Kid Friendly Dive Resort in Carribbean

[scubasaint]

My husband and I are looking for an accomodating dive resort that is family oriented and kid friendly. We love diving the Carribbean waters, and would like to also spend the time with the kiddies. We have 6 and 8 year old girls that would enjoy snorkeling and playing on the beach with the grandparents, while my husband and I are doing a few morning dives. Any recommendations are much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[mike_s]

Sandals has the Beaches REsorts chain that allow kids. I think they have kid programs also.

 

[robint]

My husband and I are looking for an accomodating dive resort that is family oriented and kid friendly. We love diving the Carribbean waters, and would like to also spend the time with the kiddies. We have 6 and 8 year old girls that would enjoy snorkeling and playing on the beach with the grandparents, while my husband and I are doing a few morning dives. Any recommendations are much appreciated! Thanks!

I would suggest the Caymans as there is lots to do other than dive on Grand Cayman. Nice beaches, too. It is more expensive than other Caribbean destinations but also more modern.

Belize is also a good choice. Ambergris or one of the outer atolls resorts would be nice. Very tropical and good diving.

Cozumel is cheap but no real beaches for kiddies plus you can't drink the water. I doubt your parents would enjoy it that much. Maybe the Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen area would be good as the resorts are mostly beachfront.

You didn't say what time of year - but if you check out some of the dive travel websites you can find great deals.
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
or
Caribbean Dive Island Vacations at Bay Adventures


robin

 

[dpbishop]

We stayed at Club Colonna in Antigua a few years ago, most of the guests were English families. They have day care/camp activities for the children while you are diving. It is really aimed at small boat sailors. The best diving is on the opposite side of the island, but the dive op provided transportation. (I noted in another thread that the op we dove with has closed down, so you might want to check on who they use now.) The have package deals that include meals, one nice thing is they have two dinner times, one for kids and one for adults.

 

[DiveBarbadosBlue]

We are the operator at the Hilton in Barbados. Barbados itself is very family friendly with lots of topside things to do (ideas etc barbados.org). The Hilton has a kids club, great beachs (south better for boogie boarding generally, and the north where we are in the Carlisle Bay much calmer water). We do the diving side and the watersports equipment for the hotel (snorkelling lessons gear and trips, kayaks, boogie boards). From the diver's perspective we are right on the south west corner of the island therefore have great access to all south and west coast sites. Lovely reef, some great wrecks. lots of turtles turtles turtles. Good luck and let me know if we can help further. For browsing interest some of our dive sites with a photogallery are described on the website. and for more info on the Hilton check out Hilton Barbados Hotel - Hot Deals
Or can check out our current Dive and Accomodation Special (our website under specials) done with Coral Mist Beach Hotel a 5 minute drive from us.
Happy hunting
Chris

 

[Alex777]

Anthony's Key Resort on Roatan has all sorts of activities for kids.

 

[ronbeau]

My husband and I are looking for an accommodating dive resort that is family oriented and kid friendly. We love diving the Caribbean waters, and would like to also spend the time with the kiddies. We have 6 and 8 year old girls that would enjoy snorkeling and playing on the beach with the grandparents, while my husband and I are doing a few morning dives. Any recommendations are much appreciated! Thanks!

Breezes Curacao.

My family has been there twice and were very happy there. The rooms were probably a step down from Beaches and Sandals but the price was also substantially less also.

 

[scubasaint]

I appreciate everyone's feedback so far.

Let me try to clarify some more specifics about what we are looking for.

Ideally, we would love to go somewhere that would have diving available without having to go very far. That way we lessen the time it takes for the travel to and from. We recently came back from Cozumel, but did not bring the kids. What was great there was that we were picked up at the dock at 7:30 and typically back to the hotel after being dropped off at the dock by about 11:15.

They also had a decent shore dive in case we wanted to do an easy afternoon dive without going out on the boat.

We are not necessarily looking for any type of resort that would have a camp for the kids, because we would not need that, but somewhere that would have a lot to do within the resort itself (i.e. good snorkeling, kayaks, nice beach, etc.)

I was originally thinking of maybe Fantasy Island in Roatan, but read several recent negative reviews about it. The trip would most likely take place sometime between May-July.

Again, thank you for all the information.

 

[Alex777]

I have been to both Fantasy I. and Anthony's Key Resort. For a family with kids, you are way better off at AKR. The boats are right there at the hotel - no need to travel to and from. There is a shore dive you can do any time you want. Meanwhile, the kids can be snorkelling with the dolphins, kayaking in the lagoon, etc. Fantasy I. is essentially a "dive and party hearty" place for 20-something Europeans.

 

[ronbeau]

I
...
Ideally, we would love to go somewhere that would have diving available without having to go very far. ...

They pick you up from the dock right on the Breezes property if you are doing boat dives. One shore dive per day is included in your statys a Breezes Curacao. The shore dive is at Oswaldos Drop-off right in front o the Breezes property. It is part of the national marine park.