Help Planning first Dive trip to Belize

[chillyinCanada]

I'm a little surprised no one's mentioned Ramon's in San Pedro (apologies if someone did and I missed it). They are a pretty decent resort, and have a very turn key dive operation. I've dove with three shops in San Pedro, and while I don't plan to go back there any time soon, if I did, would probably just stay at Ramon's if for no other reason than ease...

There are so many other places to stay that are betyer value for the money than Ramon's.

My comment is with regard to the hotel only. The dive operation is good enough.

Check out Island Divers, contact Rudy the owner.

Also, Chuck and Robbie's dive op. Owner Robbie.

I still say that Amigos for the Blue Hole 3 dive day trip and/or their Turneffe 3 dive day trip is the best way to go.

 

[MtnDiverColorado]

There are so many other places to stay that are betyer value for the money than Ramon's.

My comment is with regard to the hotel only. The dive operation is good enough.

I suppose it is a question of how cost sensitive you are, and how much you value the convenience. I like the "one stop shop" at Ramon's, and the coordination between the diving operation and other aspects of the resort.

Last time we were out a night dive went a little late, and they were able to coordinate with the restaurant to still serve us after hours when we got back. That's worth paying a bit more for, imho, and I admit, I value convenience and comfort a lot, but I know folks view that differently.

 

[mcohen1021]

I am trying to plan a dive trip to Belize with my wife for March (somewhere between 9th and 16th) 2025 for roughly 4-5 days. We are both SSI open water certified with Nitrox certification and will be bringing our own gear, we dive at least one big trip a year. We have been to Maui, Cozumel (many times, our favorite place so far), Honduras, Costa Maya, and small local spots near home in Missouri. The whole trips main focus is diving and we do want to dive the blue hole. While diving is the main event it is always nice to stay somewhere comfortable to relax on a beach when not diving. But other than sitting on a beach staring at the ocean and eating diving we don't really have any other needs. We had a friend that we were working with to plan this all out but he died suddenly and we are now without our Belize experienced friend. With so many small islands and different dive shops and the internet full of so many opinions I thought our best bet was to post here and ask for help. Can anyone make a some good suggestions or know a place to point me to that can help us lock down a good option?

Just seeing your post, a little late in the game to reply maybe but hope this helps. I have scuba'd Belize twice, but i do not consider myself any expert.

Trip 1 in 2012: I stayed on San Pedro in a condo, and I dove with Reef Adventures. Ched Cebral was awesome. Back then, only 1 operator went to Blue Hole - Amigos del Mar. And it's expensive. And only certain days a week. I think I talked them down from $260 pp on a group of 4 to $190+40 (park fees) pp. That being said, it's a 3 hr ride there and 3 hrs back. It's a full and exhausting day. The good thing is the boat is comfortable. Bad thing is, it's packed. A cattle car. And Amigos DMs were too hands on. I will say, that if I was to go return to San Pedro, it would be a vacation with some diving included rather than a dedicated dive trip. And I would not be wasting a day to do blue hole from San Pedro.

The restaurants in San Pedro were very good, but pricey. Right up from the tradewinds condos, the grocery stores are walking distance - there are 2 - Richies and Caye Mart.

Not that much to do on the island, so take a good book.

Trip 2 in 2024: We did Belize Aggressor III and everything was outstanding. We picked a 'dive the world week' and got the discounted rate. With all meals, 4-5 dives a day, no 6 hrs round trip to blue hole and in the master suite, I think we did better price wise than trip 1 (~$5600 for the week, and we flew almost free on miles).

 

[chillyinCanada]

Ched Cabral is one of ny favorite people. I've known him for 25 years.

 

[mcohen1021]

Ched Cabral is one of ny favorite people. I've known him for 25 years.

And the guy is freaking hilarious - we were constantly cutting up and laughing - still friends with him on FB too