November Shore diving

[Gnashrak]

Need advice, couldn't find enough info on neither SB nor the internet...

We are planning to travel in the last week of November for a week. We are looking for
- a warm and sunny destination :cool2:
- where we could rest on the beach a day or two and shore dive for about three days
- we need a destination that has more to offer than just diving and beach
- we are from Montreal - Canada, any place that takes more than a day by plane doesn't fit in our time frame

Any suggestions?

We were thinking maybe Bahamas (where to shore dive?), Curacao (rainy season...) or Hawaii (rainy season too...). What do you think?

 

[warmwaterturner]

Cozumel or Playa del Carmen Mexico

 

[ReneeDr]

Curacao is not that rainy in November. It is partly sunny and mid-80's when we have been there twice in December. Shore diving is great from nice, sandy beaches.

 

[ReneeDr]

Check out renting a house in coral estates, then you drive to the beach every day. Beaches that are our favorites were within 10 minutes from the house.

 

[RJP]

Shore diving = Bonaire.

 

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

Maui...

 

[husco]

Shore diving = Bonaire.

no debate here. shore diving is great. Bonaire best shore diving anywhere. would be perfect for your needs. Cozumel has great diving but its all drift diving. Since huricane willma there really isn't any good shore diving there. Hawaii has some shore diving but the diving is not as good as Bonaire.

 

[diversteve]

Maui...

You can get to Maui from Montreal in one day due to gaining hours going west but it takes two to get back.

 

[Gnashrak]

Shore diving = Bonaire.

no debate here. shore diving is great. Bonaire best shore diving anywhere. would be perfect for your needs. Cozumel has great diving but its all drift diving. Since huricane willma there really isn't any good shore diving there. Hawaii has some shore diving but the diving is not as good as Bonaire.

Besides diving, what else can you do in Bonaire?

From the information I have, the shore in Bonaire is rocky which isn't great for lying in the sun...

 

[diversteve]

Besides diving, what else can you do in Bonaire?

From the information I have, the shore in Bonaire is rocky which isn't great for lying in the sun...

Kitesurfing at Lac Bay (world-class), a little shopping, the Donkey farm? Some good dining. If you really like to "lay out" Sorobon is a nudist colony.

If it's rainy season on Curacao, it is on Bonaire also most likely, they're 50 miles apart.

You might consider Aruba. There's about a dozen shore dives and they advertise excellent beaches. Also nightlife, casinos, nice resorts. I've never been there but a dive buddy has. He described it as a good mix of both.

Curacao could work also, there's some nice beaches both in town and to the west, most have facilities. Also good restaurants, nightlife, about a dozen casinos, the Seaquarium etc. It's the deepwater port for the area and there's also a refinery just north of town so there's more people. Look at Porto Mari, Playa Lagun, Jan Thiel in the linked site below and see if that's what you want. All are good shore dives also.

The Marriott in Piscadera Bay has one of the better beaches I've seen there - and their restaurant is adjacent. One night we had dinner in the sand. Nice pool also. The Hilton next door is supposed to be similar but it's a 70's looking hotel building - I've never seen their beach.

A further difference between Bonaire and Curacao is that the entries are much easier on Curacao - many are a walk in off the sand. Most Bonaire entries are over ironshore/coral rubble at the waterline. The actual reef in some areas on either island is virtually the same. Except for named sites off the dive resorts (most have one) there are no facilities at any of the shore dive sites eithre north or south of town on Bonaire. Many sites on Curacao have some sort of combo snack shop/dive rental place. You also pay a small fee in guilders to use the site - often there's showers, a dive dock etc.

The best shoredive on either island I've done is Playa Kalki at the western end of Curacao but it's pretty remote - except for Lodge Kura Hulanda - nice resort but a 45min. drive to civilization.

The site pictures here show the differences better than I can explain:
Scuba Shore Diving Region: ABC Islands

If there's any shorediving in the Bahamas, I've yet to find it. Maybe the out islands? I'm pretty sure it's non-existent on Nassau or Grand Bahama. Lack of tank rentals also seems to be an issue.