My husband and I are divers, but have not gone diving for several years because of busy schedules with children. Our kids - ages 13 and 14 just became certified. I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip. We would like to go any time between January and May. I would love advice on good destinations for new divers. I was thinking of Curacao. I would like advice on where to stay here, when to go, and kid friendly diving operations. We are also open to recommendations for other destinations. My husband and I have been to Grand Caymen and Cozumel. We would like a nice resort with a good pool and beach. Any input would be appreciated. We can't wait to get back in the water, and see our kids experience this for the first time.
Need Advice for new divers first dive trip
- Thread starter dscastle
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robint
Contributor
Grand Cayman and Cozumel are both kid-friendly destinations. But if you are looking for some place else, think about Belize. Lots to do topside as your kids aren't going to want to dive dive dive.
I haven't been to this place, but friends went there and loved it:
Ramon's Village, Belize Resort, Belize Resorts, Resorts in Belize, Ambergris Caye - 2010
Belize has Mayan ruins, zip line tours, jungle tours, etc. All things your teens would enjoy.
When you book, check out the Dive Travel specialists, they can usually give you great deals and information.
www.caradonna.com
www.bayadventures.com
www.divetrip.com
(just a few we have used)
robin
I haven't been to this place, but friends went there and loved it:
Ramon's Village, Belize Resort, Belize Resorts, Resorts in Belize, Ambergris Caye - 2010
Belize has Mayan ruins, zip line tours, jungle tours, etc. All things your teens would enjoy.
When you book, check out the Dive Travel specialists, they can usually give you great deals and information.
www.caradonna.com
www.bayadventures.com
www.divetrip.com
(just a few we have used)
robin
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Curacao would work. The water's clear, the top of the reef in a lot of places is 40' or less. And interesting. During a week we saw turtles, seahorses, squid, eels, octopus and lots of well developed coral formations. Most of the divesites were either developed by an onsite dive operator with a dive dock and tank/weight rentals (few guilders fee) or easy entries off a beach. Some require a short swim out but not too bad. And there was little or no current in late April.
The Marriott in Piscadera Bay might be a good option. One of the better Marriott's I've seen, nice beach, nice pool complex, one restaurant is right on the beach. Small casino and Caribbean Sea Sports is their on-site dive op. Piscadera Bay is 10 mins. from downtown, 10 from the airport and 20-45 mins. from really good diving in the west as well in addition to what's nearby.
A good option for the kids would be the Tugboat dive east of Willemsted. One of Curacao's signature dives it's 20' to the sand. Other good/interesting dives: Playa Lagun, Nos Kas (Habitat resort's reef) Varsenbaai and Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland all the way west in Westpunt.
Other kid things would be the SeAquarium and Ostrich farm.
You could also do some escorted shore dives with [user]TheDiveBus[/user]
The Marriott in Piscadera Bay might be a good option. One of the better Marriott's I've seen, nice beach, nice pool complex, one restaurant is right on the beach. Small casino and Caribbean Sea Sports is their on-site dive op. Piscadera Bay is 10 mins. from downtown, 10 from the airport and 20-45 mins. from really good diving in the west as well in addition to what's nearby.
A good option for the kids would be the Tugboat dive east of Willemsted. One of Curacao's signature dives it's 20' to the sand. Other good/interesting dives: Playa Lagun, Nos Kas (Habitat resort's reef) Varsenbaai and Playa Kalki/Alice in Wonderland all the way west in Westpunt.
Other kid things would be the SeAquarium and Ostrich farm.
You could also do some escorted shore dives with [user]TheDiveBus[/user]
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Have you thought about the Red Sea. It's not as far as you first think and you can have a combined holiday with diving and visit the Egyptian treasures like pyramids and temples. There is some independent information on WELCOME TO AZIAB and an online magazine dedicated to Diving - Red Sea - Egypt which you can find on WELCOME TO AZIAB MEDIA where you can find loads of interesting reads on the subject. There are tour operators with bklack belt in arranging trips like that and it's very family friendly. Feel free to email me with questions.
cheers
Anders
cheers
Anders
K
KeithG
Guest
have you considered bonaire?
i claim this is a great location for intro diving for the kids. little to no current, good viz and simple terrain. lots of little feesh as well. i suggest you consider the "dock diving" available from multiple resorts - divi, captn don, dive buddy, ...
the conditions are even better (simpler) than curacao - start in 12' sand bottom and swim out to a gentle slope. they can also experience boat dives with very short travel times.
most people talk of bonaire as the home of the shore dive - that is too much work - i think of it as the home of the dock dive
i claim this is a great location for intro diving for the kids. little to no current, good viz and simple terrain. lots of little feesh as well. i suggest you consider the "dock diving" available from multiple resorts - divi, captn don, dive buddy, ...
the conditions are even better (simpler) than curacao - start in 12' sand bottom and swim out to a gentle slope. they can also experience boat dives with very short travel times.
most people talk of bonaire as the home of the shore dive - that is too much work - i think of it as the home of the dock dive
Thanks for your input. I did look into Bonaire, which is what led me to Curacao. I was thinking Curacao over Bonaire, because I have heard and it looks like there is not much to do on the island other than dive, so I was wanting more activites for the kids. It looks like Curacao has more activites other than diving. I am not sure as I have not been to either place.
chauncy19
Contributor
dscastle,
have been to Curacao once and Bonaire 9 times. Also been to Cozumel but many years ago. I would go with Curacao over Bonaire for a number of reasons. First being really limited beach and pool accommodations on Bonaire. Might be some pools but beach is a stretch. Most dives in Curacao that i know of have beach/sand entry. Bonaire is more coral rubble. Last its much easier to get to Curacao. Ease of travel is what got me there. I will go back. Of course I will go back to Bonaire too but I don't have kids or a non diving spouse.
have been to Curacao once and Bonaire 9 times. Also been to Cozumel but many years ago. I would go with Curacao over Bonaire for a number of reasons. First being really limited beach and pool accommodations on Bonaire. Might be some pools but beach is a stretch. Most dives in Curacao that i know of have beach/sand entry. Bonaire is more coral rubble. Last its much easier to get to Curacao. Ease of travel is what got me there. I will go back. Of course I will go back to Bonaire too but I don't have kids or a non diving spouse.
Hi Bob. Thanks for your input! Do you have recommendations on where to stay in Curacao? We were looking at Kura Kura on the west end, also looking at the Marriott and the resort Sea Aquarium resort. Having never been there, it is hard to know what part of the island to stay on. Thanks again. Have a great day.
Damselfish
Contributor
Kura Hulanda is very nice and close to some of the best diving there plus a great shore dive on site, but a long drive away from much of anything so might not be the best place for kids if you need other activities - perhaps better as a romantic dive getaway if the kids weren't along. The OEW dive boat generally isn't overcrowded.
The Sea Aquarium resort would probably be good with kids. Close to town, and there's lots of activity in that area plus of course the aquarium itself. (The last time I visited there the word I would use is "zoo", but then I like quiet.) Not nearly as far from the Ostrich farm which would be a fun thing to do. The dive op there Ocean Encounters and you can probably expect a fair number of people on the boats. I wasn't crazy about shore diving from that area when we did it many years ago, and not sure how it is set up now, but I assume you would still be able to do Tugboat (which is nice and shallow) as a shore dive from there. (If you don't get run over by a jetski first.)
The Marriott could be good with kids too. Not too far from town, decent and usually uncrowded dive op, decent (from what I hear) shore dive on site. It's more of a sprawling self-contained beach resort and feels more quiet and upscale. So it depends what you want and what your kids are like.
The Sea Aquarium resort would probably be good with kids. Close to town, and there's lots of activity in that area plus of course the aquarium itself. (The last time I visited there the word I would use is "zoo", but then I like quiet.) Not nearly as far from the Ostrich farm which would be a fun thing to do. The dive op there Ocean Encounters and you can probably expect a fair number of people on the boats. I wasn't crazy about shore diving from that area when we did it many years ago, and not sure how it is set up now, but I assume you would still be able to do Tugboat (which is nice and shallow) as a shore dive from there. (If you don't get run over by a jetski first.)
The Marriott could be good with kids too. Not too far from town, decent and usually uncrowded dive op, decent (from what I hear) shore dive on site. It's more of a sprawling self-contained beach resort and feels more quiet and upscale. So it depends what you want and what your kids are like.
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