You can get a wonderful ocean front condo on Bonaire Beachcomber Villas 1200 + taxes for two, truck about 350, and unlimited shore for 288 for two. That's roughly 1900 not counting gas, food and entertainment.
First dive trip advice
- Thread starter odens_14
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^^^With the kitchen and cooking most of your meal, you won't spend much more on a week of food there than you do at home. And we usually spend about 50 (less than at home) in gas. Oh, and there is a 25 dollar cash Park fee for all divers.
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Otherwise I would've suggested some waterfront condos also.
I just got an email back from scuba club they can do the week I want for 1,750 with tax included. That includes 5 2-tank boat dives and unlimited shore diving and 3 meals a day so I think that sounds like our best value. I did a quick search and it looks like I'll have a few hours of reading reviews but by a quick glance they seem pretty positive. I'm guessing we'll end up slightly over the 2k by the time we figure in drinks and tips but I'm learning this scuba thing make vacations a little more expensive
then we can start saving for a higher budget trip to bonaire or other destination for next year some time, we wanted to go frugal this year as we've already spent ~3k on gear and certification this year. :ermm:are there any reasons Scuba Club wouldn't make a good first dive trip??
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People will disagree here but IMO as new divers you likely should seriously reconsider diving in Cozumel.
It's fast drift diving - ever done that? Carry safety gear like a whistle, mirror or SMB also - it's probably not provided. Divers do occasionally get separated. While the captains are extraordinarily good at seeing divers another boat captain may be tracking his not expecting you to surface in front of him early since he has no idea of your skills. At popular sites there can be multiple groups in the water and multiple boats overhead. I've even read several instances where a diver crashes into a diver from another group. It's happened to me in non-drift situations.
If you don't have one, a computer is also a better idea there than some other locations. SCC probably rents/gives you one also.
This sort of infers most of them have more experience than you also. The resort has to make some compromise to cater to everyone's needs and desires, they're also paying for their trip.
While you're reviewing threads look in Accidents/Incidents also. There've been a few there. The chamber sees regular activity.
You don't know what you don't know - yet. It's partly why the ABC's may be a better option. At 50 dives, try Cozumel.
Having posted that, if you can get down, stay with the group and surface with them, drift diving is about the easiest there is for air consumption. Someone will almost always do better than yours also - likely your wife. I was on a boat once where a petite female diver matched me and my buddy dive for dive (we did 25 tanks) She did hers on 12 fills.
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robint
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Diversteve.... I got certified and my first 4 dive trips were all to Cozumel. It is fine for beginners when they are with a reputable dive op. SCC has great dive crews.
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Isn't your husband an Instructor also? I assume he went along...
You've been to Cozumel and Bonaire and Roatan. Which is easier for new divers?
You've been to Cozumel and Bonaire and Roatan. Which is easier for new divers?
robint
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My husband and I, as well as our 12 yr old daughter, got certified TOGETHER. Our checkout divers were in Cozumel. Obviously the dive op knew we were brand new divers, and they only took us to appropriate dive sites. It is important to be honest with the dive op, and know your limits.
Best for Brand New Divers ???? --- we have been to Cozumel (8 times), Bonaire ( 2 times), and Roatan (2 times), along with many other destinations. I would say that Roatan might be best for newbies if they are staying at CocoView.
Bonaire I would not recommend to newbies as it is a DIVE DIVE DIVE destination, with emphasis being on shore diving and most brand new divers are not yet prepared for that. Shore diving requires independence. I like newbies to have a DM in the water with them for at least the first 15-20 dives, but that all depends on the diver. Some need longer. (My husband the instructor agrees with me about Bonaire, BTW, I asked him before I replied to you). Bonaire can be great, but I just don't think it is great without some dive experience under the belt.
Cozumel, on the other hand, is a great newbie experience with the RIGHT dive op. ScubaClubCozumel has several boats, and tries to pair boats up according to dive experience. Sometimes it isn't possible, but the DMs are very attentive and know each diver's needs. I trust them. Drift diving is easy, once you learn what to do. And SCC will never take newbies to advanced sites unless the DM has already evaluated their skills and believe they are ready. Not all dive ops are that responsible.
robin
DeputyDan
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SCC is a good time.
BUT as RobinT said - let the operator know your experience level.
BUT as RobinT said - let the operator know your experience level.
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I'll stand by what I posted. New divers are better off in shallow low current conditions such as those found off Bonaire (the house reefs/docks), Curacao, the VI's etc. than they are dealing with drift diving on their first ocean dives. Just because you successfully started diving in Coz doesn't mean everyone does. Maybe you're exceptional.
I've seen a few referral classes at world class dive destinations - like Grand Cayman. They start out by shore diving. Some then do later dives off the boat. At shallow locations. They don't take new divers out on the North Wall, hang over the 6000' drop and practice buoyancy skills. Instead they do it in 40' of calm water.
Where did you do your first openwater skills certification dives? Off the beach at SCC or at Palancar? Or some shallow, low current boat dive?
When the boat doesn't move, anyone with basic nav skills can find it. Or stay nearby. Everywhere I've ever been diving in the Caribbean - pretty much all the good places except Coz - Drift Dives are often mentioned as more advanced dives. I can't see how that can be any less in Cozumel since the currents there are even faster and a lot of the dive profiles are deeper. FTR most of my regular buddies have been to Coz and have made comparisons with other locations we've dove.
Worst case scenario, a newer diver goes OOA, finds his buddy and surfaces. On Bonaire they maybe inflate an SMB. Or maybe just do the OK sign to the boat captain waiting 300' away till the other divers come back so he can pick them up. Or slowly swim back to the boat and board.
On Cozumel, they surface, potentially with other boats nearby, and are carried along by surface currents further down range until they're picked up by their - or another boat. Which is more stressful increasing chances of an incident? Even if the DM surfaces with them.
You can also hire a DM to shore dive on Bonaire - or anywhere else. The Dive Bus on Curacao does it as part of their service. So the "shore diving requires independence" argument only holds weight in the way that you dive on Bonaire. People also boat dive on Bonaire. There are several members here who only boat dive there - they like the convenience of not having to hump tanks all over the island.
The ScubaBoard Bonaire Invasion that just ended a couple weeks ago didn't even offer shore diving as part of the package. Truck rentals were also optional. So 100 people must have been happy boat diving there - at least in the mornings - Some also obviously went out on their own in the afternoons.
I've seen a few referral classes at world class dive destinations - like Grand Cayman. They start out by shore diving. Some then do later dives off the boat. At shallow locations. They don't take new divers out on the North Wall, hang over the 6000' drop and practice buoyancy skills. Instead they do it in 40' of calm water.
Where did you do your first openwater skills certification dives? Off the beach at SCC or at Palancar? Or some shallow, low current boat dive?
When the boat doesn't move, anyone with basic nav skills can find it. Or stay nearby. Everywhere I've ever been diving in the Caribbean - pretty much all the good places except Coz - Drift Dives are often mentioned as more advanced dives. I can't see how that can be any less in Cozumel since the currents there are even faster and a lot of the dive profiles are deeper. FTR most of my regular buddies have been to Coz and have made comparisons with other locations we've dove.
Worst case scenario, a newer diver goes OOA, finds his buddy and surfaces. On Bonaire they maybe inflate an SMB. Or maybe just do the OK sign to the boat captain waiting 300' away till the other divers come back so he can pick them up. Or slowly swim back to the boat and board.
On Cozumel, they surface, potentially with other boats nearby, and are carried along by surface currents further down range until they're picked up by their - or another boat. Which is more stressful increasing chances of an incident? Even if the DM surfaces with them.
You can also hire a DM to shore dive on Bonaire - or anywhere else. The Dive Bus on Curacao does it as part of their service. So the "shore diving requires independence" argument only holds weight in the way that you dive on Bonaire. People also boat dive on Bonaire. There are several members here who only boat dive there - they like the convenience of not having to hump tanks all over the island.
The ScubaBoard Bonaire Invasion that just ended a couple weeks ago didn't even offer shore diving as part of the package. Truck rentals were also optional. So 100 people must have been happy boat diving there - at least in the mornings - Some also obviously went out on their own in the afternoons.
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