But don't want a crappy unswimmable beach either.. we went to Cozumel this year, there are a couple of condo complexes in the south that have beaches but diving wise I wasn't blown away. The topography was great but I found the marine life lacking. Cozumel however seems like a place we'll return to because it's such an amazing value, so the idea with this trip is to go somewhere we otherwise wouldn't go because it would be too expensive compared to something like coz.
I've been following your thread to learn more about the destinations you're interested in, and because I find comparison discussions betwixt dive destinations interesting. Got a few observations:
1.) A number of people post asking for multi-factor dive destinations; not too expensive, very good+ diving, nice beach (and sometimes land entertainment) for non-diving group mates, etc... The old saying 'Jack of all trades, master of none,' comes to mind.
2.) If you want great diving, and Cozumel didn't impress you, that alone would cut down Caribbean destination options by a good bit. Coz. has a rep. for some decent sized sea life. I did 2 dives there; Palancar Gardens wasn't real impressive, but at Santa Rosa a large eagle ray swam right under us, close, and a large black grouper swam up about arm's length from me & followed us (obviously has been fed before), and it was a sweet dive (even though I didn't see a huge green moray some others did; I think that was on this dive).
3.) Even good diving near nice sandy beaches with good swimming conditions narrows things down, too. And if you don't want the beach 'too built up,' the question becomes why has a nice, tropical Caribbean beach not too expensive to travel to and stay near not attracted a lot of people & development? I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but the question is valid.
Let me lay out some of your values, and perhaps you re-order them by priority.
1.)
Diving better than Cozumel, with large, plentiful marine creatures; not a small creature guy (you mentioned Bonaire wasn't of interest).
2.)
Group of around 10 - 12, with
only you & wife diving, cooking own meals & not needing restaurants or much shopping, evidently not needing a touristy place since quiet is okay, with desired activity suggestions including
biking, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, reading a book, cooking, drinking, eating. Do need a decent grocery store.
3.)
Good beach & swimming conditions. But not a big, crowded beach; needs to be 'quiet.' And to rent a big house or condo. on that beach!
4.) Your party doesn't want to pay for enough rental cars to travel as a group, so you plan to
do most things within walking or bicycling (if an option) distance of home base, except your diving.
5.) All this has to be
on some budget, which BDSC asked about, and you're hoping traveling as a group renting a 'big house,' cooking in & not renting a bunch of cars will make it affordable.
But what budget are we talking about? I can already tell some really exotic destinations outside the Caribbean would be out. Ignoring airfare since everyone pays their own, I assume,
what price range are you looking at for housing? I'd add food and on-island transportation, but I don't how that's going to be for so many people.
How long is this trip to be? A week? 10 Days? 2 Weeks?
When I ask you to prioritize, what I'm really asking you to do is
let us know where you're willing to compromise (and where not).
Richard.
