PADI-All Inclusive Dive Trips?

[tomboytoo]

Anyone out there gone on a dive trip booked through PADI? They have a trip to Roatan (Golden Palm Resort) or Turks & Caicos (Ocean Club Resorts).

They both seem to be reasonable in price ($1,700 - $1,934 USD), the trip includes Air, Diving (6 days, 3 tanks), Lodging and 3 meals (daily).

Two questions:

1. Has anyone ever gone through PADI for booking a trip?
2. Any recommendations on one or both of these places to dive?

Thanks for your help!

Tessa

 

[Doc]

They have a trip to Roatan (Golden Palm Resort) They both seem to be reasonable in price ($1,700 - $1,934 USD), the trip includes Air, Diving (6 days, 3 tanks), Lodging and 3 meals (daily).

Air...air from where?

Here's what I know. I can do Roatan for $900 for the week (CCV, a well established serious dive resort), plus air from Houston or Miami for, on the outside $800, but I'm seeing it for $593 as a special. That would be $1493 and at CCV (5 Star)you're getting two boats x two tanks plus really easy access shore diving (night dives!).

"Golden Palm resort" is a PADI classification of offerings by a PADI operations. See http://www.padi.com/english/common/...HOND&City=&Name=&CourseType=ALL&Submit=Submit

Here's a "Gold Palm Resort" description: Quality accommodations, superior service and excellent dive opportunities make PADI Gold Palm Resorts stand out from the rest. Resorts of this caliber focus on memorable dive experiences, customer satisfaction, diver safety and environmental awareness, by going the extra mile to provide professional and outstanding service - from beginning scuba programs to wreck diving and shark dives.

And here's "5 Star" defined: The PADI 5 Star Dive Center membership level is awarded to progressive PADI Dive Centers that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of diver education programs, equipment selection, and experience opportunities and that actively promote aquatic environmental awareness. A PADI 5 Star Dive Center is active in its community presenting a professional image consistent with, or better than, the norm of the marketplace. These dive centers embrace the PADI System of diver education and are committed to providing customers with quality products, services and experiences.

Hard to say which would be better. Hmmm.

 

[tomboytoo]

I love night diving, but I've been reading a lot of posts on here about Roatan, and the majority are negative!? I would be flying from California, or Possibly Florida? I have free tickets I could use to save myself a longer flight and break up the flight in Florida. They will fly from L.A. (ugh) too. What about Turks & Caicos, ever been diving there?

 

[skynscuba]

Roatan is worth a trip. I've been once, stayed at Cocoview Resort, which was good. If I go again, I'll likely try Inn of Last Resort, to see how they are.

Depending on when you are going, Inn of Last Resort has some specials as low as $645 or so, meals, lodging and 3 boat dives a day (5 or 6 diving days -- not sure). Cocoview is a bit more, but still a good buy. Airfare seems pretty high this year, depending on when you go, but ~$850 should get you there and back from SFO or SJC, maybe less. So, you can probably do the trip without PADI for the same or less.

 

[Bratface]

I found nothing negative about Roatan, and I was there during a hurricane. I also stayed at CCV. They are serious about making sure you have a good diving experience. Go to their website and check it out for yourself: www.cocoviewresort.com

 

[Aeolus]

Hi,

I have been to Roatan about 20 times and had a great time on all of them. Now to the slight hijack part - we have one spot left on a Whale Shark watching trip to Utila on April 15-22. It should be a fantastic trip. If you are interested, shoot me a PM. If not, I am sure you will love Roatan. I am going to go there immediately after the Utila trip (April 22-29) and stay at Paya Bay on the East end (new place). I would also suggest any of Cocoview or Fantasy Island for the South side, and Anthony's Key or Inn of the Last Resort for the West end. There are numerous other places as well, but these are my recommendations. Enjoy.

DSDO