This is my first post but i've been on about 20-30 dives and have yet to find a squid during a daytime dive. Im pretty sure the caribbean is the place i want to be, but what island(s) would give me the greatest possibility to see these awesome creatures up close?
Guaranteed Squid Dives?
- Thread starter Bjazzman
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Welcome to the board.
They are fairly common on Bonaire and Roatan, I suspect other islands as well. They don't move around too much and you will often see them at the same spot for several dives and on occasion several days in a row. Last may in Roatan they were at one site for almost the entire week I was there. The big thing to remember is squid tend to be upper water column dwellers and we as divers tend to be bottom swimmers. Often times divers will swim directly under them without even knowing they are a few feet above them. You must look up to see them. I most often find them in the shallows, mainly because the water is shallow enough that we are diving at about the same depth. Once you find them they are pretty easy to get close to if you take your time and move slowly. I find if I hover close by and pretend not to be interested in them, they will sometimes get curious and come close to me. To get a better look at me I guess, in any case it's cool to have them move within a few feet and flash colors at you.
They are fairly common on Bonaire and Roatan, I suspect other islands as well. They don't move around too much and you will often see them at the same spot for several dives and on occasion several days in a row. Last may in Roatan they were at one site for almost the entire week I was there. The big thing to remember is squid tend to be upper water column dwellers and we as divers tend to be bottom swimmers. Often times divers will swim directly under them without even knowing they are a few feet above them. You must look up to see them. I most often find them in the shallows, mainly because the water is shallow enough that we are diving at about the same depth. Once you find them they are pretty easy to get close to if you take your time and move slowly. I find if I hover close by and pretend not to be interested in them, they will sometimes get curious and come close to me. To get a better look at me I guess, in any case it's cool to have them move within a few feet and flash colors at you.
robint
Contributor
Bonaire and Roatan --- we saw schools of them several times at both places, day and night.
Squid are one of my favorites! They are so curious and if you just hang there in the water, they get curious and come over to check YOU out. It is soooooo coool.
We had a whole group do this in Bonaire, in 10' deep water at the end of a shore dive do this, then several of them followed us all the way to shore! In fact, when I got out of the water, one of them was there in 5" deep water next to my feet! Coolest thing every!
In Roatan, we saw several groups of them at a couple of sites, but almost every day right in front of CCV resort where we stayed. Doing a shore dive there, having squid tag along with you is the best!
We did a night dive one night and 3 squid adults were there on our way out, in 5-10' of water and when we returned from the dive they were still there and followed us back towards shore. pictures:
Bonaire
Roatan
we have seen a few here and there at other dive destinations, but Bonaire and Roatan we had squid encounters!
robin
awesome! thank you guys very much.
Now, since my wife doesn't dive, which place would be the best for both of us? I want to find a resort that i can go diving maybe once a day and stay for a week. Im not interested in a dive package kinda deal since i won't be going 2-3 times a day. It must have a nice beach to lay out on, and a great view of the ocean from the room. And of course be able to see squid!!
If one of these places has this let me know so i can plan our next vacation even if its a few years from now. I just got back from the Philippines and the diving was great! No squid, but great!
Now, since my wife doesn't dive, which place would be the best for both of us? I want to find a resort that i can go diving maybe once a day and stay for a week. Im not interested in a dive package kinda deal since i won't be going 2-3 times a day. It must have a nice beach to lay out on, and a great view of the ocean from the room. And of course be able to see squid!!
If one of these places has this let me know so i can plan our next vacation even if its a few years from now. I just got back from the Philippines and the diving was great! No squid, but great!
Curacao Sunshine
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I spent a few years only seeing squid at night, mainly in Bonaire. Now that we live in Curacao, I snorkel with friends on "beach days" and we see them all the time during the day. Curacao is a busy place above waterline and you would have a variety of diving options including the Dive Bus who offers guided shore dives while your wife relaxes on the beach. If you'd like any info, please feel free to email me.
curacaosunshine@gmail.com
David and I moved almost 2 years ago from NH to Westpunt, out in the country, no casinos but great dive sites.
Sunshine
curacaosunshine@gmail.com
David and I moved almost 2 years ago from NH to Westpunt, out in the country, no casinos but great dive sites.
Sunshine
My best suggestion would be Curacao. Bonaire and Roatan are more about diving than other activities. It would be a real waste to go to either for only 1 or 2 dives a day. Nothing wrong with the diving on Curacao, it's great but there is more to do and better beaches. You might also consider one of the on water resorts in Cozumel.
robint
Contributor
Several issues here ---
If you are only doing 1 dive per day for a week, that means you only have 5-6 chances to see squid. Your chances are better if you are diving more than that.
Roatan is great because you can dive dive dive all day and it would be boring for a non-diving wife.
I wouldn't fly all the way to Bonaire to do 1 dive per day, then sit on a beach. Complete waste of time! Beaches in Bonaire are there, but used mainly for people who are shore diving and snorkeling! You can do it, but I think you want to dive more than once a day! Bonaire is a small desert island, not much to do on the island but dive and snorkel. It isn't the tropical resort type island. It is a diver's paradise and that is about all you will see there, diver's from around the world coming to dive.
If you really want to go to Bonaire, check out some of the resorts. Caradonna has some packages with info on them:
Bonaire Resorts and Diving Packages for Divers.
There are also some smaller hotels beachfront but they are not "resorts".
We stayed at Buddy Dive and loved it but there is no beach. None at Capt Don's or Sand Dollar/Den Laman either. I think Divi and Plaza have small beaches. There are beaches, but not specifically at the resorts. Check out:
The Bonaire WebCams - Welcome!
and
Info Bonaire - The Bonaire Information Site - The Most Current and Up-To-Date Information
robin
i just wouldn't want my wife to be alone for most of the day. I might be able to do 2 dives in a day but isn't there a limit anyway to the amount of dives you can do in a day? I thought 3 was pushing it?
Maybe since bonaire and curacao are close enough i might be able to do both in one trip. Or is it better to just stay in one place?
I know the more i dive the better chances i will have to see squid, but since I live in Minnesota and my travel budget is very limited it will be hard to travel as much as i would want to and dive. And since my wife isn't a diver, the more topside for her is a plus.
That's why i was wondering what resort(s) would be the best chance for me to see squid and her not minding laying on an awesome beach. I wouldn't mind if i did more snorkeling than diving too since my prime objective is to see squid. And i just got her to snorkel for the first time when we were in the Philippines.
Maybe since bonaire and curacao are close enough i might be able to do both in one trip. Or is it better to just stay in one place?
I know the more i dive the better chances i will have to see squid, but since I live in Minnesota and my travel budget is very limited it will be hard to travel as much as i would want to and dive. And since my wife isn't a diver, the more topside for her is a plus.
That's why i was wondering what resort(s) would be the best chance for me to see squid and her not minding laying on an awesome beach. I wouldn't mind if i did more snorkeling than diving too since my prime objective is to see squid. And i just got her to snorkel for the first time when we were in the Philippines.
Curacao Sunshine
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For a week, I'd pick one location. If you can stretch it to 12 or 14 days, perhaps Bonaire and Curacao. We love the diving in both locations. But for the sake of selling a repeat dive vacation, Curacao may have more attractions for your wife. In town, there are a number of resorts, Breezes, Royal Sea Aquarium, Lions Dive, the Hilton. Marriott, Hotel Kura Hulanda, and the new Renaissance by Marriott. Out West are a few dive resorts; Habitat and Sunset Waters (catering mainly to divers). In Westpunt there is the Lodge Kura Hulanda. All 3 have dive ops with boats. The Kura Hulanda also offers the option of staying 4 days in town and 4 days in Westpunt. Above both Habitat and Sunset Waters there are villas to rent. In Lagun and Westpunt there are condos and apartments. We have a vacation apartment in Westpunt. You can find most of these on VRBO.com or vacationvillas.net or a number of other rental links. St. Willibordus is 25 to 30 minutes from town and Westpunt is 40 minutes. If you choose Curacao you'd just need to decide where you'll spend the most time. The visitors we meet in Westpunt might go to town once during the week and spend the rest at the beaches or hiking. We enjoyed the diving in Roatan tremendously but often the sand fleas are a nuisance and wouldn't be pleasant for a sunning spouse.
Sunshine
Sunshine
Many of the posters on this forum forget there are people that don't want to dive 4 or 5 times a day but still enjoy diving. Depending upon many factors, 5 dives is about the maximum done in a day but 3 is much more common for the average diver. Don't push yourself, dive as much as you want. As long as your wife is content to just sit on the beach without a lot of "tourist" things to do, Bonaire is a fine choice. You can pick up a package that includes two boat dives a day and you'll be happy and still have time to spend with your wife. Bonaire is of course known for shore diving but the boat diving is a great value and loads of fun. There are many places to eat in Bonaire that makes for lots of fun and variety.
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