First time diving Caribbean/Bahamas/etc??

[StraitsdiverGeo]

You probably have seen this a thousand times. Ok. I'm planning on taking a dive vacation to The Caribbean or Bahamas some where south of the 26th parallel any way. I'm looking for Sun,sand,good food and last but not least, Cocktails. And a nice place to stay. I have herd lots about The Caymans, Mexico.
So I was hoping with your vast knowledge of places far and wide that some one would be willing to share there experiences with me. Please would somebody throw this swimmer a life ring be for I drown in the vast ocean of "dive vacation advertisement." I'm going on this dive vacation I don't know where as of yet. But I'm going! (Sorry, I live in North and cabin fever has set in.) Well thanks for listening to my rant and thanks in advance.

Regards, George

 

[RICHinNC]

Everyone has their favorites.....

Personally, I think you will find the Bahama's more expensive than the Carib...or West Indies....or Dutch West Indies.....depending on where you go.

Bonaire is a great place if you just want to dive....zip to do above water. Barbados is great above water and not bad below.

Each has their own. Do more reasearch not only here but on the web per location and then compare opininions here with what you read and see where you want to give it a shot.

Regardless....a bad day diving...is better than a good day not.

 

[caymaniac]

You probably have seen this a thousand times. Ok. I'm planning on taking a dive vacation to The Caribbean or Bahamas some where south of the 26th parallel any way. I'm looking for Sun,sand,good food and last but not least, Cocktails. And a nice place to stay. I have herd lots about The Caymans, Mexico.
So I was hoping with your vast knowledge of places far and wide that some one would be willing to share there experiences with me. Please would somebody throw this swimmer a life ring be for I drown in the vast ocean of "dive vacation advertisement." I'm going on this dive vacation I don't know where as of yet. But I'm going! (Sorry, I live in North and cabin fever has set in.) Well thanks for listening to my rant and thanks in advance.

Regards, George

What kind of topside activities are you looking for? Do you like the quiet get-a-way or the party scene? Do you need to have alot of different restaurants or would the dive orientated resorts buffet be good enough? Do you need to have alot of activities other than diving or is this trip dive,dive,dive? Do you need alot of beach or would a small intimate beach be sufficient? Are you looking for a tech op or just a relaxing you set up ride on the boat they help you in the water? You don't have to worry about a bar, I can't think of any place I've been that doesn't have Cocktails.
I can relate to your desire to leave the cold for a few days, as I live somewhere south of you.

 

[ronbeau]

You probably have seen this a thousand times. OK. I'm planning on taking a dive vacation to The Caribbean or Bahamas some where south of the 26th parallel any way. I'm looking for Sun,sand,good food and last but not least, Cocktails. And a nice place to stay. I have herd lots about The Caymans, Mexico.
So I was hoping with your vast knowledge of places far and wide that some one would be willing to share there experiences with me. Please would somebody throw this swimmer a life ring be for I drown in the vast ocean of "dive vacation advertisement." I'm going on this dive vacation I don't know where as of yet. But I'm going! (Sorry, I live in North and cabin fever has set in.) Well thanks for listening to my rant and thanks in advance.

Regards, George

My family and I are going to Curacao this summer. My daughter and I dive. My wife does not. We are staying at Breezes Curacao based on recommendations and reviews by other people who have stayed there. Undercurrents also has some reviews of Breezes in their 2006 Chapbook that were positive. I also believe that a recent issue of either Sport Diver or Scuba Diving magazine had very good things to say about diving in Curacao.

Curacao is also outside of the hurricane belt, has much better diving than Aruba and is much less expensive than Aruba.

Breezes includes one shore dive per day (including equipment) at no extra charge.

The resort is an all-inclusive which means all your food, entertainment at the resort, alcohol, airport transfers and transportation into Wilemstad (capital of Curacao) included and tipping is not allowed.

My wife also feels there will be plenty of activities for her to do while my daughter and I are diving.

If I remember correctly is is costing $1750 per week for 3 of us (not including airfare).

I can wait to get there since I live in New England, Unfortunately I am not going until the end of June.

Hopefully this is helpful for you.

 

[DeputyDan]

You need to give more info.

#1 Is this an island vacation with some diving.

#2 Or is this a dive vacation with some island time.

#3 You dive experience level.

#4 How many dive a day.

#5 What is your budget.

#6 Any thing special you want to see above water/ below water.

#7 Time of the year you plan to go.

Answer these and you will get a much better response.

 

[ronbeau]

You probably have seen this a thousand times. OK. I'm planning on taking a dive vacation to The Caribbean or Bahamas some where south of the 26th parallel any way. I'm looking for Sun,sand,good food and last but not least, Cocktails. And a nice place to stay. I have herd lots about The Caymans, Mexico.
So I was hoping with your vast knowledge of places far and wide that some one would be willing to share there experiences with me. Please would somebody throw this swimmer a life ring be for I drown in the vast ocean of "dive vacation advertisement." I'm going on this dive vacation I don't know where as of yet. But I'm going! (Sorry, I live in North and cabin fever has set in.) Well thanks for listening to my rant and thanks in advance.

Regards, George

In addition to my earlier post there is also a new thread titled "Living in Curacao" on ScubaBoard that talks about the diving in Curacao.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I've been to 3 different resorts in the Bahamas, Greenwood Beach Resort, Hawk's Nest, and Small Hope Bay Lodge. Out of those, Greenwood was the best, with Small Hope a close second. I highly advise going to Greenwood, it's a really great place (do a search for it and you'll find my review of it, same with Small Hope). However, if you go to Small Hope, you get to dive some awesome blue holes. Hawk's Nest was not very good IMO, mainly because of the beds and the food. Greenwood had the best food.

If you want to go to the Virgin Islands, I suggest the BVI, and specifically, Virgin Gorda. Great place, friendly people, and awesome diving with Dive BVI.


Feel free to ask more questions.

 

[StraitsdiverGeo]

No doubt Rich!

 

[El Orans]

Bonaire, Bonaire, Bonaire!

Any other questions?

 

[StraitsdiverGeo]

This is definitely going to be a Dive vacation! two may be three dives a day. I like the night life cause I got to boggie! So some land attractions would important as well.

Price range, well I thought that a dive vacation for two would be around $3200 to $3600 w/airfair. I can get all the wreck diving I need here at home, So we will be looking colorful fish, sharks on some nice reef.
We are planning a trip for next winter, to stay off the on set of cabin fever, so we were thinking of going sometime in Feburary.

Well, Thank You for Great ideas and you certinly gave us lots to think about. I'll be checking in every day as I always do.

Regards, George