It's a family dive trip--suggestions, please

[rbeck]

Our family group is planning a dive trip in early June. Our group will include:
Me and my husband: been diving since 1974;
Daughter (32): experienced marine biologist diver; hasn't been diving in a number of years
Daughter's boyfriend (34); getting certified this spring
Son (29): certified as a junior; infrequent diver
Daughter in law (27): new diver; 1 major trip
Grand daughter (20 months): along for our entertainment and to see the ocean

Our children have been diving with us in Bonair, Belize, Grand Cayman, Channel Islands and San Carlos Mexico. The kids will be taking a refresher course; my husband and I have been diving in the last year.

Our question is: Where to go this time? We are using American frequent flier miles to get where ever we go and will probably need to stay domestic or the Carribean. We won't have enough time to make it worth traveling to the south pacific or similar distances. We like "easy" diving---warm water, short boat rides, calm water. We also like to stay in a condo setting, cooking many of our meals. We prefer the "less traveled" places (Grand Cayman East End as opposed to 7 mile beach).

This trip we have the grand daughter along. We are all ready to share child care duties. However, "kid friendly" would help---crib available, possible child care available, easy beach to play on.

Have you been someplace that sounds like "our kind of place"? What makes it that way?

Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

[Alexvizzio]

Have you guys ever been in Puerto Aventuras? This is south of Cancún and it´s a quiet and private marina with fine reefs with almost no current and great visibility this time of the year, I would consider it an excellent place for beginners since the shallow reefs are very pretty and almost no current.
The marina (Puerto Aventuras) is not very big which makes it great for families, it also has very nice restaurants and it´s very quiet and safe at night, ideal for jogging and beachcombing too.
I work at one of the two dive centers there, Dive Aventuras (you can find info on its website) located right at the hotel Omni; also, my boss wife is a rialtor who is in charge of very nice apartments and condos for different budgets and family size where you can cook all your meals, there´s a big supermarket on the highway right across from the Marina (there´s a walkway cross) and a couple of strip malls next door, as well as a Subway (within walking distance from the waterfront at the Marina).
The diving is very nice, I woulnd´t say it´s as good as Cozumel which happens to be the best in México and one of the three best sites in the continent but, our reefs are very nearby (less than three minutes boat ride) and very pretty.
Also, we´re very close to one of the best cenotes in the world called Cenote Chac-mool which you can find videos on youtube. We dive there twice a day so divers can choose wether to go inthe morning or in the afternoon.
I hope you check some more info about this place; due to your requests this place seems perfect because is specially for families. And, we handle groups according to their level. We have the same divers groups and diving families coming back every year and all the time.

 

[H2ODoc]

We just got back from Maui, and that may suit your needs. With the exception of "less traveled".

- shore diving from many of the nice beaches. A few of you can stay back with the grand daughter while pairs or more of you dive.

- Plenty of condos for rent

- Decent flights (albeit long flights)

- No language barrier or passports needed

- Nice aquarium, ice cream shops, sand beaches for your grand daughter

 

[ronbeau]

Our family group is planning a dive trip in early June. Our group will include:
Me and my husband: been diving since 1974;
Daughter (32): experienced marine biologist diver; hasn't been diving in a number of years
Daughter's boyfriend (34); getting certified this spring
Son (29): certified as a junior; infrequent diver
Daughter in law (27): new diver; 1 major trip
Grand daughter (20 months): along for our entertainment and to see the ocean

Our children have been diving with us in Bonaire, Belize, Grand Cayman, Channel Islands and San Carlos Mexico. The kids will be taking a refresher course; my husband and I have been diving in the last year.

Our question is: Where to go this time? We are using American frequent flier miles to get where ever we go and will probably need to stay domestic or the Caribbean. We won't have enough time to make it worth traveling to the south pacific or similar distances. We like "easy" diving---warm water, short boat rides, calm water. We also like to stay in a condo setting, cooking many of our meals. We prefer the "less traveled" places (Grand Cayman East End as opposed to 7 mile beach).

This trip we have the grand daughter along. We are all ready to share child care duties. However, "kid friendly" would help---crib available, possible child care available, easy beach to play on.

Have you been someplace that sounds like "our kind of place"? What makes it that way?

Thanks for all your thoughts.

It sounds like some type of all-inclusive might fit you needs.
There are several of them in Cozumel.
Some are more all-inclusive than other and provide baby sitting services.
My wife and I stayed at Iberostar for just short of two weeks last year and were very happy with the resort.

The on-site dive operator is Dressel Divers. Some people cal them a cattle boat operation but I was very happy with Dressel Divers. Unless you had your own group that grouped people by their ability.

I dove with 4 different in groups led by four different dive masters over the course of our stay and I was happy with all of them. None of them were in a rush and they did a good job leading the dives.

There are other all-inclusives on Cozumel but I cannot comment on them since I have never stayed at the other all-inclusives.

Another option might be in Curacao. My wife, daughter and I stayed at Breezes Curacao on two occasions and were satisfied with the resort. Another, couple was staying at Breezes Curacao at the same time we were there mentioned that they thought Beaches was better (Turks & Caicos not Curacao) but it was also much more expensive.

We flew to both locations using frequent flyer miles. We flew to Cozumel on US Air and to Curacao on Continental.

 

[Karel]

Hello,

Curacao!
Why???
Check : Home - Curacao duik magazine for all Curacao diving sites (Click US flag for English).
You are also welcome to dive with us : | Scuba diving at its best!

Kind regards
Karel

 

[cardzard]

You and your family should join the Scubaboard invasion to Cozumel !!!!

Everything you asked about and for is included in the package and I doubt you can find a better package. This is Scubaboard's annual birthday celebration and will be the event of the year.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...61018-scubaboard-invades-cozumel-package.html