Looking for August vacation suggestions

[mistressmotorsports]

OK, I read about 100 posts on this site, read some magazines, and still have no clue where to go other than I probably can't make a horrible choice. I found out I have a week off at the end of August and would like to take a scuba oriented vacation. I am a new diver, only a dozen dives so far, although I begin AOW in a couple weeks, so I might be up to a whopping 20 dives before this trip. My dive buddy has 50 dives and has been several places, but wants me to choose where I want to go. I'd like it to be warm, land based and have sightseeing and non-scuba activities as well. Most likely, I'd sign up for a bunch of 2 or 3 tank trips each day, leaving part of the day or some whole days for sightseeing. I'd like to keep the diving to a level that I can handle as a beginner. Since I have a full week, I am not limited by time, so anywhere in the world is a possibility. I am aware that late August is hurricane season in many parts of the world, so should probably take that into account as well. I probably have enough conditions here that my best choice is the pool in my neighbor's back yard, but hopefully some of you experienced folks can make some suggestions. Oh yeah, I go to Hawaii every winter, so that's out, want to try something new. Thanks for any tips.

Mike

 

[Bowmouth]

OK, I read about 100 posts on this site, read some magazines, and still have no clue where to go other than I probably can't make a horrible choice. I found out I have a week off at the end of August and would like to take a scuba oriented vacation. I am a new diver, only a dozen dives so far, although I begin AOW in a couple weeks, so I might be up to a whopping 20 dives before this trip. My dive buddy has 50 dives and has been several places, but wants me to choose where I want to go. I'd like it to be warm, land based and have sightseeing and non-scuba activities as well. Most likely, I'd sign up for a bunch of 2 or 3 tank trips each day, leaving part of the day or some whole days for sightseeing. I'd like to keep the diving to a level that I can handle as a beginner. Since I have a full week, I am not limited by time, so anywhere in the world is a possibility. I am aware that late August is hurricane season in many parts of the world, so should probably take that into account as well. I probably have enough conditions here that my best choice is the pool in my neighbor's back yard, but hopefully some of you experienced folks can make some suggestions. Oh yeah, I go to Hawaii every winter, so that's out, want to try something new. Thanks for any tips.

Mike

Come to Phuket in Thailand. Great daytrip diving, lots of land excursion possibilities, very tasty food, relatively inexpensive and lovely people.
I guarantee you; once you've been to Thailand you're hooked!

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

Go to Sting Ray City. What could be more fun for a new diver?

 

[sasscuba]

Bonaire for relaxing diving all the way!

 

[Doc]

OK, I read about 100 posts on this site, read some magazines, and still have no clue where to go other than I probably can't make a horrible choice.

:lol: If you try really hard, Mike....

I found out I have a week off at the end of August and would like to take a scuba oriented vacation. I am a new diver, only a dozen dives so far, although I begin AOW in a couple weeks, so I might be up to a whopping 20 dives before this trip. My dive buddy has 50 dives and has been several places

At this instant in your dive progress, find a location that will give you maximum diving. Get the bottom time and dive experience. Picking a location with "great stuff to see" is pretty much so a bad criteria- you'll have yourself darned busy just SCUBA diving!

I'd like it to be warm, land based and have sightseeing and non-scuba activities as well. Most likely, I'd sign up for a bunch of 2 or 3 tank trips each day,

Sounds like a medium-heavy dive schedule to me. In a setting such as a dive-dive-dive AI resort, that's no problem to do 4, even 5 and 6... but in a casual resort setting (much less accessing your diving through a day charter walk-in dive op, getting that 2-3 will be a handfull!)

leaving part of the day or some whole days for sightseeing. I'd like to keep the diving to a level that I can handle as a beginner.

Look for moored dives (not drift), no current, etc.

Since I have a full week, I am not limited by time, so anywhere in the world is a possibility.

Time is not an issue. That either means you are unemployed or filthy rich. Either would have a diametricaly opposed impact upon your trip and any well reasoned answer!

I am aware that late August is hurricane season in many parts of the world,

The Caribbean part, fer-shure.

Oh yeah, I go to Hawaii every winter, so that's out, want to try something new.

Ever wonder why Hawaii isn't a dive mecca for US divers? Hmmm.

Thanks for any tips.

Mike, I would suggest Cozumel. It's cheap and you can dive that 2-3 dive schedule that you describe, party and possibly live to tell the tale! Nassau and Freeport come to mind, and Cayman if you have enough money.

Bonaire is the next step outward towards a way-less commercialized venue, but 1/2 of your diving will be shore diving, and although Bonaire is a 3 or 4 on a scale of 10 in difficulty for shore entry, it just aint floppin' in the water. You will only observe 20% of what is there to see at this early stage. Consider Aruba.

Be cautious of the "degree of difficulty" in terms of diving that you approach. What you need right now is bottom time, entries, exits, buoyancy perfection. Learn to "fly the plane" before you try sightseeing. Get the experience and get lots of it!