Recommend the once in a lifetime, all-time best...

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richarddc

New
Messages
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0
Location
Near Washington DC, USA
# of dives
500 - 999
Hey everyone. I've been turning to you all for advice for quite a while now. You all have been great, but I've never before asked you for advice.....
:lotsalove:
Next October, I'm coming up to the BIG birthday -- the one that will let me retire! Since I'm still in good shape and eager, my spouse and friends want to give me the all-time best diving vacation. One or two weeks, anywhere. Once-in-a-lifetime blowout. The only limit is that some of my party will not be divers. We'll be wanting a temperate or warm destination for the group, with something to do for the non-divers (but it doesn't have to be much ;)). I'm very experienced, master diver, and a U/W photographer. From your experience, where's the one place I should go? Where would you go? Why?
:confused:
Come on, teach me!
Thanks!
 
Yap and Palau, Dive with the Mantas in Mi'l or Goofnuw channel (depends on time of year) and dive Blue Corner off Palau. Mantas, Sharks, excellent biodiversity. And enough for the non-divers to do.

Charter a private crewed yacht in the BVI's. It's a blast going from island to island even when you're not diving. And they're close enough that you can land on multiple different islands within hours. Add in the USVI's and you're at a different island daily. There's also some seriously nice resorts there, Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda or Long Bay on Tortola. There's also resorts on the smaller islands, but much less to do on some of them.

Grand Cayman is good also. Great diving, 7 Miles of white sandy beach, evening entertainment, shopping etc. There's a Westin and a Ritz Carlton if that's your style. We rented a condo there, most are near/on the water.

Wakatobi...not sure about enough for the non-divers though - it's pretty remote. It's one of the new "in" destinations, especially for photographers.
 
From your experience, where's the one place I should go?

The only real question, on this your first ever post, is what is your experience?

Fill out your profile. No answer is possible until we know what your abilities are. How big is this group exactly? What are the abilities and desires of the other divers?:confused:
 
I would vote for Fiji (Castaway or Treasure Island, Beqa Lagoon or Wananavu) or Indonesia (Wakatobi or somwhere in Bali) as there are things to do for the diver and the non-diver. Gorgeous scenery, very nice resorts, top notch diving.

check these out:

http://www.caradonna.com/Accommodations/Fiji.aspx
http://www.castawayfiji.com/
http://www.beqalagoonresort.com/
http://www.wananavu.com/

http://www.caradonna.com/Accommodations/Indonesia.aspx
http://www.wakatobi.com/homepage.html
 
Rarotonga
 
We did a week on a chartered sailboat in the BVI, and that was a fantastic vacation for divers and non-divers. The diving was colorful and varied, the scenery was gorgeous, the food on the boat was to die for, and we probably drank rather more than was good for us. The total value for dollar spent is very high for those trips, too.

We also had a living ball in Australia. I loved the country and the people, the kangaroos and the wine country. And the diving in Byron Bay still ranks as just about the best diving I've done, and I've been to Indonesia and Cozumel and Hawaii and the Virgin Islands.

You can see photographs (and read a report about the Australia trip) on our website.
 
French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Rangioria)
Great diving and great land stuff too.

We went on a Regents Seven Seas Cruise (Paul Gaughin - only 300 people). Sports platform allowed diving from skiffs right off the back of the boat. When we weren't diving we were doing land excursions and eating wonderful food. It was a great way to see French Polynesia.
 

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