Kid Friendly Dive Resorts

[tmccaffery]

We are looking for a dive resort for our vacation next year that we can take both my kids (they will be 9 and 13 next year) and my father (80) to that will have youth diving related activities for the kids, but also have something for dad to do. We thought Anthony's Key in Roatan fit the bill until we found out about the long stairs to and from the dining room / bar. Climbing lots of stairs isn't exactly my dad's favorite sport. So, does anyone have thoughts on a alternative to Anthony's Key, without getting involved in someplace that has high rises, casinos and so forth? Bahamas/Caribben/Central America are preferred, but elsewhere might work depending on airfare.

Thanks!

 

[Doc]

"Elsewhere might work depending on airfare"

Without considering that open-ended shotgun blast, in the Caribbean, you may well look at Sandals. Caribbean Luxury Vacations at Sandals Resorts

If you are willing to do "the Bahamas", I'm not sure if you would find Grand Bahama Island or Nassau acceptable, but you can't swing a dead Stingray without hitting a kid friendly resort. You may have to be near casinos and highrises- it goes with the territory. On any other of the many Bahamian out islands, you'll be lucky to find more than babysitting services.

You're asking for what many are searching for- but at least you haven't listed "great diving" as a criteria. When you can find the infrastructure that supports a "kids program", at that point, you have demanded certain criteria that severely limits your choices.

While the kids are young and Grandparents are still fairly mobile- the Sandals type operations can be a great choice for that mix of wide age range. As Grandparents decide to stay home and the kids are ready for diving with you all day, then take another look at the broad range of dive resorts, such as what you mentioned, AKR.

 

[robint]

Check out Kid's Sea Camp www.kidsseacamp.com

they have all day activities for the kid's and from a friend who attended one at Anthony's a few summers ago with her 6yr old and 12 yr old, they are worth every penny.
when we were at Buddy Dive, Bonaire last summer it was during the Kid's Camp and they had all types of things going on for the kids. They had their own dive boat for the week and some kids got certified, some just snorkeled. Topside they had fish ID classes and scavenger hunts around the resort, etc. Lots of happy kids and parents who got to go dive while kids were busy.

As for the grandparent, I have no idea.

 

[cdreamer]

I would second Buddy Dive in Bonaire.

 

[tvictory]

Cobalt Coast/Divetech on Grand Cayman has a couple of kids' sea-camp weeks every summer (I think in July). Very nice accomodations and I've heard raves from kids who've loved the program. You can do all-inclusive if you want. If you rent a car, you can branch out and visit other restaurants and island attractions.