Luxury liveaboard or resort close to home

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T

tparrent

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It has become apparent to me that my casual diving will be extremely limited due to family obligations. My VACATION diving, on the other hand, need not be :)

I am looking for suggestions of pampered diving. If I am going to get out there only once or twice a year I want it to be COMFORTABLE. No he-man macho nonsense for me.

Here's what I would like to have on either a liveabord or share based dive vacation:

1. Someone to handle my gear. Yeah I'll check it out before I take the plunge but I don't mind at all when someone else fills my tanks, hooks up my reg, carries the whole kit to me and then rinses it off afterward.

2. Visbility. I want to be able to see 100 feet most of the time. I got spoiled by the Caymans and St. Vincent.

3. Warm water. 80F or above. 3mm wetsuit.

4. Colorful coral and fish. The life doesn't have to be big but I love the colors. On the other hand, I would sure like to swim with dolhpins or seals sometime.

5. Good food. I like to eat - it helps keep me bouyant.

6. Comfortable - no, BEYOND comfortable - accomodations. On a liveaboard that means air conditioning, soft pillows, plush towels and lots of fresh water. I said pampered ;)

7. Friendly guides. No hard bitten Captain Blighs for me.

8. Five or at the most six hours flight from Southern California. I know that's restrictive but I have flown over a million miles in my life and I'm tired of it.

9. EITHER reasonable privacy OR reasonable ship/resort mates. I don't drink. I don't mind when others do in moderation but if they are going to get drunk, I want someplace quiet to retire to.

10. Expense is not a huge limiting factor (good thing, huh?;)) since this will be a once a year type trip and I can afford the occasional luxury because I do not indulge often in luxuries.

I know some of you will sneer at my list but, then, you probably won't be in the type of boat/resort I'm looking for :D

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
tparrent:
10. Expense is not a huge limiting factor (good thing, huh?;)) since this will be a once a year type trip and I can afford the occasional luxury because I do not indulge often in luxuries.
Click to expand...

I followed all the well detailed specifics in the post until I came to the exceptionaly vague #10.

How much you want to spend? Cut to the chase.

Five or at the most six hours flight from Southern California
Click to expand...

But your profile says you live in my town, Chicago. Whazzup?
 
Could give a lot of suggestions if it was not for the 6hr flight from CA. That pretty much limits you to the Carib. You want great destinations, incredible live-aboards you often have to spend +10hrs on a plane.
 
RoatanMan,

I moved to SoCal a couple months ago. Have to change that profile.

Money? I don't know - maybe up to 5 or 6 grand. Should be pretty special for that kind of cash!
 
tparrent:
It has become apparent to me that my casual diving will be extremely limited due to family obligations. My VACATION diving, on the other hand, need not be :)

I am looking for suggestions of pampered diving. If I am going to get out there only once or twice a year I want it to be COMFORTABLE. No he-man macho nonsense for me.

Here's what I would like to have on either a liveabord or share based dive vacation:

1. Someone to handle my gear. Yeah I'll check it out before I take the plunge but I don't mind at all when someone else fills my tanks, hooks up my reg, carries the whole kit to me and then rinses it off afterward.

2. Visbility. I want to be able to see 100 feet most of the time. I got spoiled by the Caymans and St. Vincent.

3. Warm water. 80F or above. 3mm wetsuit.

4. Colorful coral and fish. The life doesn't have to be big but I love the colors. On the other hand, I would sure like to swim with dolhpins or seals sometime.

5. Good food. I like to eat - it helps keep me bouyant.

6. Comfortable - no, BEYOND comfortable - accomodations. On a liveaboard that means air conditioning, soft pillows, plush towels and lots of fresh water. I said pampered ;)

7. Friendly guides. No hard bitten Captain Blighs for me.

8. Five or at the most six hours flight from Southern California. I know that's restrictive but I have flown over a million miles in my life and I'm tired of it.

9. EITHER reasonable privacy OR reasonable ship/resort mates. I don't drink. I don't mind when others do in moderation but if they are going to get drunk, I want someplace quiet to retire to.

10. Expense is not a huge limiting factor (good thing, huh?;)) since this will be a once a year type trip and I can afford the occasional luxury because I do not indulge often in luxuries.

I know some of you will sneer at my list but, then, you probably won't be in the type of boat/resort I'm looking for :D

Thanks for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

Working backwards (more or less): for $5-$6K per person, you can afford most 1-week liveaboards (including airfare), or a luxury resort-hotel + dives. If you stick to the 5-6 hr from SoCal by airplane, that gets you to Hawaii on a direct flight; Los Cabos in Mexico in 2 hrs. Cozumel, Belize, & Honduras, while within flying range, require an aircraft/flight change, and may go past your 5-6 hr limit. In Mexico, within your flying range, you can also hit the Pacific coast (Mexican Riviera, I think?). Costa Rica may be within your flying time.

I've got a friend who dives in Hawaii & loves it. I've visited Hawaii before diving, & had a good time. Water should be warm enough for you there pretty much year-round. I can't speak as to whether the dive ops would pamper you or not, but my friend said that Hawaii was much more pampering than Florida.

In Los Cabos, you'd have to go in the summer (July/August/September/October) if you want 80F water. That said, the dive ops in Los Cabos will handle all your equipment if you so desire, including rinsing out your BCD & reg, & hanging them up in their shop in between dives. I am aware of 3 liveaboards that operate in the Sea of Cortez, but I can't speak to their level of luxury.

I will speculate (probably safely) that any of the Mexican or Central American destinations will happily set up your gear, carry your weight belt, haul you in/out of the water, etc. (You are, of course, going to give gracious gratuities :D )

You might ask a mod to move this topic to general travel or to cruise travel, as that might see more traffic.
 
Being that I live and work for a dive shop in St. Croix, I have to agree with Dutchman. The Buccaneer is also very nice. We have many wonderful restaraunts, and if you come to dive the the shop I work for Dive Experience, we will take care of everything for you, including cleaning and storing your gear for you over night. www.divexp.com ( I know shameless plug, I apologize)

But, if you want a luxerious experience, the Cuan Law is the way to go. I have been on board as both a guest, and as a fill in instructor for them for a week this spring. It is an amazing boat. The food is outstanding, the crew will pamper your every need, and make you laugh histerically. The diving in the BVI fits every parameter you outlined. Not to mention, you can sail on hoby cats, kayak, go skiing, or just lay around on deck. I am going back for two weeks in September, and I can't wait. www.bvidiving.com
 
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