Easy dives for new diver with experienced buddy

[iztok]

Definitely bring your gear! It's totally worth it....and there are lots of local, active divers who would be more than happy to take you out. Pop into the socal subforum and let us know when you'll be down here!

Except for tanks I can drag everything.

Right now 9/30-10/1 is planned. I could do an evening dive on 9/30. But not sure how doable this is as I will be w/o rent-a-car as meeting is right next to the LAX and my hotel is next to LAX.

 

[lmorin]

............... I want to try not to spend a lot and I would prefer to go to a place where there is a dive master in the water with us. I am thinking a trip to Bonaire or to Ambergis Caye might be good but I have been to both and it can be a little pricey to get there. I have some frequent flyer miles I can use. I like the FL Keys but my experience there is that the dive masters do not lead dives. Thoughts?

Consider whether or not you need a DM with you. I fully understand why you might want one, but some places are just great for applying and practicing navigation skills. Bonaire would be one; so would the Keys. You can avoid the deep dives in the Keys and do the reef dives comfortably in 25-35 ft of water. My wife and I went to the Keys early in our diving specifically to improve our confidence in dealing with unknown sites and navigational issues. Bonaire has dive ops that will provide DM-led dives from a boat, but most divers just do unguided shore diving. You can go out on your own to the limit of your self-confidence and expertise. That might only be 50-100 ft from the shore, looking around for 60 min, then a return, and it might be done in an area frequented by a bunch of other divers right out in front of your accommodation.

In Cozumel, a DM is part of the deal for boat dives. You can stay some places that also have decent, on your own shore diving. You can always hire a DM for dives in the Keys. In other words, there are a lot of reasonable options at reasonable prices. But, consider which place will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of how you grow as you learn more about the sport.

 

[Sand Dollar Charters]

lobster season

 

[iztok]

lobster season

Never seen a lobster in the water (except in a restaurant).

 

[jeepguy]

Hey dmendelson, check out The Dive Bus - HOME in Curacao. It's probably exactly what you are looking for. They have shore trips with a DM and can be tailored to any ability. Even places such as "Tugboat" where the dive can be a shallow wreck(20fsw) or a wall dive (to 60fsw or beyond). Awesome, fun people and I can say from my experiance that it is a great place to gain confidence and skills for a new diver and just an awesome time for someone that also has a few dives under their weightbelt. Check out the website and search on this board for Dive Bus and you'll hear many more stories from SB'ers that have made dives with them. Good luck
Tom

 

[boulderjohn]

I have dived in many of the places that you could reasonably access, and I can't think of any I would cross off the list. I have dived in every one of the places already suggested, and I can't disagree with any of those recommendations.

If I were in your situation, I think I would look into other considerations first. What are the best flight possibilities? Where can we stay? What kind of deals are available?

Narrow yourself down to a couple of locations and then go to the Regional Travel section of ScubaBoard and find those locations. Use the search function to look for questions others have already asked and had answered. Ask new questions yourself. In no time at all you will have figured out a good place to go and even the best operator to use.

Happy diving!

 

[dmendelson]

Go dive in SoCal and call it a day. Don't need to go anywhere else in the world for exotic diving. Sure, it's a wee bit chilly, but that's what wetsuits are for. One dive in the kelp forest and you'll be hooked for life.

SoCal is too cold until I go dry! Not great for a newbie. Though I have to say diving with sea lions last year was cool.

 

[dmendelson]

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions. I think I will go with finding the best travel arrangements first.

Last time I was in the Keys I did some great shallows as well as deep and wreck. I guess we could head there and just stay shallow. Bonaire was spectacular this August.....

I have not been to Cozumel and am intrigued. How do newbies do with the drift? I want to be sure he is comfortable. Is it easy enough to stick close to your buddy?

 

[boulderjohn]

I have not been to Cozumel and am intrigued. How do newbies do with the drift? I want to be sure he is comfortable. Is it easy enough to stick close to your buddy?

It depends. I have been there many times, and conditions vary.

Most of the time I have been there, most of the sites have currents that are easily managed by novice divers.

On the other hand, ...

I was once there with a novice diving relative, and the currents were very challenging everywhere. He did not enjoy it.

A couple of sites (like Paso Del Cedral), frequently have ripping currents, but that site is itself otherwise easy, and even with strong currents, if you have a "go with the flow" comfort level, it is a very nice dive. (I have frequently found myself diving that site with the phrase "as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly" running through my head.)

Some other sites, like Barracuda Reef, have such habitually strong currents that your operator will not take you there unless convinced you are an advanced diver.

 

[lmorin]

BoulderJohn's description is accurate. One other thing about the faster drift dives is that you may not be able to stop and enjoy everything. Sometimes, the current is just too strong to do so. I like to poke around and take a lot of time in relatively small areas, so some of the dives I have experienced in Cozumel have a bit frustrating from that point of view.