Dive Trip Planning, HELP!

[CodeS]

Hi All,

I am currently trying to work out how to go about a 1 or 2 month road trip, obviously with the goal of diving. LOTS of DIVING!

First up I fly into denver and spend a month traveling with my family. Finishing up in New Mexico. Now the decision is where to go from there. I am considering a trip from there to Costa Rica along the east Coast, and back. I also like the sound of the Baja peninsular.

I am in the early stages of planning, so please any advice is appreciated.

I hope to compile a map with all my stops and dives at the end of the trip!

Regards
Cody

 

[DeputyDan]

We need to know the time of the year.

Also, do you plan to drive to all points or take another form of transportation?

 

[Asteve]

It is hard to say since I do not know you. If it was me. I would skip Costa Rica unless I was going for the land travel. I would start with South East Florida and get some diving in the Islands at the tip and maybe a trip down to Dry Tortugas National Park, then travel down to the area around Cozumel, good diving and a lot of land travel then Belize, Ambergris Cay, You can go inland to the rain forest. then home.
Here some information on Baja: I am not sure what in the north west part for diving but the first dive shop you mite find on the east side of Baja is Mulegé. I think the dive shop has been close for about 4 years, the next is Loreto but I would make sure I had email them and set up time to meet as the store seem close more then open. There is diving in La Paz to Cabo San Lucas. Also you could get a dive trip out to Isla Socorro. The diving in Baja is OK but not great, the trip to Isla Socorro is great, I've heard but I have not been. If you are looking to do a backpacking /bus/explore/beach camping trip it has a lot to offer, but for a lot of good diving not so much.

 

[CodeS]

Thankyou for the information. I will be travelling in October/November.

I am currently thinking that I will travel first to Monterey, down the coast to the baja peninsular. Then ferry across to the other side of the sea of cortez and drive to the yucatan peninsular. Do a fair bit of diving down that coast, possibly fly to some islands and stay 5 days to a week. Once I am finished here I would consider driving straight to detroit (where I need to drop the car) or going around florida then heading North.

Still very loose plan... an I might decide that coming home and diving in asia is cheaper/better!

 

[DeputyDan]

You need to understand that if you rent a car the drop off fee at another destination can be major $$$$$$$$.

It sounds like you are doing an extended family vacation and would like to get in a few dives.

That area of the USA can be iffy traveling due to weather. - You just never know what the snow fall will be.

Weather permitting - I would do the Moab, Utah area for a few days, - the Yosemite California area for a few days - San Francisco for a few days. Fly to Cabo San Lucas and go up to La Paz (research the mantas and Whale Sharks at La Paz in the North America winter).

From there you can choose Costa Rica or perhaps go up to Loreto, which is a couple of hours north of La Paz (never been).

The above assumes you are traveling with family and they are into outside activities. You have many many choices!

 

[CodeS]

Thanks for that Dan.

I am traveling with my parents/sister for the first month then heading off on my own.

I am currently thinking I will skip mexico, I can dive in asia much more cheaply and fly there from home cheaply. It will take extra insurance to drive mexico which adds to it I imagine. While I will be in the US anyway with a car I think I will drive from New Mexico to San Francisco, 'dive' my way down to San Diego. Then across to florida, with some sight seeing on the way.

I might go do some posting on the US forums, but thank you for your suggestions so far.