Looking for location advice. Beach diving?

[4dartist]

Hello! I'm new to the forum and like most new people I came seeking advice!

My family and friends plan to rent a beach house for a week on either the shore of florida or in the Caribbean somewhere. The plan is to just relax and swim/snorkel and do normal beach stuff, but I was hoping I could tempt them with some place that also has beach diving. I don't think there has to be anything amazing under the water, but something to look at would be nice. We're not rich, so we can't go crazy or anything, and only a couple of us scuba. Does anyone have any suggestions where we could rent a house, but I could dive off the beach??

I'm a little concerned about the gulf side of florida seeing oil, plus I read the only main beach diving areas are on the east side.

As for my skill level, I've only logged 20 dives or so, so I'm pretty new. My brother will be with me, so I won't be diving alone. I've only dived at BVI for a week and in the mud holes here in Houston, TX. So I've never done a beach dive. But I really want to!

Thanks for any help.

Benjamin

 

[Rick Murchison]

Based on your criteria, I'd recommend Cozumel. There are many villas there at reasonable rates, plenty of non-diving activities and some decent shore diving.
... but you probably won't get a place on the beach anywhere for less than "rich."
(Although you might want to check out this place)

Rick

 

[robint]

sorry Rick, but beach diving in Cozumel is limited to nothing but rough rocky entries and/or sand and nothing else. There really isn't any shore diving unless you stay at a place like Scuba Club, which has a debris field from hurricane damage and tons of fish.

best bet.... Bonaire. You don't have to rent a house though, most hotels there have full condo/apt style rooms with kitchens and multiple bedrooms. Just what you are looking for! And also, most of them you can just walk in the water and dive world class reefs. You can snorkel or dive at all of them, most have a dive op on site that rents tanks. Some of them have a package with a truck rental for the week.

Look at:
Info Bonaire - The Bonaire Information Site
Buddy Dive Resort website (we stayed there and loved it, loved the shore diving, snorkeling there)
Wannadive Bonaire (nice packages with several small hotel/condos)
Bonaire vacation hotel dive package rates with Bay Adventures (dive travel specialists, deduct $ for non-divers in group)
Welcome to Caribbeanclub
Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn, Bonaire

airfare to Bonaire may seem a bit high, but it is worth it once you get there. Continental has an overnight flight on Friday nights, you arrive first thing Saturday morning! That is the easiest way to get there. I think they have a similar flight from east coast, also.

robin

 

[Rick Murchison]

sorry Rick, but beach diving in Cozumel is limited to nothing but rough rocky entries

Unless the beach and pier/ladder/stair entries I know of have been washed away... but then it has been several years since I've been there.
Try this old thread here.
Also try here, here, here, or here.
There are many more.
Also note that the OP wants activities topside for party members who are not divers. Bonaire's nice for divers... COZ is nice for everyone.
--
Bonaire is without doubt the finest shore diving in the Caribbean basin... however... the last time I went to COZ we put up 10 in a two story, 5BR/4bath 2 full kitchens Villa with pool for $1200 for the week ($120 each for a week). Bonaire's a bit more than that. Last time I went to Bonaire... you don't want to know.


Rick

 

[lesismore]

As far as Florida: Head to the keys. I was spoiled in getting certified here and many other recommended dive sites, just don't compare. If you are interested in something a bit different, you can consider diving with the manatees in Homassa - then do a couple of fresh water spring dives. Great caverns.

 

[AggieDiver]

I would recommend the Florida Keys. When I was a kid, we stayed in a condo place on Islamorada and went snorkeling right off the shore and it was nice. It would be a decent length swim to get to any place deep enough to justify scuba, but I am sure some of the other Keys have better diving closer in.

 

[4dartist]

Cool thanks guys, I'm going to look into these suggestions and get back to you. I appreciate all the tips. Most of the people going don't scuba, so first and foremost I wanna find a cool place just to stay on a beach and hang out. I'll let you know where we are thinkin'