Best Caribbean destination for diver and non-diver

[TheRedHead]

Bonaire Definitely. Perfect place for diving, snorkeling (Renee Snorkel Trips does EXCELLENT) snorkel trips very cheap. Nightlife is relaxing, Mariachi on Monday's at Karel's Bar, Bands during the weekend. Excellent restaurants, Divi Flamingo Casino. Rum Punch Party and BBQ with music by Moogie on Fridays at Buddy Dive, Art Galleries, quite a bit to do. Don't want to dive or snorkel...think about Mangrove Kayaking, a sunset cruise on the Caribbean Sea, Powersailing, Windsurfing lessons, Horse back riding, Sunday afternoon at Cai with local music and plenty of Amstel...Lot's to do..

We're going to Bonaire in November. It's been on my list of places to dive, but the airfare is outrageous ($1330 each). I finally pared it down to less than half that by going to skyauction.com and bidding on a Carib airfare deal. With the add on costs it was around $620 each. I loathe flying AA, but I suppose it is the only way to get there. My dive bud hubby and I are going alone strictly to dive, dive, and dive.

I assume you can snorkel from shore? My 2 teens love snorkeling but do not want to learn how to dive. We generally vacation in the US Virgin islands with our kids because of the diving/shore snorkeling and beaches. Boat snorkeling trips are a hassle and my daughter suffers from mal der mer and hates boats. She groans at the mention of a trip to the Keys (no beaches, no shore snorkeling). My kids also enjoy horseback riding and I'm looking for alternative destinations for the family.

 

[iamsharkbait]

Thank you all very much. Your suggestions are just what I am looking for. Everyone have a great weekend!

 

[rpodos]

All good suggestions. For you, the diver, I'd say that if you haven't done Coz you really have to put it at the top of your list.

Also, though: Where are you travelling from? And what other activities do you like... e.g., local color, antiquities, jungle, rivers, surfing, kite surfing, etc. etc. All-inclusive for food/drink, or do you like to mix it up? What class hotel do you like, or are you up for an apartment or villa?

There are lots of choices!

 

[blawler1]

While the hotels can be expensive in peak season, Aruba is a fun all around island with plenty of good shore dives, awesome beaches, good tap water, glitzy casinos, shopping and reasonably priced good restaurants. Continental has dropped the price on their weekly Saturday Houston departures (Sunday returns) with great connections in and out of Austin.

Bonaire is also very nice, better diving but a lot slower, laid back and more Dutch with small bars and tiny casinos, lots of outdoor activities ( i.e. kayaking, wind surfing, mountain biking, bird watching and of course, snorkeling) but it is currently hard to get to (and expensive) as AA through San Juan is the only viable option without having to overnight in route. When Continental starts up their weekly Friday late night flights to Bonaire out of Houston in December, this should completely change the equation, especially here in Texas.

Both are good options for both hurricane season and in winter, as they are below the hurricane belt and too far south to get northers in winter like the Yucatan

 

[iamsharkbait]

I was under the assumption that diving in Coz was mainly drift diving with heavy currents, but spectacular none the less. Thats not my idea of easy diving. Obviously, I have never done a drift dive. Thoughts?

 

[iamsharkbait]

As for accommodations, we generally look fairly cheap. Nothing glamorous. $50 per night range.

 

[Tobagoman]

I would say either St. Lucia or Dominica. Although I think St. Lucia has the better diving and Dominica has slightly better topside excursions.

 

[Doc]

I was under the assumption that diving in Coz was mainly drift diving with heavy currents, but spectacular none the less. Thats not my idea of easy diving. Obviously, I have never done a drift dive. Thoughts?

Good place to learn drift diving. Mild to moderate currents. Kind of medium spectacular. You get pulled along too fast to see any cool stuff, larger critters have been fished out.

Heavy currents? Tobago. Same critter issues, though. But the underwater architecture (as well as the delights on land) more than make up for it.

Learning drift diving? Read everything you've got. Do a "search" here. Pay very close attention to the DM. Stick with them. Ask your fellow divers for ideas and tips on the boat. Understand entries and exits procedures. Pay attention.

A whole lot of people have been to Coz. A whole bunch of those people have been to few other places. That's why you keep hearing "Coz is just the best ever". Don't misunderstand, it is an excellent destination for "a little bit of everything". Certainly in the top 10 of the Caribbean Basin.

But it's a big Mar Caribe out there!

See it all!

 

[rpodos]

Drift diving *IS* easy... the easiest if you ask me. As in, you don't do any work! The trick to Coz, if you ask me, is to go with one of the smaller and more personalized dive ops, and get them to customize to your experience level and desires. Try Aldora Divers.

Also, and this is one of the unsung pleasures of Coz, there is pretty darn good shore diving there, out of the current. I haven't done it in a few years, but the airplane in front of La Ceiba hotel used to be great. Lobsters everywhere!! (And La Ceiba has one of the great all time luxuries: A heated pool with swim-up bar just up from the dock!) Some nice spots to snorkel/freedive in front of El Presidente, too.

$50 a night for the room? Cozumel, Bay Islands, and the north coast of the DR are the most inexpensive places that come to mind.

 

[scubasimon]

Hi there sharkbait,

If you´re looking for something similar to Roatan, then may I suggest the closest thing to it (literally!). Utila has similar diving, a couple of nice beaches and is less spread out than the town areas on Roatan so it is easier to get around. It is also cheaper.
I work for www.utiladivecenter.com, but there are about a dozen other dive operations too on the island. We have accommodation in the beautiful Mango Inn Hotel(pool & restaurant) and diving/accommodation packages to suit.

Best Fishes,
scubasi