Hi:
Been mulling over your last post for awhile. It'd be a worthy topic for an independent thread where it'd get more notice, with a topic like, oh, say...
Best budget/value dive trip options for south-central U.S. diver
But let's expand on the idea here 1st. You asked about safe, tropical places practical for an extended stay. I've got a few questions to help others understand your question.
1.) Are you mainly after a dive vacation (e.g.: getting a large # of enjoyable dives; other considerations secondary)? Or are you after a vacation with some diving (e.g.: rain forest hikes, visiting Mayan ruins, interfacing with locals, watching 'native' shows (e.g.: Hawaiin luau), need to entertain non-divers, etc...)?
2.) Are you open to live-aboard? Basically, you & your 15 new closest friends on a yacht for 7 days, something like that, getting in 25 - 27 dives maybe?
3.) Why an extended stay? To indulge in topside activities, or because you think you need that time to get in a lot of dives? Because live-aboard diving might change your mind. Do a 10 day live-aboard at 4 - 5 dives/day most days...
4.) What kind of place do you need to stay? Are you a backpacker type open to hostels, is A.C. optional, etc...?
Backpacker types open to hostels brings to my mind what I've read about Utila, as an option, but Utila's got more, even a luxury place was in a trip report here awhile back. Bonaire can be fairly cheap on-island, it's the airfare that kills the trip cost. Round trip airfare's the same no matter how long you stay, so averaged over a few weeks, total trip cost gets cheaper.
From what I read of Philippines diving, gotta tell you, I don't think anything Caribbean is going to match it (be interesting to see if anyone posts a contrary opinion), but if you can appreciate a destination for what it is, there's a lot of good diving to be had.
Richard.
P.S.: I gotta ask; are those plane rides not killing you? By the time I come off a near 4 hour plane ride to Bonaire, I'm half stir crazy.
