Question Caribbean Dive Recommendations - Long Weekend Options

[CoralReefKate]

I was just on Fakarava, met a retired dive guide from Saba who says the diving there is still excellent. It's not the easiest to get to - you fly in through Martinique - or the cheapest, but the whole area is a marine reserve. Boat diving only.
Thanks to everyone who posted, this has helped me (alas) eliminate several places from my wanna-go list.

 

[dougo]

just got back from Grenada, Thursday thru sunday,6 dives 3 Friday 3 Saturday got in 5 wrecks 3 larger with penetration, 1 small and one deep (too deep to penetrate but BIG!) Bianca C flew home on Sunday, had a great time with eco dive and stayed at an air bnb near airport and dive shop

i am from Ohio so i get to Miami then a 3 ish hour flight from there to island.

 

[Jim Carbin]

Also, I have recommendation for boat dives in La Parguera and Guanica, if you want. Let me know.

Can you recommend a dive shop? Preferably in La Parguera as i've dove Guanica twice

 

[Jim Carbin]

Puerto Rico would be a great fit for what you’re looking for. Frequent flights from Florida. Always warm. We have dives of many types. Shore. Boat. Drift. Walls. Marine national reserve/park. You name it. Not much wrecks or caves. But the dives are world class. And there’s diving anywhere around the island.

I wrote four dive reports in this post. Four videos there, too. Trip Report - Puerto Rico Dive Report - Early September 2023

Next Monday I’m going to dive Desecheo Island. https://maps.app.goo.gl/8FPUAZzxW5m4xo7G6?g_st=ic

If you ever come, hit me up and let’s go diving together.

Wht the best time and way to get to Desecho? I know its often shut down, but is there a better time or way to plan to be sure to get to the site?

 

[FreqFlier]

Can you recommend a dive shop? Preferably in La Parguera as i've dove Guanica twice

Paradise Scuba is the only decent op in Parguera. Very decent. Capt Kiko is running the show

Wht the best time and way to get to Desecho? I know its often shut down, but is there a better time or way to plan to be sure to get to the site?

Generally late spring through early fall. Have to make sure prevailing winds are from SE or E. Taino Divers in Rincon (managed to get to Desecheo with them once in like 6 or 7 tries) and Aquatica in Aguadilla (?) (don't know them myself, but @sparragus mentioned them earlier) go to Desecheo.

 

[sparragus]

Can you recommend a dive shop? Preferably in La Parguera as i've dove Guanica twice

Paradise Scuba.

 

[sparragus]

Wht the best time and way to get to Desecho? I know its often shut down, but is there a better time or way to plan to be sure to get to the site?

Taino Divers is not reliable if you want to go to Desecheo.

Call Aquatica in Aguadilla. They have been going almost every Sunday or every other Sunday. And yes, you must call them to book. They don’t let you book online the trip to Desecheo. (Unless that has changed) I had a great trip to Desecheo with them.

 

[MannyDib2]

I have old college friends in West Palm Beach and Pompano Beach. I visit regularly. I have never been to a Caribbean island that matches those locations for value. Some have better conditions, but I've never been to one that's a better value. Unless you're rich, I think you should stick to Florida. That being said, I've never been to Bonaire. I've been told that Bonaire is the best value in the Caribbean so maybe research that option.

This is what I've been wondering myself. I've only dove the Bahamas and while the water quality was incredible, but I'm not sure the expense and hastle is worth it when I live and dive South East Florida every week. Might be better off spending that time and money to see and do something totally different that we dont have down here.