October diving honeymoon

[CDM]

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I are hoping to go on a scuba honeymoon in mid-October and I was wondering if people might have some weather safe recs. We have been trying to find a place with excellent diving, but also a place that has a little something else to offer. Good food, maybe a little relaxed nightlife or local music. We aren't looking to party hard or anything, and we want to be in a off the beaten track place, but we don't want to be somewhere that has absolutely nothing else going on but diving. We have been looking at Utila and Bonaire, but some friends have said that Bonaire is only good for a straight-up dive vacation.

It seems like Utila, or maybe the non-cruise shippy side of Roatan, might be a good option but I'm concerned about the rainy season. Has anyone been there in mid-October? How bad is the rain? Regardless of insurance, is it an unsafe bet? I have been trying to find trustworthy weather info on October in Utila, but a lot of the web info comes from companies or resorts in Utila, so I feel they could be biased. Weather in Bonaire seems a bit safer at that time of year.

We're considering Laguna Beach Resort in Utila. Although the buffet food is a bit of a drawback, the place looks really beautiful and nicely designed.

Anyone have any other recommendations for an October diving honeymoon? We'd be traveling from New York. We are willing to spend some money on a nicer place, but we much prefer bungalows (on the beach if possible) with some feeling of privacy.

Thanks so much in advance for your thoughts and advice!

CDM

 

[dvrliz1]

CDM,

Bonaire has a lot more to do than just dive. There is horseback riding (you get to "swim" with the horses too!), mangrove kayaking and snorkeling, sunset cruises, lunch and or dinner cruises, the Butterfly farm, the donkey sanctuary, Washington Slaagbai Park, Snorkeling, Cave exploration and cave snorkeling, deep sea fishing, guided bone fishing, various island tours, including historial info, touring the original village of Rincon, Magazina di Rei (where you see what Bonaire was like hundreds of years ago). We have concerts, bands, fun bars like Sense, Karel's Beach Bar, Havana Cigar Bar. Oh yes, there is also windsurfing (you can also hang out at the Hang Out Beach bar there too), Kite surfing, Blokart (kinda like go-carts, but go really fast and are powered by windsails). How about a day trip by boat over to Klein Bonaire, pack a lunch and enjoy the long white sandy beaches!!!. We also have a couple of great local museums and art gallery on island. If you feel lucky, you can always try the casino. Oh yes, we have some of the best restaurants around for such a tiny island.

If you want to see all that there "isn't to do on Bonaire but just dive" (yeah, right) check out the website below. It lists by day, date and time ALL the other things there is to do except dive.

Update Bonaire

 

[CDM]

Thanks dvrliz1, I will give it another look.

Any Utila weather advice out there?

 

[dvrliz1]

CDM,

Feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Liz

 

[CDM]

In terms of Utila, I've looked more into Laguna Beach and I don't think their buffet style food is going to be right for us. We want to make our own schedule and be able to have a meal to order at our leisure.

I've been looking at some of the quieter places on Roatan and was considering Barefoot Cay for our honeymoon. It seems like a good balance or privacy, beauty, diving and yummy food. Any have any other places they find more romantic or beautiful for a diving honeymoon in Roatan away from the reach of the cruise ships?

Thank you!

 

[guffee32]

Liz- We have chosen Bonaire for our honeymoon in October. We are back and forth on renting a house or staying at Buddydive. A house with a pool is attractive to us for the privacy, but good diving on the water trumps privacy. Buddy dive seems to have everything we need at our fingertips and is on the water. How hard is it to get around Bonaire trafficwise? We've heard petty crime is high there. sp how big of a pain in the neck is it to haul all your gear around and suit up at dive sites? How does the orientation work? Your suggestions will be most helpful

CMD - Congrats on your Marriage!! We went to Half moon Cay, on the West end in Roatan year before last. We did rent a new house there and loved it. October weather was no problem. Power surges are common, but the tiki bar down the beach has a generator . The house was called halfmoon something-or-other. Best restaurant - Mavis and Dixie's (never had a bad meal there.) Best dive shop Coconut tree divers, great diveshop. Good luck, Maybe I'll see ya'll on our honeymoon!
Johnny and Meghan.

 

[CDM]

CMD - Congrats on your Marriage!! We went to Half moon Cay, on the West end in Roatan year before last. We did rent a new house there and loved it. October weather was no problem. Power surges are common, but the tiki bar down the beach has a generator . The house was called halfmoon something-or-other. Best restaurant - Mavis and Dixie's (never had a bad meal there.) Best dive shop Coconut tree divers, great diveshop. Good luck, Maybe I'll see ya'll on our honeymoon!
Johnny and Meghan.

Thanks Guffee32! I'll check it out. And have a great trip!!