Mexico Or Bonaire?

[shiri]

Hello,

My husband and I are planning a 3 weeks trip, including dives.
The only thing we decided concerning the trip is that we will end it in NYC, visit my dear brother for 5-7 days.:sappy:
Since we have never dived around America continent before, only in the Red Sea and Asia (Thailand, Maldives & Indonesia), we don't know what to expect and where are the best diving areas.
Since we want to travel a bit, besides diving, and to know new countries and cultures - we thought about Centeral America (Guatamala?!), and to dive in Mexico or Bonaire.
We don't know which to choose. If there are any other options - I would love to hear about.

Thanks in advance.

 

[smokey braden]

shiri,
just recently returned home from cozumel.
if y'alls priority is to seek culture, try cozumel.
if diving is a major goal, try bonaire.
regards,

 

[scubaotter]

Bonaire and Cozumel both have culture but, the real action is under the water. Coz is mostly boat diving while Bonaire is the shore diving captial of the world. Both Bonaire and Coz have loayal followers that return year after year. Bonaire is wonderful for macro while you have a better chance of seeing sharks, etc in Coz.

I would choose Bonaire but, only because I am planning my 4th and 5th trips there right now.

No matter where you choose have a wonderful time and dive safe.

 

[DeputyDan]

I will add that if you want diving in Central America your first choice should be the Bay Islands of Honduras - Roatan or Utila.

 

[Misty89]

Mexico is great if you want to have a lot to do on land as well as under water. We usually spend a week there every other year and long weekends a couple of times a year. We've been several times and still haven't done everything on land that there is to do (so many great Mayan sites, etc.). We went to Akumal last year and the diving was very nice - not sure what it's like after last summer's hurricanes. Diving in Coz is recovering - we were there in January and saw a lot of big things.

Bonaire is one of my favorite spots for diving - not sure if I could spend more than a week there if I wanted to do anything other than dive. It's a nice little island - I haven't gotten to spend as much time there as I would liked. And it's been a couple of years since our visit there.

 

[pterantula]

Since we have never dived around America continent before, only in the Red Sea and Asia (Thailand, Maldives & Indonesia), we don't know what to expect and where are the best diving areas.

Since you've got some dives under your belt, my 'hood is a great spot: NorCal. Monterey and Carmel offer some of the lushest (is that a real word?) dive spots available - provided you're not scared of colder water (typically 55-57 degrees, F) or some serious surf entries (Monastery in Carmel is incredible, but the surfzone has earned it the nickname "Mortuary"... prepare to be smacked around a little, but the Monterey trench is awesome).

As for doing more than diving, I have yet to visit southern Mexico or anywhere in the Caribbean, so....

I loved Israel but never got to dive there; hope to soon....

Cheers, have a great trip.
t

 

[sasscuba]

Bonaire for sure! Love Cozumel but Bonaire shore diving is so relaxing and it is on your schedule and not on the boats....

 

[divingjd]

If you are planning to go to Central America, I second the recommendation for the Bay Islands of Honduras. I enjoyed Roatan. I know of Utila only from reading. You should also consider Belize. Going to Mexico could give you more different diving experiences than Bonaire. In the Yucatan peninsula, between Cancun and the border with Belize, there are a number of cenotes, which offer some incredible cavern diving. Open water divers can go on guided dives with a cave instructor. If you are comfortable with your buoyancy control and looking for something different, it is a very worthwhile experience. If you do a search on the board, you can find lots of information on cenotes and recommendations for dive operations. You could also visit Akumal, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and a number of other places on the Caribbean coast. There is some good diving at all of them. There is a ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, or you can get flights from a number of places. There is a lot to do and see in Mexico and it makes sense as an extension of a trip to Central America. I have yet to visit Bonaire, but have many friends who love the diving there.