Hidden Gems of the Caribbean

[divingjd]

Anyone have any hidden gems in the Caribbean they would care to share? A destination that's not part of the regular rotation? A special dive site at a popular destination like Cozumel or Bonaire? A great hotel or inn?

So far, we have visited the well-known places - Cozumel, Roatan, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, plus one place that's not as well-known as a dive destination, St. Lucia. I guess the best I can do for a hidden gem is a hotel in Playa del Carmen - Hotel La Tortuga. It's relatively small (forty-some-odd rooms), very nice, but not really fancy, and a very good value. It's in town and puts you close to everything. We loved it and recommend it highly.

 

[tvictory]

Check out St. Vincent and Young Island. www.youngisland.com

 

[DocVikingo]

Ditto St. Vincent. Also Speyside/Charlotteville area of Tobago and Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.

A bit out of the Caribbean, but Fernando de Noronha off the northeast coast of Brazil is super.

Have fun.

DocVikingo

 

[nipi]

Providencia Island.

 

[Puck]

San Salvador was very nice -- a great mix of hammerheads, rays, wall and coral head dives. Plenty to see deep and shallow, and the island offers enough top-side to enjoy but is not overrun by non-divers, t-shirt shops, and chains...except the club med.

 

[Tollie]

Check out the West Coast of Puerto Rico, especially Desecheo Island... or perhaps down south at Parguera.

For a real adventure and a ton of work to get there google Mona Island.

 

[Torontonian]

Shore diving at Bay of Pigs in Cuba.

After a few minutes of swim you come to a wall. Fish life was ok but the coral growth was very colorful. There were lots sponge tubes more than a meter in length and were of pink, red, orange in colors. The most colorful place I have dived. This is compared to Ocho Rios, Veradero, west Oahu, Kona, Crystal River, Rainbow River, San Pedro in Belize, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Costa Maya.

 

[divingjd]

These are great! A few of them I have never even heard of. Unfortunately, Cuba is not a real option for Americans. Thanks for the suggestions. I hope we will get a few more.

I have another one, but only because someone else on the board mentioned it - I only know it from its website. It is the Coral Lodge in Panama, on the Caribbean side. Apparently it just opened this winter.

 

[Torontonian]

These are great! A few of them I have never even heard of. Unfortunately, Cuba is not a real option for Americans.

A lot of Americans buy vacation packages to fly out of a Canadian city to Cuba. Cuba and Dominican Rep are among the cheapest for a 1-wk all inclusive resort vacation. At the customs entering Cuba, they know not to stamp American passports, so there's no record.

Alternatively some go to Mexico first then to Cuba. But in any case, it won't be long before Cuba opens up. They the place will be swamped with Americans.

 

[sasscuba]

San Salvador was very nice -- a great mix of hammerheads, rays, wall and coral head dives. Plenty to see deep and shallow, and the island offers enough top-side to enjoy but is not overrun by non-divers, t-shirt shops, and chains...except the club med.

I agree. I do want to go back to San Sal soon. Love the hammerheads!