"Best" diving in December?

[sra2]

Greetings Scubaboaders!

I'm hoping you all can help us out. We are trying to find a dive destination for the third week of December (17-24, 2005). Budget (flight/dive/stay/drive) for both of us is around $5k. We have dove Bonaire (loved it!), east coast of Florida, and Canos Island in Costa Rica. We would like to go somewhere we have not yet been.

What we DO WANT:
1. Water temps no lower than 78 F
2. Dive-friendly weather
3. Above water activities such as kayaking, hiking, biking, etc.
4. Good Food
5. Comfortable accommodations (not fancy-just clean and comfortable for sleeping)
6. Possible opportunity to see things underwater that we have not seen before (whales, whale sharks, sharks (besides nurse and reef) eagle rays-some of the bigger stuff not commonly found in the locations named above)

What we DO NOT Want:
1. Cattleboats
2. All/mostly drift diving
3. Water temps likely below 78 F
4. Uncomfortable/dirty accommodations, lousy food

We do not need a busy nightlife or shopping-just great diving, good food and accommodations, and water warm enough that we don't freeze! Shore diving would be a bonus but is not a deal breaker (I know-we should just go back to Bonaire!

We appreciate in advance any and all suggestions. Thanks to all!

amburns

 

[Doc]

We appreciate in advance any and all suggestions. Thanks to all!

Scuba Diving Magazine just had a great article on this.

Or try a search here.

 

[rpodos]

What we DO WANT:
6. Possible opportunity to see things underwater that we have not seen before (whales, whale sharks, sharks (besides nurse and reef) eagle rays-some of the bigger stuff not commonly found in the locations named above)

I focus on bigger stuff too, and have a fairly good sense of what is where and when, at least in the Caribbean.

December? Utila and whale sharks.

'Nuff said.

 

[dvrliz1]

Definitely back to Bonaire! Water Temp in the low 80's, Excellent food! Make sure you dive the East Side so that you see lots of rays, huge tarpon, sharks, huge fan coral...

Enjoy !

 

[sra2]

I focus on bigger stuff too, and have a fairly good sense of what is where and when, at least in the Caribbean.

December? Utila and whale sharks.

'Nuff said.

Thanks for the reply. We heard that December is the rainy season down there. Have you been that time of year? We would hate to have dives called off due to weather, bad vis, and nothing to do above water because of rain.

Thanks!

 

[marku]

Hello Amburns,

Dumaguete, in the Central Philippines is a wonderful place to dive anytime of the year. The sites along Dumaguete's coastline has a plethora of critters (mandarinfish, frogfishes, nudibranchs, cuttlefishes, scorpionfishes); and if you want great corals and bigger fishes you can always go to Apo Island that's just 45 mins away. Also, most of the resorts offer great diving from their beaches (Atlantis has the best housereef, atlantishotel.com for details).

Hope you decide to come to Dumaguete.

cheers,
marku