Recommendation for large group, mostly non divers

[tursiops]

There are not direct flights from Dallas though, they all go through Miami last I checked but I will dig into that here in a bit.

DFW non-stops to the Caribbean: Cayman Isl, T&C, Aruba, St Lucia, BVI, San Juan, Jamaica, St Martin, Roatan, Cancun, Cozumel, Belize, Honduras, Nassau. Direct flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) - FlightConnections
For prices, beaches, and non-divers, how about Cancun, Aruba, or Montego Bay?

 

[khatley]

DFW non-stops to the Caribbean: Cayman Isl, T&C, Aruba, St Lucia, BVI, San Juan, Jamaica, St Martin, Roatan, Cancun, Cozumel, Belize, Honduras, Nassau. Direct flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) - FlightConnections
For prices, beaches, and non-divers, how about Cancun, Aruba, or Montego Bay?

Awesome link on the direct flights, I was looking for that...thank you. Everyone has done Cancun, Diving checkbox would be missing on the other two spots I think.

 

[Silt Life]

Lots to do in Puerto Rico for non-divers and good diving too. Lots of air b&b places close to or on beaches, cheap airfare, good nightlife, plenty of sights. No passports needed.

 

[arew+4]

Also Curacao has the beaches with beach bars and dive shops. So the divers can get a dive or two in while the non divers get a head start on the sun burns and hangovers.

Sunset at Playa Porto Marie, nice little restaurant/bar out of frame to the left.

 

[DiveProKoko]

Thank you, that is where I am looking right now. Any recommendations on places to stay? I found one that sleeps 12 and looks great and only $500/night. Does not talk about diving much so not sure if there is a place to dive within walking distance but doing some research now. I do recall when I stayed there it was on the far NW end of the island but looking at some of the other threads it appears that immediately W there is some good places to stay which would probably be better for non divers. I know we have some gamblers as well so Casinos would be a hit I am sure.

That price is typical for a large house and is really good considering most of those houses have pools and large properties. I don't have any specific recommendations on places to stay.....as far as houses go. If you have a car, there are several beach/shore dive spots that have tanks on site, etc. so you don't have to lug tanks/weights around or pick them up from dive ops on the way to and from the sites. Really convenient. Porto Mari, Playa Lagun and Blue Bay come to mind. If you aren't opposed to going out on a quick boat trip on the west end, Dive Charter Curacao runs a west end trip out of Playa Santa Cruz. You meet at the beach, and they'll take you out on their RIB to Watamula and Mushroom Forest, which are some of Curacao's most famous sites. Anyway, if you're looking for quick shore dives, try to pick a beach with dive facilities on site. It'll make it easier. You could ride a bike over there with your gear in mesh bag if you had to. LOL

There is a big casino down by Mambo Beach which seems to be popular, but I've never been there.

 

[DiveProKoko]

Also Curacao has the beaches with beach bars and dive shops. So the divers can get a dive or two in while the non divers get a head start on the sun burns and hangovers.View attachment 704655

Sunset at Playa Porto Marie, nice little restaurant/bar out of frame to the left.

This ^!! Dive op on site!

 

[ibj40]

All my buddies and I are turning 50 this year and we are looking for a beach trip but no one can decide where to go and looking for recommendations. We have looked at a number of places, Costa Rica has been a top choice and they have some incredible air bnbs but not too sure about costa rica as I have never been, not even sure about diving and it is such a big place so really not sure. I have always wanted to go to Bonaire but not sure it would be a good place for non divers, I have been to Curacao and that would great but it was a long time ago and do not remember much about anything and i did not plan that trip. There will be at least 12 of us and only a few divers so it is certainly not the most important thing but was thinking shore diving from a big air bnb that is on the water would be a great find! The only thing that everyone wants is a beach but a little night life would be good, a little diving would be really good. Direct flight from Dallas a bonus but not absolutely necessary. we are flexible on dates but thinking end of June or early July most likely. Any suggestions on a place or options to search.

This is from the Central America forum, and I am sure there are others:

Guanacaste Area in Costa Rica in March

I found a great deal to Liberia, Costa Rica mid March for Spring Break and decided to book it before doing any research. I thought I would check in with the experts here to learn about where to stay and dive and if there is enough to see diving for a week in the area or if I should rent a car...

scubaboard.com

My wife and I have been to Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, and really loved the Pacific side diving, as well as the other features the country has to offer.

You might look through the Central America forum for more threads.