New Scuber & need a place this X-mas

[theycallmebruce]

Hello.
I and my wife just learned to scuba this past summer at a Club Med in the Turks/Caicos Islands. We're both teachers and need a drive-able place to dive at during winter break. We live in Los Angeles and at first I thought to drive to Cabo San Lucas, but just learned that December is the worst possible month to dive in that area. I'm willing to travel up to 1100 miles to warm waters, and know that nothing within a 2 day drive will match the waters of the Carribbeans, but I need some advice. Where's the next best place to go? If there's a reason to go, we are willing to get to the Gulf of Mexico, plus any ferry trips of less than 1/2 day, but not much farther than Texas.

I'd be grateful for any ideas, in the hopes that my limited intuition tells me the options are not that appetizing are wrong.

Thanks.

 

[DandyDon]

:wave:Welcome to the Scuba Board. :hi: Fun place to hang out, compare, argue, etc.

Okay, you're willing to go as far as Texas, but that won't work. From here, I go to Cozumel, Florida, or further.

Talk to local dive shops there about diving there now. No, it's not as warm as in the summer, but it's not all that much colder, and the viz is better. People dive there year 'round.

Or try Joe: http://www.optiquatics.com I spoke with him at a DUI Dog Days Rally in New Mexico today, and she supplie wet suits and intro training.

don