Hello everyone! Need help finding resort

[kburlison]

Hello to everyone! I am new to the forum and would love some advice from experienced scuba travelers.

My husband and I are planning a trip for our 10th anniversary next year, and wanted to go back to the resort where we got married (Spanish Bay Reef Resort in Grand Cayman), unfortunately it looks like they have "closed until further notice". So we are now looking for other options. With the research we have done thus far, we are thinking of a few different locations. Hondurus, Belize, Cozumel or the Caymans. We also love the idea of an all-inclusive resort if possible. Does anyone have any experience, suggestions, or advice with any of the locations I have listed??

Thanks,
Karrie

 

[diverrick]

Do you two love birds want to dive alot or relax topside? also, high end, or budget $$ wise.
Congrats on 10 years.

 

[kburlison]

Thanks! We like diving! When we went to Grand Cayman we dove twice a day almost every day. I myself also love to just soak up the sun. I think we have kind of zoned in on Cozumel, Grand Cayman or Honduras. Though we are open to other ideas though.

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.

If you want to dive a lot and dine I would suggest Bonaire. Loads of easy diving and great places to eat. Personally, I would not do an AI anywhere except maybe Cocoview on Roatan. Most places there are too many good places to eat to be stuck at one resort/restaurant.

 

[Damselfish]

You could stay at Cobalt Coast which is very nice and has Divetech on site, it's just down the road from Spanish Bay. You can do AI there although I wouldn't, prefer to have a car and go to some of the great restaurants around for dinner. Definitely worth getting the dive package with breakfast though. My other favorite on GC is the Reef Resort (East End.) Dive with Ocean Frontiers. (It is more convienient to dive with OF if you stay at Compass Point which is nice, but the Reef is much more of a "resort" and very nice to hang out. If doing only 2 dives in the morning I'd stay at the Reef, if doing the afternoon boat as well every day I'm on the fence about which to stay at.)

Any of the places on Little Cayman might fit the bill and are generally done AI. (As there is only one restaurant that isn't at a resort.

For an anniversary I often suggest Young Island on St Vincent. Most people do this AI (not your Beaches kind of AI, but meals included.) A rare combo of pretty convienient and good diving, that's more in the luxury category above water.

 

[diverrick]

I would not do an AI in Cozumel unless you ar estaying far from town. There are just too many great places to eat.
GC in my opnion is WAY too expensive, and crowded when the pod people are around.
CCV and FI are both AI and Like I said either one would be a good choice, with a nod toward CV from me, As I really do think it is the best dive op on the island of Roatan.
If you ask you might be able to get a beach house from Playa Miguel, which really gives you lots of room and privacy, but you still dive witk CCV. We LOVE beach house 8. I wish I could buy it.

 

[dvrliz1]

I have to agree with Herman and Bonaire! If that is not it and you really want an All Inclusive, I personnally like a place in Curacao. It's not on the water, but across the street and it is stunning. It is called Kura Hulanda Casino & Spa. You can dive with "the dive bus" on Curacao. Kura Hulanda is a bit pricy, but absolutely wonderful for a 10th anniversary. If you don't choose Bonaire, try Kura Hulanda, I LOVE IT!

Liz

 

[Damselfish]

Grand Cayman is only crowded in certain areas. The places I mentioned are not.

Kura Hulanda - there is one downtown, and one way out in the boonies that is on the water and has great diving onsite. Both are extremely nice and the one downtown in particular is unique. They've very different, you might prefer one or the other, or you can do a package and spend some days at each. However, Kura Hulanda downtown is about the last place I would do AI, as you can walk to lots of good restaurants.

 

[kburlison]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I have a a quick question for divverick though....What does CCV and FI stand for? I found another resort in Rotan called Anthony's Key Resort, anyone familiar with that?

 

[diverrick]

CCV is Coco View and FI is Fantasy island I have stayed a couple of times next door to Anthonys key (AK) before, at Bay Island Beach resort (BIBR), looks nice from the boat as we go by, but there are many threads on this board about AK from those who have gone before you, that could do a much better job at telling you how AK is. I do know that alot of pod people (cruise ship folks) go there for a day of diving, so on certain days you might have a crowd.