Bonaire, Belize or Costa Rica?

[occrider]

I've been to Belize twice (stayed at Ambergis Caye and Caye Caulker), and I spent half my trip doing topside activities and half my trip doing diving. Belize is very small and it's easy to get around so we spent about 3-4 days on the mainland and 3-4 days diving. Besides the diving, some of the topside activities I've done included: visiting mayan ruins, going river cave spelunking, rapelling, rafting, staying overnight at the Belize Zoo, and some other things. There is a LOT to do in Belize other than diving and I fully recommend you don't stay in the Cayes the entire time.

Here's an example of some other activities you can do:

http://www.cavesbranch.com/

Feel free to pm me with questions.

 

[DocWong]

I would highly recommend Bonaire! Some very easy and beautiful diving. You can shore dive to your heart's content. I did up to 6 dives a day including 2 night dives and didn't dive a site I didn't love.

The entire island is a preserve, so there is an abundance of sea life. The island is very laid back, but if you're not into diving, there's not a whole lot to do, so it's one of my favorite places to go in the Carribbean.

 

[kittyjg]

As scubadobadoo said, the topside in Costa Rica is better but has the hardest diving for someone with limited experience. The bugs can be managed with spray, especially on the legs (those no-see-ums are wicked). Topside has jungle canopy tours where you zip along the top of the jungle on a cable, volcano hot springs, white water rafting, etc.
Bonaire has wonderful easy diving. There is limited topside - one casino, a dinner cruise on a Chinese junk, no nightclubs that I saw. Touring the island for the donkeys and flamingos.
Don't know Belize.

 

[gangrel441]

Leaning towards Belize...anyone have any trip photos and/or tips for restaurants and nigthtlife? hotels etc..

http://scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=102211&highlight=trip+report

Or, for an illustrated version of my report...

http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Reports/Belizereport.htm

I've also been to Costa Rica, and to Curacao, which is very similar in the diving to Bonaire. My take...all three are some excellent diving, but for divers with only 15 dives under your belt, Costa Rica will probably be a bit over your heads. Low vis, some nasty currents, cold water (compared to the Caribbean), and deep diving (deeper than 60 on most dives). The topside stuff is really cool, but I would save this one for later.

Belize and Curacao were outstanding diving. Bonaire, from what I understand, has some outstanding diving, but lacks a little in topside. Since I haven't been there, I can't say that for sure. Belize hase some of the most amazing rainforest and ancient architecture I have seen. Eiter would be an excellent decision.

 

[rexman24]

I have not been to Bonaire.
best topside-Costa Rica
best diving-Belize

 

[SBP Studios]

Where is the Best vis for Diving? Is Belize the best there is?

 

[SBP Studios]

bumpity bump, to the top

 

[polysemous1]

Went to belize earlier this year. Stayed at a great little inn called The Tides, Butch the bartender will set you up with a great rum punch and the inn has its own dive-op Patojo's. They are a first rate dive ops, customer service all the way; three boats, depending on how many divers are going out. The viz is great, and there is all the sealife you would expect from the Barrier reef. There are great places to eat in San Pedro, which is about a 10 minute walk from the inn. Just wander in, ask Butch for a recommendation, or check out a guidebook.

When we went it was off season, we paid $70/night, which included breakfast; diving cost me 60/day for two dives plus equipment; the guys on the boat did everything, from setting up equipment to rinsing it off after we finished.

Couldn't ask for a nicer operation, better people, or more fun. We're going back again in May/June of next year...

 

[REII]

Where is the Best vis for Diving? Is Belize the best there is?

I have heard that Bermuda has the best visability, but I have not been there to know. I have been to Placencia Belize and would say that the visability was easily 150' outside the reef on the wall dives or Whale Shark dives.

TOM

 

[Hank49]

Where is the Best vis for Diving? Is Belize the best there is?

good vis is lucky or not. Belize can be pretty bad after a lot of rain...and 100+ other times. The Pacific side of Cost Rica didn't look very good to me but i never went out on a boat. They get decent sized surf there though so it'll stir up the bottom. Bonaire...never been but it's snuggled in pretty close to a huge land mass so I would guess it has its good and bad days too.