Best trip for new divers?

[Puck]

Ok, I have been diving for a little while now, and convinced a few of my friends to get certified this spring (as soon as the ice is off the lakes). I lured them witht he promise of tropical weather, clear water, with coral and fish in colors Crayola never thought of. So where should we dive this summer for their first ocean dives? Local shops have group trips to Bonaire, Cozumel, Cayman, etc., and we certainly could book our own vacation just about anywhere. Given the fact that they are new to diving, and money IS a factor, where can I take them to really "set the hook" and keep them diving?

 

[DiveMaven]

You might consider strongly a trip to the Florida Keys. Warm, clear water with both shallow dives and deep wrecks (shallow wrecks too!). You can easily do it on a budget, and don't have to have passports!

 

[webjr]

Mexico (Yucatan) is a great "bang for the buck" destination .
Cozumel is real good diving , but I prefer places a little less traveled . There are other places on the Yucatan that have great diving and a little less populated .
Charter flights (funjet.com) to Mexico are cheap and so are hotels if you stay away from the high dollar "all inclusives" . To really save money you'll probably need to book the hotel yourself . There's lots of nice little family run hotels for less than $50 a night . Who wants to spend all their time at the hotel anyway ?

DiveMe suggested Florida . I've never been to Florida but I've priced hotels there . Even a Motel6 was $100 a night !
I could spend a week in Mexico for what a 4 day weekend in Florida costs .

 

[Rick Murchison]

The top three for new divers are Bonaire, Bonaire and Bonaire.
In my opinion, of course.
Rick

 

[scubajim]

the best and cheapest is COZUMEL. I get airfare from NYC and an inexpensive hotel for a week for under $600. Two dives a day for $60 and $20-$30 a day for food.

 

[StSomewhere]

You might consider strongly a trip to the Florida Keys. Warm, clear water with both shallow dives and deep wrecks (shallow wrecks too!). You can easily do it on a budget, and don't have to have passports!

Agree 100%! Get a cheap Northwest flight from MSP to FLL and take a rental car to Key Largo.

 

[hdtran]

Ok, I have been diving for a little while now, and convinced a few of my friends to get certified this spring (as soon as the ice is off the lakes). I lured them witht he promise of tropical weather, clear water, with coral and fish in colors Crayola never thought of. So where should we dive this summer for their first ocean dives? Local shops have group trips to Bonaire, Cozumel, Cayman, etc., and we certainly could book our own vacation just about anywhere. Given the fact that they are new to diving, and money IS a factor, where can I take them to really "set the hook" and keep them diving?

Total Cost = Transportation+Food+Lodging+Diving+Incidentals

• Transportation=Air+Car Rental (if any)
• Food=Food (either restaurant or DIY)
• Lodging=Hotel/Motel/Condo
• Diving=Equipment Rental+Boat Ride+DM+tips
• Incidentals=T-shirts, etc.

Unfortunately, unless you're at a competitive airport, your air cost will be pretty high for the Caribbean, compared to mainland US.

You might hit a sale for Hawaii airfares, but lodging there will get you.

For any sizeable group, I'd recommend looking for a condo/house rental, rather than hotels. This is especially good for weekly (or longer) trips.

I take it California is not on your list (water is not, shall we say, real warm :11: )

Let us know what you wind up deciding!

 

[Firefyter]

The Riviera Maya, around the Playa Del Carmen area, is a great area for new divers as well. Nice resorts, reasonably priced, and great drift diving. The currents are usually lighter there than Cozumel, and we've seens lots of underwater life there as well. My wife likes it so much I never have to ask to go back, just go buy the tickets

 

[laughintom]

I just got back from Bonaire and it is exactly what you want! Beautiful, easy shore and boat dives. Get airfare on Air Jamaica. I went there solo with 14 dives under my belt. I did 25 dives in 6 days of diving. Unbelievably easy diving. I repeat....BEAUTIFUL.
Tommy

 

[SoSiouxme]

My vote goes to the Bay Islands of Honduras (either Roatan or Utila) The flight from mainland U.S.A. will run about $600-800, but the dives are $20 each and most dive ops include equipment (very good for new divers who may not have purchased their gear). You can find decent budget lodging for about $10/night per person. Food is inexpensive.

Even if you go the all inclusive route, you can spend a week at a top notch dive resort for less than $1000 and that includes unlimited shore diving.

Have fun and I think you will find, diving sells itself.

--Sioux