Best shore diving IYHO

[txteachers]

We're trying to plan our summer and would love to hear about your best shore diving vacation. (ok we're cheap!!! )

We've spent a month split between Kauai and the Big Island, another vacation in Grand Cayman and a 3rd in Bonaire . . . but we're always open to new shore diving places. (yes -- we go out a few times for boat dives -- but cannot afford a month of diving)

Has anyone been to Curacao? Isla Margarita? Anywhere else???

Looking forward to hearing from you!!

Thanks!!

 

[vladimir]

Bonaire will definitely win this vote. I highly recommend it. I haven't been to Wakatobi yet--it's on my '08 list--but I understand it has fabulous shore diving. The best shore diving I've ever done was on Sipadan, back when they let guests stay on the island. I've seen some other fabulous reefs around Komodo that came right up to the beach, but there were no accommodations on those islands either.

Edit: Take a look at Tulamben, in Bali. After airfare, Bali's pretty cheap.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Shorediving.com will add greatly to your list.

Bonaire wins, Curacao is just behind it in terms of close to Texas and affordable without a long plane ride. Coco view has a nice shore dive in the Bay Islands that can be done over and over and over and over with two massive walls, a wreck, and a fabulous shallow area as well. And like you said, Cayman has many shore diving options as well as many more most people don't know or ever do. My friend wrote a Cayman shore diving book that is also available in CD format. You already covered Hawaii but you didn't mention Maui so maybe that's possible too unless you want a major change.

Now if you want cold water shore diving then you can head up to the NE. Cape Ann, Ma has 20+ nice shore dive in a small area. Very nice! You can also fly up to the St. Lawrence river on the border of NY and Canada. Several wrecks to shore dive for a long weekend. The water gets into the 70's in the late summer too!!! And let us not forget BC and the Washington area in the NW US. I have not yet been up that way but the shore diving options are endless.

Good luck deciding and have a blast! We are back to Bonaire SOON!