Help plan my vacation

[gr8ful divr]

Hello. I am new to diving but want to go ahead and plan a big trip for later this year. At that point I should have 60+ dives under my belt. I'm looking to book a trip for the time around Christmas (Dec 15th to Jan 1st). I'm looking for a place with great diving that time of year for someone with my experience level. I plan to use my Delta Sky Miles so it probably needs to be somewhere in the Caribbian, Central America, or South America (around 35,000 to 50,000 sky miles). I would love to do this as cheap as possible since I'll be gone so long so great shore diving would be a huge plus. Also, there is a good chance that I will be going it alone so I would like a place where finding a budy will be somewhat easy. I'm looking for a no frills place where the diving will be the main attraction but other outdoor attractions would be nice as well.

I already have shorter trips planned to the Keys, the Bahama's, and Grand Cayman for this year so I'd like to go elsewhere on this trip. Any specific suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you suggest a place feel free to also include specific dive operators or hotels. Thanks.

 

[herman]

Out of Atlanta, IF you can use your Delta miles on Air Jamacia - I know they code share a lot of flights, then Bonaire would be a good choice. Getting there is what tends to cost the most. Food is reasonable and diving is cheap- $100 for unlimited tanks for a week, $200 for nitrox. We do 3 to 5 dives a day. For a nice place to stay at a reasonable cost, check out Golden Reef Inn. GRI is just off the water and Liz will take good care of you. www.goldenreefinn.com
Finding a buddy on Bonaire is usually not too big of a problem. I have had good success on the Bonaire board finding others who are traveling alone and need a dive buddy. www.boniaretalk.com If you can back the time back to around Sept, there is a trip with a bunch off this board going to Bonaire. That would make it very easy to find a buddy.

 

[lizzy9292]

Bonaire is a great place. Some places have nitrox for the same weekly rental as air, Bonaire Dive and Adventure being one of them. If you want to shore dive this is the place to go.