Newly Certified Recreation Diver looking for some advice to plan an upcoming Honeymoon Diving trip.

[KathyV]

The suggestions for places that primarily offer shore diving like Bonaire or Curacao are good, but the OP said that they are newly certified and have only done fresh water quarry dives so far, so I think that they might be better off doing escorted boat dives with a divemaster for their first ocean dives.

And Cozumel may not be the best suggestion for new divers either, you need to be confident with buoyancy control before embarking on a drift diving trip, but that's just my opinion.

 

[arew+4]

I would recommend Hawaii, I know it's a little cliche, but there is a ton to do, great diving, active volcanoes. Airfare is not terrible, just checked you can get round trip out of BWI for 600 to 800, flights probably suck, but don't they all?
Do at least 10 days if not two weeks, hit two or three islands. I would definitely go back to the big island and Maui, we did Oahu the diving was meh.

 

[KathyV]

I would recommend Hawaii, I know it's a little cliche, but there is a ton to do, great diving, active volcanoes. Airfare is not terrible, just checked you can get round trip out of BWI for 600 to 800, flights probably suck, but don't they all?
Do at least 10 days if not two weeks, hit two or three islands. I would definitely go back to the big island and Maui, we did Oahu the diving was meh.

I think that Hawaii is a great choice too, but they have a total budget of $6000, which is a lot of money - but with air, lodgings, food, car rental, recreation and diving - Hawaii may not be possible. And if they can only go for a week, it is a long distance to travel from the Eastern US - but then again, people do it all the time!

 

[Snoweman]

This is where we staying in St. Lucia. It's about as romantic as it gets. Phenomenal vista, private pool, and diving is a short ride down the hill.

La Bagatelle Villa | Luxury Villa Rental in St. Lucia | Home

The link to Action Adventure divers via this website above is incorrect. Use this one:

Home

 

[KathyV]

Grand Cayman doesn't have zip-lining but there are lots of activities, both natural and tourist venues. Sunset House is a nice option that includes boat diving, shore diving the house reef, airport transfers, breakfast, and some other expenses, see below.

Cayman isn't cheap, but there are reasonably-priced options for meals and activities and the Sunset House package includes a lot, and it is a good location for access to other island activities. Also, Cayman got lucky last year and didn't get hit by any hurricanes, so they are not currently rebuilding; and you won't have to worry about Zika or other tropical infections - if that is a concern.

Sunset House, Grand Cayman
https://www.sunsethouse.com

7-Night Dive Packages - Price includes daily 2 tank morning boat trips, unlimited shore diving on the afternoons of your boat diving days, round-trip airport transfers, daily fully made to order breakfast, welcome drink and gift and all tax and service charges.

2018 Summer Rates - April 1 - December 21, 2018
PP Double Occupancy, Courtyard Room: $1,598.65

You said "East Tennessee" so I am guessing that you would fly out of Knoxville or Chattanooga, right? I randomly picked a week in October and found RT airfares on American from TYS to GCM for $688 per person, with one stop in Charlotte, see screenshot below. There were other flight options with AA and other airlines for similar prices.

So now the total price is $4574 for air, transfers, hotel, diving, breakfast, taxes, and tips (except maybe dive shop tips?) leaving around $1500 in your budget for other expenses; how does that sound to you?

 

[saxman242]

There's probably more than one answer to this question, but my answer is St. Lucia. Very adventurous and Superman's Flight is the best dive I have ever done in my 100 or so dives. Not a huge experience level, but it was an awesome dive.

I will go back to St. Lucia as soon as I can. It's an awesome place, with great folks.

We just did our wedding/start of our honeymoon in St. Lucia at the grande St Lucian sandals. It is a perfect honeymoon destination that happens to also include diving in the price. If I was going on a diving only trip, sandals may not be the best choice, but for a honeymoon that happens to also include 2 dives a day in an amazing location, it is hard to beat.

 

[KathyV]

You might take a look at Aruba, I have never been there and I don't know about the pricing, but (like Curacao and Bonaire) it is below the hurricane belt and therefore less likely to get hit this year. It is not as well-known for diving as Curacao and Bonaire, but search this forum and you will find reports from divers that sound intriquing.

 

[PatW]

Rather than Grand, I would recommend Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Little Cayman is an out island. It has about 70 residents. So it does not have much night life which is an understatement. But the water clarity is great. Good fish life. Usually no current and near the boat it is usually 20’ deep so virtually no midwater safety stops.

Cayman Brac has similar diving. The dives are deeper so it is a bit more challenging. It has healthier corals than Little Cayman. The island has about 2,000 residents but still an out island.

You might look at Turneffe Island Resort. Dives run at 60’. Very good diving. Visibility not as good as Cayman. The snorkeling in the lagoon is great. The resort is an out island. Secluded. Great staff. Very nice beach and surroundings. If you like quiet and pretty for a honeymoon, this might be your spot.

 

[KathyV]

Rather than Grand, I would recommend Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Little Cayman is an out island. It has about 70 residents. So it does not have much night life which is an understatement. But the water clarity is great. Good fish life. Usually no current and near the boat it is usually 20’ deep so virtually no midwater safety stops.

Cayman Brac has similar diving. The dives are deeper so it is a bit more challenging. It has healthier corals than Little Cayman. The island has about 2,000 residents but still an out island.

You might look at Turneffe Island Resort. Dives run at 60’. Very good diving. Visibility not as good as Cayman. The snorkeling in the lagoon is great. The resort is an out island. Secluded. Great staff. Very nice beach and surroundings. If you like quiet and pretty for a honeymoon, this might be your spot.

I've been to Belize but not Turneffe Island Resort but it looks lovely; how is the airfare?

I also thought of the Cayman sister islands, but the OP expressed concern that there isn't much to do on Bonaire besides diving, and GC has a lot more topside attractions that CB and LC (and Bonaire).

Between Cayman Brac or Little Cayman, I think that Brac offers more topside for a nature lover - hiking, caving, climbing, bicycling, wildlife preserves, etc. but there still isn't a lot to do besides relaxing, eating, sleeping, and diving.

But the price might work for them and it is good diving. If you add about $150 per person for the RT airfare from GCM to Brac and include the Cayman Brac Beach Resort's all-inclusive Classic Cayman package for $1875 per person, it works out to $5426 total - and that covers just about everything except the dive shop tips. It includes: airfare, transfers, accommodations, 3 boat dives per day, 3 meals per day, 3 drinks per day, taxes and service charges.

They also offer cheaper packages, with 2 boat dives per day and with/without drinks, if they want to rent a car and do some exploring in the afternoons, etc.

 

[Aquathack]

You guys have provided some amazing tips. Thank you so much! Id like to say we plan to have our advanced certification by time of the trip, and if not, at least our enriched air certification before the trip. I'm thinking we may take a day trip or two to the Carolinas to get some coastal diving to prepare us for the ocean. Again, thank you guys so much. You guys have defiantly come to our rescue in providing information. Thank you all so much again