Looking for 'short jaunt' advice

[LordMicon]

My wife and I are relatively new divers, and I want to keep her going strong. To that end, I am looking for ways to jump somewhere warm (I have a hard time getting her in the water enough, let alone cold water!). Over Christmas break, we did Sandals Montego Bay, and that worked great. Everything taken care of, and 2 dives a day. She actually agreed she would like to do more diving than that, or longer dives or the like. (They are great, but max 30 min guided dives).

Soo - we have another break coming mid-feb. Im looking for places that we can do easy. I live minutes from the Hartford CT airport, so flying out is easy enough, but a lot of the destinations seem to not be great to get to on the other end. I have like 4 nights max, so I dont want to tie up a lot of travel time. She would prefer some guided dives, but if its a nice enough setting, I might be able to convince her some groups without a guide, or even just the two of us is ok.

I have eyed the Fl Keys, but I understand they might not be great conditions now - its more hit or miss. I can easily do another Sandals, in a different location too, but again, its not very dive intensive. So - looking for something where we can have easy access to dive sites, and frequent, for the brief time. Anyone able to reccomend locations, dive shops, or even dive resorts or the like?

Thanks!

 

[lisa_j]

Hi Vince -
This past September, we took a flyer to the Bahamas from Boston - left Saturday, dove Sunday and got back Monday (after 24 hours, of course ). We scored a last minute deal on Travelocity and it was very inexpensive. Dove with Stuart Cove's, and it was great for 2 new divers like us.
Let me know what you pick, we're always looking for quick easy trips to hold us over until the big trips!
-Lisa

 

[diversteve]

Grand Cayman. From your side of the country I'd guess you could be there by noon or a little later. It's probably the best diving in the Caribbean. The viz must average 100 feet. There's an amazing amount of stuff to see from millions of coral fish to turtles, huge sponges, rays, larger pelagics, sharks etc. depending on where you go. We saw them all in a week of diving - except sharks.

Also Stingray City is not to be missed, it's the most fun you'll ever have diving in 15' of water.

Stay at Divetech/Cobalt Coast to the north, or Sunset House to the south.

Cobalt Coast has some AI options if you're looking for a Sandals type experience. But it's not that fancy. It's kind of away from everything else too, w/o a car it would be a lot of pricey cab rides to Seven Mile Beach or elsewhere. The whole place is geared around diving. Since they're just off the North Wall(6000' drop) there's the opportunity to see some really big fish feeding their way up the wall.

Sunset House is more moderate. They offer daily boat trips mostly to the South of Grand Cayman - due to their location, but they will go north also depending on conditions.

There's great shorediving from Sunset House, it's in a protected area and you can see a lot of stuff in under 60' or shallower. Simple entry too from their "concrete ocean pool" All the "attractions" - Amphitrite Mermaid, Nicholson Wreck - are clearly marked. The mermaid is in 50' just off their dock. So an easy beginner dive.

And it's a couple minutes south of Georgetown. Kind of an upscale Holiday Inn sort of place but all geared around diving.

And if you want a new diver experience, book with Red Sail, they cater to the cruise traffic so offer some really easy diving. Can be cattleboat though at times.

Only downside, Cayman is the most expensive place I've ever been in the Caribbean - if that matters to you.

 

[yak]

Cozumel. How does 100' + visibility sound?

It's cheap, and if you fly into Cancun and take ground transportation to PDC and the ferry across, even cheaper. You're not going to dive on your travel days anyway, so don't sweat the extra hour or two to get there.

Use the search feature on this section and you'll get answers to any questions you might have.

 

[scubastew]

I can second the Bahamas (specifically) Grand Bahama Island. Lots of diving options. Relatively inexpensive from New England. Just got back from a 5 day trip and it cost about 500-a-head for hotel and airfare. Stayed at the Bell Channel Inn out of Port Lacaya (Freeport) was not 5-star accomidations (though not horrible either) Hey the dive boat was 30ft from my hotel room...and did a little bug hunting as well...just like home (except for the warm water, good viz and clawless bugs)

Hotel was 80 bucks a nite for two people (Bell Channel Inn)
Flew AirTran out of Boston/Logan
Two dives off the charter was $55
No need to rent a car
Decent night life
Played some golf
All the Konch you can eat!!
Order a Kalik Light for you and a Bahamma Mamma for the lil misses
NOTE: all checks have an added 15% for the tips (aka service fee)

 

[LordMicon]

I forgot to follow-up update this one, but I have done a ton of research - To that end, we are doing the Sunset House for 5 nights over the upcoming Feb school break (she works for a school). That seems to be the next step, and I'm hoping breaks her out of the mold and makes her realize we are actual divers, and don't have to follow an instructor all the time! (We have already done dives just the two of us, she just falls back into that mode too easy).

Anyway, with the included boat dives every am, and then unlimited shore diving afternoon / eve / nights, it seems like we can do the structured stuff, and work on getting her willing to go out 'just the two of us' more and more in the afternoons

Thanks for the heads up on that place tho, it seems so incredibly well suited for what we want. I'm already looking ahead, and I think the *next* place might be Fantasy Island in Honduras.

 

[countryboy]

A web site I stumbled upon recently...

http://www.cheapcaribbean.com

There are many travel destination / deals.. Just need to research the location / resort well. My wife and I booked a trip for late spring to Puerto Vallarta (area).

 

[Rafael]

I'm agree with Lisa, i did the same trip for new years, Bahamas was very nice i dove Stuart Cove's as well i had lots of fun there.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/40791/cat/1432

Here is the link to my pictures so you can check how nice the diving is down there, other place i have to recomend you is Cozumel, that place is paradise, i mean i guess all depends in how far how long you want to do.

Good luck and have fun.