Need Value Destination Recommendations, leaving from NYC area

[jaydubbs15]

For my 60th birthday, I would like to plan a week long dive vacation. I'm an experienced diver. I've been to Cozumel, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. I like to see big animals. I prefer boat based diving to shore dives. I'd be flying out of NYC. I'd love somewhat of a social scene at night, fun drinks, karaoke, etc. I'd prefer an experience where I'm not seeing a million cattle car dive boats in my dive vicinity. I'd be traveling between June and August. I don't know what to expect in terms of cost, but I suspect that airfare would be a big differentiator. Am I asking for too much? Does anyone have any dive destination recommendations? Are there discount dive vacation sites that I should explore? Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[rick00001967]

we usually find (not always) that if we build a trip ourselves rather than buying a package, we can get it cheaper.
for 2 weeks or more, if you rent a condo with a kitchen you can also save by doing meals in your unit.
we would sometimes do an easy dinner but typically would eat breakfast and lunch on the room and go out for most dinners.
keeping booze/mix/beer in the room is also a lot cheaper than drinking in the bars and restaurants.
but for shorter trips it us usually not worth the hassle.
playa del carmen can offer some nice places to stay for very reasonable prices especially in the off season.
you could easily find a nice condo close to a dive shop and groceries etc while still being a short walk to various restaurants etc.
no shortage of other activities to do there besides diving.
the ocean diving can be hot or miss there and the boats often get shut down due to high winds. but if you enjoy cenote diving they offer a goo alternative to the ocean.
flights from ny to cancun would be very reasonable and easy to find.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Seems like the biggest challenge to meet your goals is the preference for big animals....which kinda takes a lot of the Caribbean out of the picture. Maybe Sea of Cortez......or Baha America or whatever their calling it these days.

 

[tursiops]

For my 60th birthday, I would like to plan a week long dive vacation.

Great idea.

I'm an experienced diver.

50=99 dives over ten+ years? Barely....

I like to see big animals.

Not in the Caribbean, unless sharks in T&C and parts of the Bahamas count

I'd prefer an experience where I'm not seeing a million cattle car dive boats in my dive vicinity.

Forget Mexico.

Are there discount dive vacation sites

Yes, but this is exactly where you are likely find your cattle-car boats.

So, it is one thing to have criteria....but maybe you need to cluster them into Necessary and Nice-to-have.