Belize or Cayman (or somewhere else) for Checkout Dives and Vacation?

[MisterMagoo]

My daughter (17 years old, taking PADI OW class) and I (50 years old, NAUI certfied 25 years ago, last dive 20 years ago, also taking PADI OW class) are planning a dive vacation for the first week in August. We will do our checkout dives and then have another 2 days for more diving.

I am looking for the best destination considering:

Best dive experience
Moderately priced
Ease of travel
American Airlines flies there (I have a credit that expires)
Weather
Other things to do in the afternoons/evenings

From what I can tell Grand Cayman and Belize are 2 good options. Can anyone please help me make the best decision by sharing your experience/insights, familiar hotels/resorts, dive operations, etc.

Thanks in advance for all you help!

--MM

 

[boulderjohn]

Welcome to ScubaBoard!

The sites you mention are good, as are other sites. I am going to suggest a different strategy for getting the answers you want, though. Your question is huge and can potentially elicit so many responses with no consensus that you are no better off than before you asked. On the other hand, the new diver forum in which you asked the question is not visited by that many people, so you may get just a few responses that don't give the best answers.

I suggest that you narrow things down to a few sites based on what looks best fir you for travel reasons, just as you would if scuba were not the goal. Then scroll down the list of forums to the Regional Travel section. There you will find forums dedicated to those sites. You can search through information that is already there and ask new questions of your own. That is how many scubaboard participants plan all dive travel.

 

[EastEndDiver]

There are many variables to your question ,if you decide on Cayman I own there and can possibly give you some insight.Below is another post I have offering accomodations ,rental car and diving:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gr...age-dive-specials-turtle-nest-inn-condos.html

If I can be of any other help feel free to PM me.

Cayman also has all inclusive dive resorts and accomodations from bare necesity to super luxury.August is a quiet time on island which to me is good to relax and enjoy what the island has to offer.

 

[drrich2]

Moderately priced

That might just clinch it right there.

I've noticed Grand Cayman has a rep. for being an expensive place to stay. I suggest going to the forums like Boulder John recommended, take note of maybe 2 or 3 reputable dive op.s for each site, then go to their web sites & see what a 1 week stay with diving would cost, and you can compare airfare at Orbitz, etc...

What other things are you wanting to do? If you want to take an excursion by boat up the New River in Belize, walk in the jungle & climb atop a couple of pyramid-like Mayan ruins & see a couple of others, that's one thing - would suggest Belize. If you want to shop (which may sabotage the moderate cost you're after) and stroll around town, well, that could be different.

In recent threads I've noticed some people seem to think the better Belize sites are farther out from where the cruise ships go, and Belize is popular for live-aboard diving. I'm curious myself as to how the traditional 'one week stay in a hotel & 2 1-tank dives/day x 5 or 6 days with a land-based charter boat' trip (like so many do in Cozumel) in Belize stacks up.

Speaking of which, out of curiosity, did you consider Cozumel? Or in the U.S. West Palm Beach or the Florida Keys?

Richard.

 

[driftwood]

Since this will be a "dive" vacation, I have one concern about San Pedro in Belize. Both of you are "new" divers and your air consumption might be high. Most of the sites we visited started around 40' and bottomed out around 90'. The combination could be a very limiting factor for both of you. The diving is great (not Bonaire but I don't think American flies there anymore). You might want to consider flying into Aruba and catching a puddle jumper to Bonaire.

Never been to the Caymans so not much help there

 

[BDSC]

I'd look into going to the Florida Keys as a possibility. Maybe around the Islamorada area.

 

[drrich2]

While 80 cf aluminum tanks are often the main option in the Caribbean, there are a few exceptions. Living Underwater in Cozumel has steel 120 cf tanks (and I love them). If you want a dive over an hour instead of 30 - 40 minutes, could be a factor (people vary widely in air consumption rates, of course).

Richard.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I love the diving in both Belize and Grand Cayman, but for a dive trip that begins with your certification dives, I don't think this is a close call. I would opt from Cayman. All of your other criteria will be met at that location as well. My wife and I had a great experience at Sunset House, but there are many options on the island. Have a great trip.
DivemasterDennis