Cheap Travel for Singles?

[Ron G.]

My wife doesn't dive, so I take trips alone.

I'd like to do six warm-water trips per year, at about $2,000 each.

My challenge has been to find trips where I don't have to pay a single supplement and where it's easy to find a buddy.

I've been going on two trips per year with my LDS (Coz and Roatan), which works out great. I've also gone on a couple liveaboard trips (Nekton), which also worked out great. (Nekton was a lower cost trip....and they often offered promotions that were under $2,000, even with airfare.) Now, Nekton's gone and it looks like other liveaboards will push me above the $2,000 mark, once I add in airfare. (I fly out of Baltimore or DC airports.)

I love places like Scuba Club Cozumel and CoCoView, but I've only been there with my lds group. My guess is that it would be hard to just show up there and need to find a buddy....for a whole week. (Not to mention the single supplement issue.)

So, any suggestions where to go where it's easy to find a buddy....and where I can dive for a week for $2,000 (incl. meals, airfare, diving, etc.)?

(By the way, I've looked at the SingleDivers.com website. My impression is that they're relatively young and love to party. I'm 61, and don't.)

Ron

 

[Damselfish]

No law says you can only do LDS trips with "your" LDS. If group trips work for you, search around and look or trips run by other LDSs, not necessarily your closest one or close at all. Probably you can find some other dive shops that runs trips that suit you. After you do a trip or 2 with a shop its going to feel the same as if it were your local shop anyway, you'll know who's running it and probably some people on each trip. The shop trips I've done, it's not like everyone always winds up on the same flights even if local, there are people are coming from a fairly wide area, and sometimes there's people that used to live nearby and moved, etc. I've also been on trips where there was a dive shop group there got to know some people and looked them up the web to see if they were running any future trips that interested me. They could be on the other side of the country, doesn't really matter.

 

[robint]

ditto what Damselfish said... look at the websites for other dive shops, see what trips they have going. There is no reason you can't join in on one of those.

also, you can post here on SB, down on the Forum for where you might want to go, and see if anyone else is looking for a buddy or a group is advertising. ScubaBoard is a great resource for finding trips and buddies!

 

[leslief]

I dive coz solo often. I use scuba mau and pepita for about $100.00per dayfor room and diving. Food is cheap in coz, so the only other big cost is air. I've also been to Roatan solo for about $1000.00/week. I dove with sueno del mar but i can't remember the hotel. If you're on a boat you have insta buddies or just stay close to dm. I also spent a week at the reef club? ithink that was the name and it was all inclusive but there was no single supplement. Good luck in your travels.

 

[DeputyDan]

I would suggest you look at what dive shops in your area offer in the way of dive travel.

My LDS does the following (each year is different)

http://www.gypsydivers.com/Travel/

There is also this section of this baord

Travel: Group trips, Cruises and Dive Trips - ScubaBoard

There is a poster on the board named Dee that does a big trip to COCO View every year or so and

this LDS posts alot of trips on this board.

http://www.bluewaterscuba.com/Travel/

 

[samaka]

You'd be surprised how good the Red Sea would be for you. Check out DIVING FROM LIVEABOARDS IN EGYPT for some info on what's going on. This is just an information page independent from any Dive Operator but you find contact info for all liveaboard companies there. If you want recommendations to specific operator I would say go for Scuba Diving Holidays or for a larger selection of operators Red Sea Divers

Red Sea is fantastic diving and you'd be surprised when you hear the prices.

Hope that helps.

...a...

 

[BiancaC]

Hi Ron,
we're doing some singles weeks, check it out : http://http://www.grenadadiveresorts.com/packages/product/tabid/64/p-23-Singles-Week.aspx
Flights with AA via Miami or Delta from JFK wednesday and saturday
Grenada is a cool place for a non diving wife too.
Happy diving, Peter

 

[itempleton]

It will put you a bit over $2k but if you can get a cheap flight to St. Martin take a look at Saba. Winair flies SXM to Saba for ~$130 return. Only guided boat dives so finding a buddy is not an issue. Booking a dive + accommodation package is probably your best bet. If you're ok with rustic I recommend El Momo Cottages (great views).

I assume this isn't an option but in your spot I'd combine 3 of the 1 week $2k trips into a 3 week $6k trip (Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, etc).

 

[jlevine]

I travel solo a lot as well. I have been to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Puerto Rico, and Roatan. I just show up and dive. I've never had a problem finding a dive buddy.

 

[DandyDon]

(By the way, I've looked at the SingleDivers.com website. My impression is that they're relatively young and love to party. I'm 61, and don't.)

:lol:​

For many destinations, you can go cheaper alone than shared rooms with them, and find instant buddies that work out better. see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...tz-200-package-discount.html?highlight=orbitz In some cases, a private room is cheaper after coupon than a shared room.