Carribean Diving - Cozumel? Resort advice?

[DrSteve]

Hi Guys!

I'm trying to plan our first semi-diving vacation (wife won't want to dive every day). So we'd live to be able to dive say 3-4 days maybe boat diving and have the option of shore diving.

I'm budgeting 600 for flights from Norfolk, VA. This can get us to Cozumel, Cancun etc., without any problems.

Ideally I'd love somewhere with a nice sandy beach on one side and nice reef diving on the other. But realistically what are the options? Ive heard Cozumel has nasty beaches. Bonnaire is supposed to have nice beaches but is more expensive. Any thoughts on Cancun, Costa Rica (San Jose), mainland Mexico? Honestly we don't care about it being an island, a nice beach and some good diving would be fine. All inclusive food etc., would be nice

So I guess the question is if anyone has any advice on resorts/packages in Cozumel or thoughts on other Caribean destinations? The Caymans is too $$, same for some of the more unsual places like Saba, Turks and Caicos etc., Trinidad/Tobago would have too chalenging diving.

Total budget is 2200 max, since I have to buy my wife a reg, octo, bc and computer before we go!

Thanks!

 

[DocVikingo]

As the Scuba Diving Destinations section of this board actually has a Mexico forum, I have taken the liberty of moving your inquiry here where it will get a proper response.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[DrSteve]

As the Scuba Diving Destinations section of this board actually has a Mexico forum, I have taken the liberty of moving your inquiry here where it will get a proper response.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

Thanks!

 

[parrotheaddiver]

IMHO coz is your best bet. More bang for your buck. I have always thought the beaches were ok there, but have never spent much time on them. Most of the southern resorts have their own beach and keep it very clean. There is also some beach clubs you can go to (never been) but look nice from the dive boat that are clean. If you are doing a semi-diving vacation you can always rent a car and tour the other side of the island nice resturants and beach areas. A lot of the resorts have the AI option but going to town to eat is fun and gives you a chance to sample the local tastes and a lot of the resturants are a good value. If you stay at any of the far southern resorts the cab ride to town can get expensive so AI may be an option there. Most dive ops will pick you up from the hotel pier so you do not have to use the onsite op. Hope this helps. Do your homework :admin: on the internet and use the seach bar on this board to ask about specific resorts/dive ops. You will get every kind of opinion here. :nod:

 

[Kat]

What about the Bahamas? Airfare shoul be fairly reasonable.
The diving is not great, but you will still see some wrecks & maybe some sharks. Topside, the beaches are nice, people are friendly, nice-safe downtown f/ shopping, some fun nightclubs and they also have leagalized gambling. There is a casino on Cable Beach between the Radisson & the Marriot. Atlantis on Paradise Island is very cool & a casino there as well.

 

[granthammer]

I agree with parrotheaddiver! Cozumel is great! You can relax if you want to, with nobody bothering you trying to sell stuff, and it's not hard to be alone if you want to also. Beaches are not crowded. If you really want to be alone, rent a car and goto the other side of the island..the beaches are empty as far as the eye can see. If you want to party, you can goto town and have no trouble finding one. The diving is great there also! I've also had alot of fun snorkeling of the shore and seen alot! If your wife is anything like mine...just as long as she's on a beach, in the sun, and a drink in hand, she's happy!!

 

[Kat]

granthammer is right.

In all my trips to Coz, I have never encountered anyone on the beach trying to sell me stuff. You will be bombarded with that in the Bahamas, as well as most other Caribbean islands.
Coz is one of my favorite places to go. And I like the beaches in Coz, and I am pretty fussy when it comes to beaches. But there is a big world out there and it's fun to go somewhere you haven't been before. However, if you've never been to Coz, that would move it up on the list of 'must-do's'.

Some Caribbean choices, if you decide not to go to Coz:
The A, B, C Islands are nice. Some have better diving than others.
USVI are another great choice. But may not work f/ DrSteves budget, on this trip.

Coz might be the perfect choice. Great diving, lots of fun topside & falls into a preset budget.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I agree with the above . . .Cozumel is probably the only place that you could go on that budget and do some world class diving.

 

[DrSteve]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I've found some deals with 3 hotels which look like everything is going to work out for us now I made another thread on that!

 

[Moodiejeff]

I found some spectacular deals on Funjet to Coz...