Just Returned from Another Coz Trip, Looking for New Dive Destinations

[Trailboss123]

I’m looking into little corn island for our next adventure....check it out.

I think we should plan a trip to Little Corn together. Also high on my hit list.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I'd be looking at the Philippines. Flights are cheap from the west coast and it has a ton of affordable diving possibilities.

 

[flyboy08]

I think we should plan a trip to Little Corn together. Also high on my hit list.

Let’s do that! I’m leaning towards Sept 2020? But open to late spring too...

 

[mcohen1021]

Socorro and Red Sea LOBs can be done economically and are out of this world. It is more expensive that CZ, but can be done for not much more than a belize, provo or cayman trip and the diving kicks the crap out of them all IMO

 

[Trailboss123]

Let’s do that! I’m leaning towards Sept 2020? But open to late spring too...

2020 is already too full for me, unfortunately. 2021 is wide open though. I will message you.

 

[Guitarcrazy]

Thanks for the replies. I live in Montana so flights are expensive, even to Cancun. We can get to Mexico same day if I go to CUN or PVA, but we can't fly into COZ direct because we do not have time to make the connection. If we go to pretty much anywhere else we have to plan for an overnight there and back, even to HI. My wife has no interest in shore diving, nor cold water diving, so strictly warm water and valet service. I dove off Laguna Beach with a 7mm and was fine, but my wife says no thanks to that. I forgot to check Puerto Rico, that may be a nice change. Appreciate all the feedback.

 

[ggunn]

I think we should plan a trip to Little Corn together. Also high on my hit list.

I'd never heard of it, so I looked it up; how does one get there and what's on shore? Google Earth shows an airport on Corn Island about 10 miles from there; can you fly there and ferry over? Otherwise, it's about 35 miles from the mainland. Little Corn is like the name says, only a couple of miles long and it doesn't look like there's much there.

 

[ReefHound]

Some of our club members went there in 2012 and posted a detailed trip report that outlines their logistics and experiences. Basically, fly into Managua then a flight to Big Corn then a ferry to Little Corn.

I don't know if Nicaragua is still having political problems but when we were in Costa Rica last year they were dealing with lots of refugees seeking asylum.

 

[DandyDon]

I've never thought of Liberia as a pleasure trip.

My wife has no interest in shore diving, nor cold water diving,

Ok, that kills some of my good ideas. Puget Sound has some outstanding diving and sights you won't see anywhere else, but it's cold. I guess Catalina Island and Saint Lawrence river are out too. There are fun adventures all over for the adventurous, but many are not valet serviced and warm. My brother thought it was odd that my kids & I flew to Tuscon just to see cacti found nowhere else. World War II wrecks off of North Carolina are surely too much trouble.

One day traveling from Montana does limit you, too.

 

[Trailboss123]

My wife and I just returned from another fun trip to Cozumel. We have been going 2 to 3 times a year for the past 3 years. We always love Cozumel, but are looking for other places that would give a similar level of dive quality and value. We have been diving in Puerto Vallarta in Roatan, which we liked, but are thinking of venturing somewhere new. We will probably only be able to do 8 to 9 days total as my wife doesn't like leaving the pets for too long. We looked at Egypt and other more exotic destinations but when you factor in 4 days to travel there and back at a minimum, it means we will spend almost as much time in transit as we spend diving. Is there another spot that will offer the same mix of great diving and reasonable cost that Mexico and Roatan offer? Thanks in advance.

OK- Criteria as I understand it:
1. 8 to 9 days total and flying out of Montana (I assume).
2. Similar dive quality and value to Cozumel or Roatan, but; something new/different and hopefully exotic
3. As funny as it seems, I never equate Cozumel with Roatan on any level.
4. Egypt is out due to distance and time involved, as you have already stated -- this will therefore also exclude anywhere in Asia (even the Philippines, lamentably)
5. I am going to make some other assumptions and assume you prefer a warm water destination, as in 80 degrees F or warmer? If so, anywhere in California, Oregon or Washington is completely out.
6. The Great Lakes will not meet the water temp criteria and definitely does not meet the "exotic" criteria.
7. Any of the Hawaiian islands will be seasonable, so time of year will need to be a consideration if water temp is an issue.
8. Alaska is pretty exotic, but water temps will be an issue and rule it out

Any other criteria we need to consider and put into the equation? Has @chillyinCanada chimed in yet while I was typing away and recommended Belize yet? Considering the criteria, I could see that recommendation.