Diving on a budget in December or January

[kyuthefearless]

Husband and I live in NC. We would like to take a trip in late December or sometime in January. We are planing on a long weekend, probably 4-5 days total trip.

I am asking for the impossible. Good weather, warm, good viz, clean accomidations. We are willing to fly or drive. Both are pretty expensive these days.

Any Suggestions?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Do the Keys not fit that bill? From you they can not be any more than (I guess) 12 hours drive and from what I have seen and read, the diving can be great. I would personally steer clear of flying anywhere because of the no fly day.....with only 4-5 days total, to lose one would be a shame.

 

[kyuthefearless]

Well we went there last winter and it was not to bad. The seas were very rough, that was the only bad part. It was about a 13-14 hour drive for us because we live in the western part of NC. I am not opposed to going back there, I guess I was hoping for a something different or a little closer if driving.

 

[ScubaSteve]

OK...fair enough. I have never been so I was not sure. What about Pensacola / Naverre area on the pan handle? I would think it would be much closer and being on the gulf side, it may be calmer? I am throwing darts here so hopefully someone will chime in with better advice. My only strong advice would be to stay away from flying because of the no-fly day. But that is up to you...perhaps the one day to do other things is attractive. Everybody is different.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

what part on NC do you live in?

 

[kyuthefearless]

I live in Wintson Salem

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Ok, was hoping you were close enough for the hot hole in Lake Keowee. A lot of Ashville folks dive there in the winter. While not the best dive in the world, it is place to go in the winter around here where that is cheap and the water is warm enough to dive wet.

 

[BobbyT22]

My .02. I have been to the keys multiple times in the winter (Nov-Mar) and the wind really picks up that time of year. Diving is very hit or miss. You might not hear that from the dive operators, for obvious reasons. You do get some nice days, but as a rule it blows quite a bit.

My recommendation is go to one of the inland springs, they sprinkle the state north of Orlando and into the panhandle. Shorter drive for you. I have been to Ginnie Springs, Crystal River, and Vortex springs. You don't need to be a cave diver to enjoy them, though it is a cave centric atmosphere. There are caverns which are accessible to non-cave divers and OW divers. Water clarity is usually excellent. Camping is very compatible with this kind of diving, inexpensive, and you never get blown out. There are also quite a few mom-and pop hotels which can be very reasonable.

 

[fmichaelk]

Try Fort Lauderdale. Stay at the Bridge@Cordova Crew Hotel and dive with the various charter boats around or simply dive off of the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea. I'd be happy to show you around.

 

[robint]

Late Dec and Early Jan are not the best times in Caribbean for cheap or warm weather. It can be stormy, rough water anywhere.

Cheap - check out Cozumel. It is the least expensive place in Caribbean area. Diving, hotels, and food are very inexpensive. I think there are direct flights from Charlotte. But diving can be canceled due to "northers" which blow in from time to time so going in Dec-Jan can be great or terrible, depending on weather. Belize is also very reasonable at Ambergris Cay area but you have the same weather issues.

Best weather in Dec-Jan - check out Bonaire or Curacao. Not the cheapest as airfare can be $$. Food isn't cheap there either.

Go to these websites and look at some deals:
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
Caribbean Dive Island Vacations at Bay Adventures

For only a 5 day trip, I would go to Cozumel because the flight is shorter and leaves more time to dive. But I would try to go Feb-June timeframe as weather is better!

robin