RICHinNC
Contributor
Check your PMs.
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For my money, best diving in the Caribbean is either Saba or Turks & Caicos. But (not trying to be rude here), if you are new to diving, everything is going to look pretty cool at first, so no need to hijack your trips for diving just yet (that comes later...).
For example, in Saba, there really is very little else to do other than dive. Same might be said of Bonaire. Turks and Cayman are more balanced (and have superb diving), but they are pricey. Some more out of the way places are great to visit, but you may not like the idea of catching small airlines in the Caribbean to get there.
Whether you like cruises or not is really a personal thing. I have done exactly that Carnival cruise that you mentioned - it was a lot of fun, and I did get some decent diving in (PM me if you want details), but you actually see very little of the Caribbean but you see a lot of the cruise ship you are on. I prefer to pick a spot and do it properly from a land base. But my family like cruises so I do them. They also usually work out much cheaper.
Where do I take my Caribbean vacations (being a person who has lived his whole life in the Caribbean)? St John, USVI. Love it over there. Diving is good but not great; rest of the island is lots of fun too.
Always looking for unique locations, but after checking transportation to Saba air or ferry is rather expensive. The airport doesn't support GA aircraft with it's 1200 ft strip. Too bad.
if you are new to diving, everything is going to look pretty cool at first, so no need to hijack your trips for diving just yet (that comes later...).