Dive site questions

[Shaka21]

Aloha everybody!

New to the boards. Some great stuff going on here!

Ok, so I've read a few threads touching on the question I'm about to pose, but didn't really get a definitive sense - so please pardon me if I ask again:

Is there such a thing as a dive site (preferably Caribbean and OTHER than Cozumel or Grand Cayman) that provides the ever so elusive combination of world class diving AND fun nightlife?

I'm in charge of organizing our annual guy's trip (7-10 days sometime in March/April '06) and have been informed that 'decent' nightlife is just as important as diving (how dare they). I for one would love to just do a weeklong liveaboard like the Explorer, but a couple of the (single) guys are only casual divers and are often likely to miss up to half of the scheduled dives due to intense hangovers (like they did in Cozumel!).

All the research I've been doing keeps bringing me back to Cozumel, which I certainly wouldn't mind doing again, but I'd also love to try somewhere different. I was wondering about Belize and St. Thomas (although I'm hearing the diving is only so-so).

Any ideas - please feel free to be as detailed and/or blunt as you wish.

Thanks in advance!

Aloha

 

[smokey braden]

shaka21,
have you tried aruba and dive with clive?
http://www.divearuba.com/
imo i don't think anyone in your party would be disapointed.
regards,

 

[ChrisA]

Why not Hawaii?
Aloha

Aloha everybody!

Is there such a thing as a dive site (preferably Caribbean and OTHER than Cozumel or Grand Cayman) that provides the ever so elusive combination of world class diving AND fun nightlife?

Aloha

 

[Shaka21]

Why not Hawaii?
Aloha

Thanks for the suggestions - One of our guys has been to Aruba enough times to want to try someplace different (he worked in Venezuela for a year). As for Hawaii, I've been many times myself. I think the more and more I think about it, going back to Cozumel and PDC make the most sense. We didn't dive many of the 'premier' sites last time (like Santa Rosa, Columbia, Barracuda etc.) and would love to experience them. Also, I'm beginning to like the sound of doing some Cenote diving from Playa Del Carmen. From what I've heard, it's an awesome experience.

Aloha

 

[SDNetGeek]

Aloha everybody!

Is there such a thing as a dive site (preferably Caribbean and OTHER than Cozumel or Grand Cayman) that provides the ever so elusive combination of world class diving AND fun nightlife?

Aloha

St. Thomas (from what I hear) is not a bad idea. The others that occur to me are Key West, Cabo St. Lucas (not *great* diving but good), maybe Nassau, or perhaps Montego Bay Jamaica? PM "Jamdiver" (I believe that's his UserID, look in the Caribbean forum) about Mo' Bay...

Must be a group of single guys, if I took off for a dive trip w/o the wife I might as well MOVE there... :11:

 

[TeddyDiver]

Aloha everybody!

New to the boards. Some great stuff going on here!

Ok, so I've read a few threads touching on the question I'm about to pose, but didn't really get a definitive sense - so please pardon me if I ask again:

Is there such a thing as a dive site (preferably Caribbean and OTHER than Cozumel or Grand Cayman) that provides the ever so elusive combination of world class diving AND fun nightlife?

I'm in charge of organizing our annual guy's trip (7-10 days sometime in March/April '06) and have been informed that 'decent' nightlife is just as important as diving (how dare they). I for one would love to just do a weeklong liveaboard like the Explorer, but a couple of the (single) guys are only casual divers and are often likely to miss up to half of the scheduled dives due to intense hangovers (like they did in Cozumel!).

All the research I've been doing keeps bringing me back to Cozumel, which I certainly wouldn't mind doing again, but I'd also love to try somewhere different. I was wondering about Belize and St. Thomas (although I'm hearing the diving is only so-so).

Any ideas - please feel free to be as detailed and/or blunt as you wish.

Thanks in advance!

Aloha

Hola! How about Cuba Lot of nightlife especially In Havanna and Santiago. Friendly place and wrecken most friendly place "por una norte americano" in the world...

 

[Damselfish]

Hola! How about Cuba Lot of nightlife especially In Havanna and Santiago. Friendly place and wrecken most friendly place "por una norte americano" in the world...

If only it were an option for someone from the US...

 

[Shaka21]

St. Thomas (from what I hear) is not a bad idea. The others that occur to me are Key West, Cabo St. Lucas (not *great* diving but good), maybe Nassau, or perhaps Montego Bay Jamaica? PM "Jamdiver" (I believe that's his UserID, look in the Caribbean forum) about Mo' Bay...

Must be a group of single guys, if I took off for a dive trip w/o the wife I might as well MOVE there... :11:

2 singles & 2 married. Fortunately, our gals are trusting (although not always without their objections) and we're both very well behaved (the only occasional intimate encounter being with a toilet). Besides, we always divide the accomodations into the 'single party' room & the 'dead, boring, married' room. This way, they can stay up late and we don't miss dives due to hangovers (like they do).

We did Key West earlier this year and sufficed to say the diving was HORRIBLE. About 10 feet of viz, nothing but dead reefs, and very little sea life. I will throw in a thumbs up for all the delicious conch fritters we scarfed down that week.

So far, I think it's pretty much coming down to Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen, Grand Cayman, or St. Thomas - with Coz opening up a sizeable lead.

Aloha