Help me figure out where to go with my Son

[gkornfeld]

For the last two years during spring break (early april) I take my son (now 15) diving. We have done Belize and Cozumel which offers diving and other activities. So my question; where might we go that offers a variety of things to do and also dive. Would Bonaire fall into that category? What about Roatan? I would like to stay in this hemispere.
Thanks

 

[Jax]

How about the Caymans? Bonaire didn't seem to have a variety of things beyond diving, but that's only once I've been there.

 

[iztok]

Jamaica, Cuba?

 

[diversteve]

Look into Curacao - same diving as Bonaire but more to do topside. Maybe Costa Rica for eco related non-dive stuff. Roatan has ziplines but not much else of interest to a 15yr. old. From San Diego, what about Maui?

 

[gkornfeld]

I'm leaning towards 4-5 days in Roatan and then the balance on the mainland doing ruins etc. What do folks think about that?

 

[ocdiver1]

Roatan+ruins sounds like a good plan. If you want to get a little off the beaten past consider Dominica...diving plus lots of other nature-related activities like hiking. Also whale watching season right now.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Bonaire didn't seem to have a variety of things beyond diving, but that's only once I've been there.

What about windsurfing at Lac Bay?
Last time I was there, we saw people kitesurfing at one of the southern dive sites.
What about landsailing?
What about driving/hiking around in the Washington-Slagbaai Park?

Bonaire is a small desert island, so there are limits to what one can do there. However, if both the OP and his son like to dive, spending a week on the island is a really fun, relaxing time. With a rental truck, diving can be done on your own schedule. There would be ample down-time to have all those father-son talks that everyone enjoys.

Closer to home, there's Catalina Island. They have excellent diving at the Casino Point UW Park (Avalon) and at Two Harbors. A couple of different dive ops offer boat dives. Outside of diving, there's a golf course near Avalon as well as several hikes one could do. The Wrigley Botanical Garden is nice, but probably not something a 15-year-old would want to check out. You can rent golf carts for a few hours and drive around the place. Last time I was there, we rented kayaks one afternoon at Descanso Beach and had a really fun time. One of the booths on Green Pier was signing up people for ziplining and parasailing. If you felt so inclined, you could camp at one of the sites in Hermit Gulch.

 

[DeputyDan]

My understanding is that Bonaire is one of the very top wind surfing destinations on the planet.
Depends on what you are looking for in a vacation.
The diving is OK as well.

 

[dolesorchard]

I would strongly suggest Costa Rica. There is great diving in the Catalinas in Guanacaste and Isla Del Cano in Osa. Ther are also an incredible number of other really fun things to do. Below I have a small list of greta places and things to do.

Tabacon Hot Springs- a small river that is over 100F. Don't go for the cheaper places that are just swimming pools with hot volcanic water piped in.
Ziplines are every where, Hacienda Guachipelin has some with a "rappel" Tarzan swings and more.
White water tubing, also at Hacienda Guachipelin.
Wildlife viewing that is just amazing.
White water rafting.
Hiking to see active volcanoes, or mountains up to 12,500 ft.
Kayaking in rivers, flat or white water, or in the ocean.

My wife and I have been there ten of the past twelve years and will not tire of it. It is not the place to go for a dedicated dive trip, but if you want some great diving and a bunch of other fun stuff to choose from Costa Rica is going to be tough to beat.

 

[mathauck0814]

+1 for Curacao, the diving is similar to Bonaire but there's a little bit more infrastructure on the island (and it's physically larger) so there's some diversity in activities... bonus is that it's inexpensive to boot.