Best vacation spot with a non-diving spouse??

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

My wife took OW classes with me, but was never able to get certified because of recurring ear issues; thus dashing my hopes for easy vacation planning… :depressed:

So, what are your recommendations for vacations that provide an opportunity for daily diving for me, as well as plenty of other activities to occupy my non-diving spouse while I am off loading up on nitrogen??

 

[Doc]

The more topside activities that you have available, the quality of diving decreases.

Cayman for up-scale spa treatment + shopping & Golf; Nassau/Freeport slightly downscale same stuff; Cozumel if she likes to drink after spa treatments; The Antilles: Martinique, St Lucia, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Montserrat and St. Vincent for upscale pampering and dining.

If she's happy with looking at birds? Tobago (But the diving gets better!)

Exactly what kind of activities grab her attention?

 

[Teamcasa]

Nothing beats Hawaii for the best of both worlds.

 

[ptyx]

Bonaire: you either end up with a diving spouse or no spouse at all

(On a more serious note: about ears...)

 

[diverdiane]

Maui is great for both diving and topside activities. Aruba would be another good choice.

 

[ppo2_diver]

Aruba was great for my non-diving wife. She had fun at the beach while I went diving. Mexico was also good.

 

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

The more topside activities that you have available, the quality of diving decreases. .... Exactly what kind of activities grab her attention?

Thanks Doc...

Unfortunately, she works at a Salon / Spa, so that has little appeal for her (the reality is she has rarely found one on vacation where she was happy with the service)…

She’s happy to spend a couple of hours just reading on the beach / by the pool while on vacation, but not every day… There’s not really any one thing she likes to do while on vacation…

 

[sibermike7]

Maybe what we need is a "non-diving" spouse forum that way those with non-diving spouse could plan vacations together and the non-divers would have other non-divers to share the time.

Catalina Island, CA has a lot of folks that come there that are non-divers. I think you would exhaust you options in 2 days though it isn't a big island!

 

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

Bonaire: you either end up with a diving spouse or no spouse at all

(On a more serious note: about ears...)

Thanks for the suggestion, i guess ...

As for her "ear issues", it's not a problem clearing. When she dives (or flys in an unpressurized aircraft) fluids get displaced interally, typically creating swelling behind her ear (it appears 6-12 hours post dive). The swelling in turn causes pain and discomfort which typically takes days/weeks to completely go away.... Our Dr (who dives) and 2 ENT's are out of ideas / treatments to prevent it :depressed:

 

[ptyx]

Hawaii/Kona might be a good candidate as well - I'm not sure how the diving is compared to Maui but there are tons of stuff to visit/hike/do above water.