Best dive destination for non divers and small children?

[mwilding]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good dive destination that meets the following criteria?

1 good diving for me
2 stuff for small children to do
3 relaxing spot for non-diving wife and possible other relatives
4 easy to get to from newark airport (i.e. Direct flights)

Thanks

 

[ronbeau]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good dive destination that meets the following criteria?

1 good diving for me
2 stuff for small children to do
3 relaxing spot for non-diving wife and possible other relatives
4 easy to get to from Newark airport (i.e. Direct flights)

Thanks

One place you might want to consider is Breezes Curacao. My family has been there twice. The most recent time is the summer of 2006. They had programs for small kids. The also had activities for a non-diving spouse.

The stay at Breezes Curacao including one free shore dive per dive on the house reef (Oswaldo's drop-off). I had all my own gear except the cylinder and weights but the free diving included everything but a wet suit for free from the on-site dive shop (run by Ocean Encounters). Boat dives run by Ocean Encounters leave from the Breezes Curacao dock.

The Dive Bus is located right next door to Breezes. The Dive Bus is a valet shore dive operation. They pick you up at the Breezes front door and drop you off there. They provide the cylinders and weights along with transportation to and from the dive site and lunch during the surface interval. Mark and Suzy run a nice operation.

When we went there Continental had a direct flight from EWR to CUR once per week. I just checked and apparently they no linger have the direct flight. They are no flying through Bogata, Columbia and then using Avianca from Bogata to Curacao.

 

[robint]

Grand Cayman

 

[Doc]

Umm, where do you have direct flights to?

 

[HBO MD]

I believe there's also a travel agent who specializes in this called "Rascals in Paradise" that should be able to provice assistance as well.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Cozumel in the Caribbean and Fiji in the Pacific! The Best with kids and Cozmel's Hotels have kids programs to keep the sand munchers busy while you dive etc......

 

[RJP]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good dive destination that meets the following criteria?

1 good diving for me
2 stuff for small children to do
3 relaxing spot for non-diving wife and possible other relatives
4 easy to get to from newark airport (i.e. Direct flights)

Thanks

How much diving do you want to do on this trip - how much of YOUR focus is diving going to be?

Different answers depending on whether you want to "get a few dives in" vs "dive your @ss off"

 

[mwilding]

How much diving do you want to do on this trip - how much of YOUR focus is diving going to be?

Different answers depending on whether you want to "get a few dives in" vs "dive your @ss off"

I'd get in 2 or three two tank trips most likely. The more kid friendly (i.e. available and reliable baby sitting) the more I am likely to get dives in

 

[RJP]

I'd get in 2 or three two tank trips most likely. The more kid friendly (i.e. available and reliable baby sitting) the more I am likely to get dives in

Curacao. Did this trip from NJ recently. Direct from Newark. Stayed at the Marriott (all inclusive Breezes type place not really for us)

- Dive op on site for easy shore diving right there, including night dives, boat dives too

- Dive lockers, etc right on site

- They have a "branch" of their dive op up north at a beautiful beach where you can access Mushroom Forest and other sites via Zodiac while the wife/kids hang out on a beautiful beach

- Nice beaches and pool at Marriott

- Dive Bus can pick you up/drop you off easily enough for other shore dives

I got in a total of 6 dives during our week there in May.

 

[Doc]

I'd get in 2 or three two tank trips most likely.

Two 2 tank boat trips is a lot, three 2 tank boat trips is an absentee parent or plain divorce.

Again- what is available direct from Newark? Tell us, you are the best source of info.