I've been reading these boards like crazy and have gleened a lot of information. I'd be interested to hear some people's opinions though based on my specific circumstances.
I've got a group of 4 people. Me and another person are divers, (I'm intermediate, Advanced IANTD, with about 75 dives under my belt, most of them in the cold waters of the Pacific Nortwest - Seattle) and my buddy is about as advanced as you can get, over 2,000 dives (90% in cold water), practically every certification, dives tri-mix to 200+ depths frequently. Both of us have done very little warm water diving. The other two people (a couple) are not divers and probably will not dive on the trip.
My date has to be the mid week of April and my destination options are limited based on availability of timeshare trades. We want to dive in the Caribbean at a place with excellent diving and very good dive companies. We'd like to do a variety of dives if possible including a wreck dive or two and a couple night dives. I want somewhere that the water is 80+ as I'd don't get cold easily and would prefer to take a break from a dry suit and dive in a shorty. We are not planning on doing deco dives.
The couple has been to Cancun/Cozumel area several times and prefers to go somewhere else. I've read up on many of the islands and looked at what I have a chance of trading my timeshare into and have come up with the following destination options.
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Caymans
Belize
Turks & Caicos
At this point I'm leaning towards Aruba as it is the easiest place to get an exchange and appears to offer the most topside activities for the non-divers. Based on what I've read, from a diving standpoint, I'd rather visit Bonaire or the Caymans but I doubt I can trade for a place in Bonaire and the Caymans sounds very expensive.
Your opinions are appreciated.
I've got a group of 4 people. Me and another person are divers, (I'm intermediate, Advanced IANTD, with about 75 dives under my belt, most of them in the cold waters of the Pacific Nortwest - Seattle) and my buddy is about as advanced as you can get, over 2,000 dives (90% in cold water), practically every certification, dives tri-mix to 200+ depths frequently. Both of us have done very little warm water diving. The other two people (a couple) are not divers and probably will not dive on the trip.
My date has to be the mid week of April and my destination options are limited based on availability of timeshare trades. We want to dive in the Caribbean at a place with excellent diving and very good dive companies. We'd like to do a variety of dives if possible including a wreck dive or two and a couple night dives. I want somewhere that the water is 80+ as I'd don't get cold easily and would prefer to take a break from a dry suit and dive in a shorty. We are not planning on doing deco dives.
The couple has been to Cancun/Cozumel area several times and prefers to go somewhere else. I've read up on many of the islands and looked at what I have a chance of trading my timeshare into and have come up with the following destination options.
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Caymans
Belize
Turks & Caicos
At this point I'm leaning towards Aruba as it is the easiest place to get an exchange and appears to offer the most topside activities for the non-divers. Based on what I've read, from a diving standpoint, I'd rather visit Bonaire or the Caymans but I doubt I can trade for a place in Bonaire and the Caymans sounds very expensive.
Your opinions are appreciated.
