacation it's great. Maybe it has something to do with the dive group I travel with (very well know at CCV) but so far CCV has given me a lot of leeway to dive as I like as long as I am back on the boat at a reasonable time. Nothing turns me away from a dive op faster than a dive nanny herding me like a sheep.....well except for an unsafe operation. I usually have a camera in my hand and dive more or less solo. That tends to get some of the more intense dive ops upset, so far that has not been a problem at CCV. By definition it can't be a problem on Bonaire as there are no DMs unless you hire one.
I like both places for different reasons and if I make 2 trips a year CCV and Bonaire are likely the 2 but if I must choose one, Bonaire wins.

 

[DeputyDan]

You can do all the non-dive activities and still stay at COCO View.

Just sign up for them at the office as soon as reasonable after you arrive.

There will not be a problem. I have stayed there twice and will do so again.

 

[lmorin]

Bonaire.
I prefer the 24/7 no schedule, no boat, no DM, no anything but diving the way I want. ......
I like both places for different reasons and if I make 2 trips a year CCV and Bonaire are likely the 2 but if I must choose one, Bonaire wins.

Thanks. Just curious. Was at CCV in August. Absolutely loved the dive op organization. About as smooth and painless at it can get. Less than thrilled about some other things. Most notably, an inability to do twilight dives (at least at that time of year) without running afoul of the dinner schedule. Have not done truck-based shore diving in Bonaire (only on a house reef), but I liked the overall diving variety better there.