Looking for Family Friendly Dive resorts

[kimkc1971]

My husband and I have been searching for a small dive resort that has a good kids program and obviously great diving. We're planning something mid November. Our oldest will be 11 and wants to get certified this summer, so the diving needs to be par to his level. Our youngest is 4-1/2, so we want a good kids program that will keep him entertained during our dives (not just babysitting). I've looked into the Bay Island Beach Resort in Roatan but haven't been able to find any reviews. From their literature, it looks like they have quite a few activities. Haven't been to Roatan since summer of '00, so what's it like in November? Any input into any other Caribbean locations as well is welcomed. We like small, non-touristy resorts. BTW, just got back from diving the east end in Grand Cayman and it was great. Ocean Frontiers and the Reef resort were awesome!

 

[plongeursousmarin]

In Cozumel back in February our family went to the Reef Club. We loved it, nothing to add about Cozumel diving (we dove with Living Underwater, small, great operation), but the resort has such bad reputation we expected a dump, it was quite the opposite, very clean, very friendly (someone's told us there was a change in management - unverified), our then 8-month old daughter was baby-sat by the same lady 3 or 4 days while we were diving (for extra $). They have a Kid's club that is open to kids 4 to 12. I don't know about a small, non-touristy resort that is going to have everything that you want. Is money no object? Then I'm sure you'll find something. As for the time of year, well, November in the Carribean is a roll of the dice. Good luck! Please inform of your choice and when you're back let us know how it went. Every diving family wants to hear the good and the bad about resorts that cater to both "demographics" of divers and kids.

 

[jakubson]

My husband and I have been searching for a small dive resort that has a good kids program and obviously great diving. We're planning something mid November. Our oldest will be 11 and wants to get certified this summer, so the diving needs to be par to his level. Our youngest is 4-1/2, so we want a good kids program that will keep him entertained during our dives (not just babysitting). I've looked into the Bay Island Beach Resort in Roatan but haven't been able to find any reviews. From their literature, it looks like they have quite a few activities. Haven't been to Roatan since summer of '00, so what's it like in November? Any input into any other Caribbean locations as well is welcomed. We like small, non-touristy resorts. BTW, just got back from diving the east end in Grand Cayman and it was great. Ocean Frontiers and the Reef resort were awesome!

Here is a thread discussing the childfriendliness of BIBR (Bay Island Beach Resort) and AKR (Anthony's Key Resort) in Roatan.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=90040

 

[BurBunny]

The various Beaches resorts are also excellent, with Sesame Street kids' programs. For diving, I'd recommend the Turks & Caicos resort. They're opening another on St. Lucia soon as well. Not exactly small dive resorts, but excellent all-around resorts with diving included.

 

[dolphin adventures]

Have you ever considered Fiji? There are some great resorts that take children for free, including meals and kids clubs. The fijians are great with children. Koro Sun Resort is a great dive resort with a free kids program and great diving in Fiji's North which has the only protected marine preserve in Fiji, (Namena). I could recommend 3 or 4 other resorts in Fiji, from economy to luxury, that offer great kids programs. Feel free to email if you would like some more information.

My husband and I have been searching for a small dive resort that has a good kids program and obviously great diving. We're planning something mid November. Our oldest will be 11 and wants to get certified this summer, so the diving needs to be par to his level. Our youngest is 4-1/2, so we want a good kids program that will keep him entertained during our dives (not just babysitting). I've looked into the Bay Island Beach Resort in Roatan but haven't been able to find any reviews. From their literature, it looks like they have quite a few activities. Haven't been to Roatan since summer of '00, so what's it like in November? Any input into any other Caribbean locations as well is welcomed. We like small, non-touristy resorts. BTW, just got back from diving the east end in Grand Cayman and it was great. Ocean Frontiers and the Reef resort were awesome!

 

[Wannabee]

My husband and I have been searching for a small dive resort that has a good kids program and obviously great diving. We're planning something mid November. Our oldest will be 11 and wants to get certified this summer, so the diving needs to be par to his level. Our youngest is 4-1/2, so we want a good kids program that will keep him entertained during our dives (not just babysitting). I've looked into the Bay Island Beach Resort in Roatan but haven't been able to find any reviews. From their literature, it looks like they have quite a few activities. Haven't been to Roatan since summer of '00, so what's it like in November? Any input into any other Caribbean locations as well is welcomed. We like small, non-touristy resorts. BTW, just got back from diving the east end in Grand Cayman and it was great. Ocean Frontiers and the Reef resort were awesome!

Kim:

I'm looking for exactly the same thing. We have a 3 year old, soon to turn 4. We visited the BIBR booth at Seaspace, and liked what we saw. However, their children's program (and most of the others I've seen) start at age 5. Like you, I don't want to just put my daughter with a babysitter--she'll be bored. She definitely needs planned activities and other children.

We went to Akumal in Mexico last year (just south of Playa del Carmen), and liked it a lot. They have a somewhat organized kid's program. When we were there, a lovely local woman named Fatima ran it. Charge was around $25/day, which I thought was very reasonable. The only problem was that we tend to travel on the cusp of the high/low season for budget reasons, and there were no other kids there. Wonderful, low key place, though. We'd go back, except we try not to go to the same place twice since there are soooo many places we want to go!

I've entertained the Beaches is Turks & Caicos, but I've read some questionable reviews on "epinions.com", and we've never been big fans of the all-inclusives where we always feel like cattle being herded through the same old routine...

Anyway, I'd love to see what some other folks have to say. And I'd love to hear where other people with kids in the 3-5 range will be going in September/October, because we definitely want our daughter to have some company!

 

[baltimoron]

how about a Club Med? It might be a good idea. I was at the one in Sandpiper (FL), and I saw the kids there having a ball with the kids' club. The diving is off-site, and it might take a little bit of researching to know the quality of what you are going to get, but it's a hit with the little kids. The two I saw with scuba-diving and the kids' clubs were Columbus Isle in the Bahamas and La Caravelle in Guadaloupe. It's worth a shot.

www.clubmed.com/usa

 

[OE2X]

Kim:

I'm looking for exactly the same thing. We have a 3 year old, soon to turn 4. We visited the BIBR booth at Seaspace, and liked what we saw. However, their children's program (and most of the others I've seen) start at age 5. Like you, I don't want to just put my daughter with a babysitter--she'll be bored. She definitely needs planned activities and other children.

We went to Akumal in Mexico last year (just south of Playa del Carmen), and liked it a lot. They have a somewhat organized kid's program. When we were there, a lovely local woman named Fatima ran it. Charge was around $25/day, which I thought was very reasonable. The only problem was that we tend to travel on the cusp of the high/low season for budget reasons, and there were no other kids there. Wonderful, low key place, though. We'd go back, except we try not to go to the same place twice since there are soooo many places we want to go!

I've entertained the Beaches is Turks & Caicos, but I've read some questionable reviews on "epinions.com", and we've never been big fans of the all-inclusives where we always feel like cattle being herded through the same old routine...

Anyway, I'd love to see what some other folks have to say. And I'd love to hear where other people with kids in the 3-5 range will be going in September/October, because we definitely want our daughter to have some company!

We did Beaches on T & C two years ago and thought it was great. Sure it's an all inclusive, but it was much better than the two Club Meds we have done in the past. Our kids had a great time and the diving was very well done. The beach and pools are fabulous as were our rooms. Food wasn't five star but it was certainly fine and the kids loved it. I'd say it's worth doing. If it were just my wife and I then no we wouldn't go there since she and I like smaller more secluded places, but with the kids everyone got a great vacation.

 

[kimkc1971]

Kim:

I'm looking for exactly the same thing. We have a 3 year old, soon to turn 4. We visited the BIBR booth at Seaspace, and liked what we saw. However, their children's program (and most of the others I've seen) start at age 5. Like you, I don't want to just put my daughter with a babysitter--she'll be bored. She definitely needs planned activities and other children.

We went to Akumal in Mexico last year (just south of Playa del Carmen), and liked it a lot. They have a somewhat organized kid's program. When we were there, a lovely local woman named Fatima ran it. Charge was around $25/day, which I thought was very reasonable. The only problem was that we tend to travel on the cusp of the high/low season for budget reasons, and there were no other kids there. Wonderful, low key place, though. We'd go back, except we try not to go to the same place twice since there are soooo many places we want to go!

I've entertained the Beaches is Turks & Caicos, but I've read some questionable reviews on "epinions.com", and we've never been big fans of the all-inclusives where we always feel like cattle being herded through the same old routine...

Anyway, I'd love to see what some other folks have to say. And I'd love to hear where other people with kids in the 3-5 range will be going in September/October, because we definitely want our daughter to have some company!

I received an e-mail back from BIBR regarding the kids program. This is what they had to say regarding their kids' club/babysitting:

>>Our kids camp has them snorkeling, fishing, tide pooling, hiking, beach picnics, catching enola lizards, picking wild sugarcane and fruits, digging up artifacts, and taking trips to see iguanas, birds, and butterflies. We also have a baby-sitting service available, which has light swimming, beach toys, and some light hiking. The kids camp is $60 per day, and the baby-sitting service is $30 per day. <<

Hopefully, all that is in fact correct. They are one of the places we're most highly considering. I'm looking into Cozumel and Bonaire as well, but I don't know if Cozumel is the easiest place for our oldest son to do his first dives though considering what I've read about the currents.

Thanks for all the good info from everyone!

 

[El Orans]

You may want to have a look at the Plaza resort Bonaire (Aqua Kids program).