Any Ideas?

[diverlis]

I know you all are probably tired of giving suggestions! BUT I'm looking for someplace that has very short boat trips to the dive sites. Went to Dive Bohio Grand Turk last year and loved it it was great just trying to find a different area. And please no shore diving, just not what I'm looking for. Would like to get by without renting a car. All inclusive resort is fine or not... pretty laid back. Don't really need night life or shopping. Would love to be able to snorkel off the beach of where we are staying.

I know that's a lot to ask for so if it's impossible then back to Grand Turk. I hear Bonaire but it sounds like it's mostly shore? Want to stay in the caribbean or any part of it.... just don't have a lot of time off so really don't want to spend a huge amount of time travelling.

I really appreciate any input!!

 

[DandyDon]

Southern Cozumel resorts are like 5 minutes from most sites. Fantasy Island and some others on Roatan are short enough that they go back to the dock between dives. Hell, almost anywhere has shorter boat trips than NC.

 

[RickyF]

Check out Barefoot Cay on Roatan. You can snorkel off the Palapa. It is small and very quiet. Great dive shop.

 

[CuracaoJ]

You could go to Curacao and dive with Ocean Encounters, and stay right next-door at Breezes all inclusive. The boat dive rides are pretty short.

 

[jameseg]

Brac Reef Beach Resort on Cayman Brac would meet your needs. Average boat ride was probably 10 minutes, with some as short as 3 or 4 minutes. My wife and I really enjoyed our stay there. Super laid back, no need for a car. BRBR has a sister facility on Little Cayman called Little Cayman Beach Resort which would probably also be a good bet (although I've not been there).

James

 

[lmorin]

Bonaire boat dives are typically one tank per trip, with two trips each AM and another in the PM. Mostly to Klein Bonaire, but some to other main island sites as well. Most will have short trip times. As for "shore diving," and it being your thing or not, consider that the Bonaire resorts that run boats for diving have a dock for the boats. Diving from a dock is technically a shore dive, but easier and done at your convenience. And, by the way, dock dives are a wonderful way to be introduced to shore diving and diving on your own. Bonaire Dive and Adventure next to Sand Dollar/Den Laman and Buddy Dive are the two docks from which I have dived. Both dives are excellent. I also know that the snorkeling off the BDA dock is really nice (can't speak to snorkeling at Buddy). Sand Dollar also has a small but legit sand beach.

 

[DeputyDan]

Saba:

US Air to St. Marteen, then a puddle jumper or ferry to Saba - three dives a day with Sea Saba - no night life no shore diving stay at the cottage club - the dive operator makes your dinner reservations early AM. go hiking on your down time...

 

[robint]

I would not go to Bonaire for boat dives. The point of Bonaire is shore diving. It is too expensive to fly there to get just okay boat diving, IMHO.

I see by your profile you are in NC. I know what you mean about long boat dives there. Two hours out to a wreck is long if you don't like boats. (personally, I found that fun when in NC, but then I love liveaboards, too)

Cozumel is a great option for you, as long as you don't think 30-45 minutes on relatively flat seas as a long boat ride. We stay at ScubaClubCozumel, which is a nice small AI, near town. The boats are bigger than most on the island, but they are really nice with bathrooms and top decks to sit on the ride out and back. They also have big camera tables which we love for our rigs.

check out their website: Cozumel Scuba Diving at Scuba Club Cozumel Dive Resort and Scuba Cozumel Dive Shop
and also check out some of my trip reports.... we are heading back there for our 3rd trip in a few weeks.
Cozumel - April 2010

my videos: https://vimeo.com/album/81331

Cozumel is also a very cheap destination in the Caribbean. There are other options for Cozumel..we have been there 8 times and tried many of them. We found SCC and now we love it and won't stay anywhere else on the island. It suits our style: dive eat dive eat dive eat sleep and repeat.


robin

 

[diverlis]

I really appreciate everyone taking the time to provide input. Unfortunately we got spoiled at Dive Bohio because we were able to go back to shore between dives. I like to limit the boat ride to no more than 15 minutes unless it's a special dive... i.e. sharks.

Thinking of looking at either Cayman Brac or Barefoot Cay.....

Again I really appreciate everyone's time!!

 

[CaradonnaWorldwideDive]

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