My husband and I got our PADI OW certification in a fresh water lake a year and a half ago but various evil forces have kept us from being able to schedule the dive vacation we had been looking forward to. Now we are finally ready to plan a vacation and need some advice. Where is a beginner-friendly dive location with warm water and nice sandy beaches to relax on when we aren't underwater? We haven't committed to any particular month of the year but we do need to keep travel costs within reason. We would be flying out of Dallas, TX. Your recommendations are appreciated!
Good place for first saltwater dive?
- Thread starter MOLLY
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Molly,
Cozumel, Mexico! Reasonably close; wonderful, warm water; good hotels; lots of dive shops; good food. It has it all.
Try this website http://www.islandream.com/. They can set you up with a hotel(the Fiesta Americana) and a dive shop that is onsite(the Dive House).
But, a year and a half is a long time away from diving. So, I suggest that when you contact them or any other location you go to that you schedule a "refresher course" for yourselves. It will make the reentry a lot smoother.
Let me know if I can help any more. And, if you go to http://www.scubasource.com and enter that site, you will get even more help!
Joewr--just a "Submit Reply" away!
Cozumel, Mexico! Reasonably close; wonderful, warm water; good hotels; lots of dive shops; good food. It has it all.
Try this website http://www.islandream.com/. They can set you up with a hotel(the Fiesta Americana) and a dive shop that is onsite(the Dive House).
But, a year and a half is a long time away from diving. So, I suggest that when you contact them or any other location you go to that you schedule a "refresher course" for yourselves. It will make the reentry a lot smoother.
Let me know if I can help any more. And, if you go to http://www.scubasource.com and enter that site, you will get even more help!
Joewr--just a "Submit Reply" away!
From Dallas, JoeWR hit it dead on - you can go to Cozumel and dive in crystal clear warm water full of beautiful fish for the same price as a weekend at South Padre Island.
Rick
Rick
I have read some where recently(can't remember where)that Cozumel isn't such a good idea for inexperienced divers. I think there was something mentioned about currents. Also I think I remember a conversation at a dive shop about the potential for problems involving currents. I bring this up since my wife is planning a cruise in that area and said my daughter and could get some diving in while we are down there. In my case I've not yet been in saltwater although I have experieced a little cuurent. Does location of the dive make a difference in Coz?
JDB and (Good golly, Miss)Molly,
Most of the dives in Cozumel are drift dives. That is, a current carries the diver along his route. The currents are generally very gentle and the ride is at about merry-go-round speed. The dive boat will follow the group's bubbles at a safe distance and will pick the divers up when the whole group has ascended.
Every so often there will be a swifter current and the DMs will go to a different location if novice divers are aboard. The two dive shops that I have used in Cozumel both ask each diver for the number of dives he has and his most recent dives. They will not take novice divers on a swift current ride.
The Dive House regularly takes out new divers; they typically have a dive master leading and a dive master following. They are very good with new divers. The other dive shop I use will probably not be appropriate for Molly and Mr. Molly.
Joewr
Short answer--In my opinion it is not a problem.
Most of the dives in Cozumel are drift dives. That is, a current carries the diver along his route. The currents are generally very gentle and the ride is at about merry-go-round speed. The dive boat will follow the group's bubbles at a safe distance and will pick the divers up when the whole group has ascended.
Every so often there will be a swifter current and the DMs will go to a different location if novice divers are aboard. The two dive shops that I have used in Cozumel both ask each diver for the number of dives he has and his most recent dives. They will not take novice divers on a swift current ride.
The Dive House regularly takes out new divers; they typically have a dive master leading and a dive master following. They are very good with new divers. The other dive shop I use will probably not be appropriate for Molly and Mr. Molly.
Joewr
Short answer--In my opinion it is not a problem.
for the info. Will pass it on to my resident travel guide. Other than the Ohio River I wonder where I can go drift diving around here :loopy: ?
jdb and GGMM (I am too lazy to write, "(Good Golly, Miss)Molly)),
I forgot to mention one thing: Cozumel has regularly been rated one of the top spots for newly-certified divers to go.
Joewr...mumbling something about where he put his reading glasses.......
I forgot to mention one thing: Cozumel has regularly been rated one of the top spots for newly-certified divers to go.
Joewr...mumbling something about where he put his reading glasses.......
Hi Molly, welcome to the board and diving. Not sure exactly what you are looking for but you may want to give Bonaire a look. It's does not have lots of wide sandy beaches or night life but if you are looking for LOTS of easy diving then give it a look. There are plenty of first rate resorts, restruants and dive operators, just not a lot of bars and t-shirt shops (and NO pesky street vendors). Most of the diving is shore diving and you can set your own agenda (time, depth,place ect). There is a lot of fish and coral life in 35 ft or less so it is well suited to novice divers but 100 ft wreck dives are also possible. The year round conditions don't vary that much so time of year is not very important. Try these sites http://www.infobonaire.com and http://www.bonairetalk.com I have some suggestions for places to stay and dive operators if you like..
BetterLateThannever
Contributor
Hey Molly,
No first hand experience yet, but I have chosen Cozumel to be my first saltwater experience this coming October. My research led me to the conclusion there are plenty of dive sites that are good for novice divers and a wide variety of dive operators to choose from.
Not to mention it is a relatively inexpensive location from this part of the U.S.A. Note my use of the word "relatively"
You might want to check out some of the previous postings on the "Mexico" forum under the Travel section of this board. Plus you can visit this site:
http://www.travelnotes.cc/
which is one of the best I've found on Cozumel.
No first hand experience yet, but I have chosen Cozumel to be my first saltwater experience this coming October. My research led me to the conclusion there are plenty of dive sites that are good for novice divers and a wide variety of dive operators to choose from.
Not to mention it is a relatively inexpensive location from this part of the U.S.A. Note my use of the word "relatively"
You might want to check out some of the previous postings on the "Mexico" forum under the Travel section of this board. Plus you can visit this site:
http://www.travelnotes.cc/
which is one of the best I've found on Cozumel.
First off welcome to the Boards.
Second look in the Texas section and find the Texas Swamp Divers. TexasMike has a link on him to our page. You just missed a great trip to Athens. Our next local trip is to Clear Springs in Terrel for a benefit dive.
Lastly... I'll put in ANOTHER vote for Cozumel. The keys would probably be another good spot.
Tom
Second look in the Texas section and find the Texas Swamp Divers. TexasMike has a link on him to our page. You just missed a great trip to Athens. Our next local trip is to Clear Springs in Terrel for a benefit dive.
Lastly... I'll put in ANOTHER vote for Cozumel. The keys would probably be another good spot.
Tom
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