Finding the perfect honeymoon/dive location

[lindyd_03]

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum and pretty new to diving. My fiance are getting married next October, and we're looking for a place to honeymoon in the Caribbean with good diving. (He's going to get certified this summer, so neither one of us will be very experienced.) We aren't making this a dive vacation - we'll probably just dive a couple days and hang out on the beach a couple days. Could you please give suggestions of islands/countries to consider? Here are a few things we're hoping for...

* Good diving AND beautiful beaches
* Doesn't take too long to get there from the Midwest - we only have 6 days including travel time
* Not too touristy, but preferably someplace with all-inclusives (if this is possible)

And should we be worried about hurricane season? We'd be going the last week of October. Thanks a million!

 

[goodive]

Hi lindyd 03, I will start with the last question. "And should we be worried about hurricane season? We'd be going the last week of October". Simple, honest answer is yes. You will be close to the hurricane season end and nobody could predict right now, what will happened at the end of October 2009. Most likely you will be fine, but no guaranties. Try this link for more info :
Caribbean Hurricane Network - stormCARIB.com - Local Reports on Tropical Systems threatening the Caribbean Islands
As far as the location goes, you could ask 100 people and you might get 100 different suggestions. Have you ever been anywhere in Caribbean? If not, Mayan Riviera could work (with the exception of Cancun - too touristy), ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao), Caymans, Belize, Dominican Republic...it's hard question to answer without more specific requirements. Read up on some previous threads. That should give you some more inside to different locations and you could ask about a specific place you might find appealing.

 

[skynscuba]

The ABC's are pretty much out of the hurricane belt. I would not consider Bonaire as anything but a dive trip destination -- maybe others can comment on Aruba or Curacao, since I haven't been to those. I'm going to Barbados in January, as a combined dive, mostly family, trip. Lots to do there.

I would be looking for a minimum number of flights, since you have limited time.

 

[nereas]

I would choose Tahiti.

Beautiful French women everywhere half naked on the beaches.

Different ocean, of course. But perfect time of the season there.

 

[Damselfish]

yeah, with 6 days see where you can get to easily then work from there. Hurricane season is starting to wind down by end October but you're still playing the odds. FWIW, late in the season statistically more storms form in the Carribean basin or the Gulf of Mexico, while earlier more are coming across the Atlantic from Africa. So if you want to worry about it, the ABCs or the southeastern islands (the Windwards) might be a better bet than other areas that time of year. It's actually unlikely you'll take a direct hit anyplace you go during any given week, I'd worry more about the possibility of screwed up weather and flights.

Barbados is pretty big for a Caribbean airport and something of a regional airline hub so might give you good flight options. It's not a huge dive destination but certainly enough for a few days of nice diving, with beaches and other stuff, nice hotel choices, and located such that it is relatively safe. I would also look into St. Lucia. It is known to have some nice diving and has lots of AIs - it's a big honeymoon destination. (Do note that AIs are usually not the greatest places to use for your diving, though as newer divers you may find some acceptable. But you can always use an outside dive op.) Another benefit of going to one of these islands now, is that once you get really hooked and want to do the 5-a-day type serious dive trip, these won't be near the top of your list.

ABCs are considered relatively hurricane safe due to their location (not 100% safe - they had Omar mid-October this year and have been hit in the past.) Aruba is usually the easiest to get to of the 3, then Curacao, and Bonaire is generally the hardest. I would agree that Bonaire is best reserved for a trip where you want to dive a lot more anyway. Aruba isn't a huge dive destination but should be enough good and easy diving to keep you happy for a few days. It has nice beaches, lots of hotels, restaurants, and other stuff to do, with a fairly Americanized feeling - it is a bit touristy. Curacao diving is also easy but better, it also has nice (but smaller) beaches and stuff to do, and it has has a more European and less touristy feeling.

Cayman or Providenciales (T&C) are easier and cheaper to get to from some places though the location makes the odds of a storm somewhat higher. Same goes for Virgin Islands, Belize, and Cozumel or other places in Mexico, but I wouldn't let that stop me from looking into them.

 

[lindyd_03]

Thanks for all of the advise, everyone. Gooddive - to answer your question - yes I have been to the Caribbean. I've been to Cozumel twice (just as a snorkeler), and I've dove in the Cayman Islands. I loved Cayman and would go back in a heartbeat, but since I've recently been there with family, my fiance and I would like to do something new. Finding a place with similar beaches/diving/lack of tourism would be great.

I've considered the ABCs but thought the flights would take quite awhile. I'll look into them some more, along with Barbados and St. Lucia. Ideally I'd love to dive Belize, Bonaire, T&C, but I wasn't sure about finding short flights and all-inclusives.

A couple more questions -
* Is Barbados out of the hurricane belt?
* Are there many all-inclusives on Curacao?
* Are there many all-inclusives in Belize?

 

[robint]

First, Congrats!
October is still hurricane season and rainy in much of the Caribbean........ BUT it is not a bad time for much of the Pacific.
Go to Hawaii!!!!!!!! October is a great time for Maui or Kona (Big Island), water is still warmer, around 80 degrees, and lots to do topside when not diving. We were in Kona the first week of November 2 years ago and loved it. The diving is easy for a beginner and we loved the rainforests and volcano national park. It would be a great place for a honeymoon, as would Maui!!!
Neither of the places really have all-inclusive resorts, but there are a few.

If you have a bit more money and time to spend, I would suggest Fiji. But since you have less than a week, Hawaii would be your best bet. We have friends who go to Oahu to visit family once a year and like the diving there too but it is very touristy. Kona is probably the least touristy of the three, the town of Kailua-Kona is a funky little fishing village turned dive town. Get the book "Big Island Revealed" or "Maui Revealed" at your local bookstore. They will give you lots of ideas on what to do, maps and restaurants, etc.

robin

 

[altaskier]

If you want all-inclusives, then (as a broad overgeneralization) you're talking about busier islands. I've been to Tobago and St. John USVI (but both before I was a diver), Virgin Gorda BVI, and Belize. All were great! Belize had the best diving, but we keep returning to Virgin Gorda because we like the beauty and quiet of the place (Guavaberry Spring Bay, and DiveBVI). For some Virgin Gorda is too quiet, with not enough activities like parasailing or whatever. All depends on what you're looking for.

 

[diversteve]

Comments on what's been posted here.

Curacao is possibly a good option depending on flights from KC. It should be possible to be on the ground sometime around 2-3PM, it was for us flying in from Houston/Phoenix. Since we went in 07' Insel Air has just started direct service from Miami 3-4 days/wk so it might be even easier now.

There's 5 AI's that I can immediately think of: Breezes in town, Lions Dive just east of there, Habitat and Sunset Waters west of town (about 20 mins.) and Lodge Kura Hulanda on the west end. I know nothing of Breezes, Lions Dive is a less expensive option, Habitat and Sunset Waters both were very tired looking. LKH is the nicest but no beach and it's a drive (45 min.) back to town. Were I on my honeymoon it would be the only one that I'd consider however due to the upscale niceness of the property.

Another option is the Marriott in Piscadera Bay, it's not the cheapest but it is probably the nicest hotel on Curacao. Right on the beach, a nice pool complex, diveshop on site and you can dive their reef just offshore. 1/2 hr. drive from some of the best Curacao shore diving and if you want something escorted, the DiveBus will pick you up there. 15 mins. to the airport also. We've recently been discussing Curacao options in some detail in this thread so I won't repeat the details here.

My take on Virgin Gorda is that it's one of the places I'd consider for my honeymoon. Beautiful pristine beaches, in some places you're the only ones there, there's only like 15K people living there. It's one of those places where you don't lock doors at night, we didn't all week even though we were gone all day diving. Leverick Bay is one resort option, I think it's an AI also. DiveBVI has a shop onsite and theres something of a beach. It's very yacht oriented though - as is the whole island. Downside is that it's on the North side so a good 1/2 drive to town and most of the other attractions. They have the best beach bbq/party every Friday night, locals, tourists, everybody goes.

Little Dix Bay Resort is georgeous but pricey. It sits on it's own bay with good snorkeling. DiveBVI also picks up there. Every time we went in there to p/u divers, there were turtles diving for the bottom as the boat went by.

On VG you can snorkel the Baths, it's worth it. It's these massive boulders rising up out of the ocean. And very private in some places (hint..) Rent an SUV and there's several beaches on VG where you'd likely be the only ones around.

Downside of VG is the time it takes to get there. There's only a private plane sized airport and I don't know if they fly beyond Tortola. There's a regional airport on Tortola (Beef Island) but I think it closes down around September - at least it did 3 yrs. ago. But there is is really good fast ferry service between the islands so flying into St. Thomas early enough you might be able to get to/from either Tortola or VG the same day. Tortola is another option, it's a bigger island, has basically the same access to dive sites and there are AI's there. A couple in our party left VG on 8AM on the fast ferry and caught a 1PM flight out of St. Thomas.

We also went to Marina Cay one day. It's kind of a self-contained little island owned by the Pusser's rum chain. Although I don't think it's an AI. DiveBVI has a shop there and they have a nice beach and lagoon for snorkeling also. http://www.pussers.com/outposts/marina_cay

St. John, is easy to get to also. Fly into St. Thomas, take a cab/shared van to Red Hook and there's multiple ferry options for the 20min. ride over. You can also catch a ferry downtown afaik. We were just briefly there but it seemed really quiet. There are some nice resorts there don't know if they're AI.

Even St. Thomas isn't bad once out of the city, there's several AI's on the East End and other places. We spent a morning and dove from one called Sapphire Beach, it was all condos - seemed pretty nice. DiveIn has their boat at the marina there, there were 4 of us on the dive. I don't think they take more than 6 ever. As I recall the restaurant was a little disappointing - at least for lunch, however you're about a mile from Red Hook where there's a good 1/2 dozen restaurants - everything from a great dockside bar (Molly Malone's) with food to fancy dining.

hth, I've been all these places in the last couple years if you have any other questions.

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

if all gos to plan i ll be heading to the maldives next sept for my honeymoon, private bungalows out in the ocean, manta cleaning stations, whale sharks, massages.... i think its a good place for a honeymoon, just have to sell my car to get there