Budget Blues and Diving during hurricane season?

[WaterDance]

Basic info - Feel in love with Belize (Turneffe Lodge) but my boyfriend and I have decided to wait until next year when we can more likely afford it.
We are two PADI certified divers, I am getting my advanced open water in a quarry here in June, and he has been advanced and diving for about 3 years.

Budget for one week including airfare from Newark / NYC is $1,500.

We wanted good diving and romance? We did Hondarus with friends in January and loved it, but we were looking for a "upscale" location for our second dive trip this year. (somewhere we can eat the food and not worry )

Wanted July / August / September. Sounds like hurricane season to me.

Ideas?

 

[boscobc]

Cozumel, Casa Del Mar, not upscale but clean . Check w/ Continental Dive Vacations for cheap package. Buy the insurance for that time of year. Package w/breakfast around $600.00 and thats for 7 days over memorial day weeekend. Bosco

 

[skynscuba]

Den Laman condos in Bonaire. Only a couple of years old, A/C throughout,
wonderful, competitive. We did breakfast and lunch in the condo, dinner out.
We did the shore diving only package, ~$130/wk with free Nitrox upgrade.
There are other places a bit cheaper than the Den Laman, check GoldenReef Inn
specials here on scubaboard.

You really don't need to boat dive in Bonaire, but they are cheap if you do.
We loved the no-schedule easy shore diving (rent a double-cab pickup as
part of a package.) You can get non-stop air from Newark (you lucky right
coasters).

Bonaire is out of the hurricane path, so little worry there.

I'm assuming you mean $1500 per person, otherwise airfare will make that
pretty difficult.

 

[jasondcrawford]

If you mean $1500 per person... what they said. Me and my wife are in a similar situation, but we have about $2000 total. We've narrowed it down to either Key Largo (fly into Miamo for Ft. Lauderdale) or North Carolina, which is supposed to be great diving that time of year. Hope that helps.

 

[Speargirl]

Well you could come and stay at one of my townhouses or condos in Key Largo they are clean and in a very good area MM100. You can't beat the prices and if you want to know what people on here thought of them just head over to Florida conch and look up anything with the Sinco de Mayo and Kawama's and see what people have said about the place.

 

[WaterDance]

yes, I meant $1,500 per person.

So, we have Coz - heard that Wilma did some damage, are the reefs back yet?

Bonaire - Shore diving sounds wondeful!

Florida - we are planning on doing that next year. however, not during hurricane season (I lived in Florida and was hit by four in two years, not too long ago)

What about Curacao?

Susan

 

[dvrliz1]

Waterdance and Speargirl

Bonaire, especially out of Newark is a doable...also, Jetblue out of JFK to Aruba than DAE...I would definintely look into something smaller on Bonaire that might be a little upscale and yet be affordable. There are a VERY small handfull of places on the water that are small properties that are adorable and might fit your budget. Also, Speargirl, look into Miami to Curacao direct (2x a day) then a 15 minute hop over to Bonaire!

If you have specific questions, please feel free to email me, I try to be Bonaire's ambassador to SB!

Liz

 

[Speargirl]

Waterdance and Speargirl

Bonaire, especially out of Newark is a doable...also, Jetblue out of JFK to Aruba than DAE...I would definintely look into something smaller on Bonaire that might be a little upscale and yet be affordable. There are a VERY small handfull of places on the water that are small properties that are adorable and might fit your budget. Also, Speargirl, look into Miami to Curacao direct (2x a day) then a 15 minute hop over to Bonaire!

If you have specific questions, please feel free to email me, I try to be Bonaire's ambassador to SB!

Liz

I'm not going on a trip but thank you for your offer, I am happy right here in the Keys I can dive for free everyday can't beat that price If I ever venture outside the Keys I will look it up but so far I have lived here for many years and still have not dove and seen everything and I am in the water a couple of time a week.
But again thank you for the offer.

 

[diver 85]

If you mean $1500 per person... what they said. Me and my wife are in a similar situation, but we have about $2000 total. We've narrowed it down to either Key Largo (fly into Miamo for Ft. Lauderdale) or North Carolina, which is supposed to be great diving that time of year. Hope that helps.

Watch for Cozumel specials....wife & I did Allegro last Oct for $2000 total- ie averaged out to $1000/person(air, hotel, food & diving for 1)-4 nites, 5 days(Wed thru Sunday)....She decided not to dive, I made 9 dives- 2 day of arrival Wed, 3 on Thursday, 2 Friday & 2 on Saturday........

If you go into town(San Miguel), about
$300 to $400 can be cut off that......Look @ Vista del Mar, my buddy & I went in March '07 & got a junior suite for $61/ nite(taxes & breakfast included)......Probably spent no more than $20 to $25/day on food.........

Good luck & just look for a 'good deal'........