Recommendations for last-minute trip for newbie?

[ClaudiainDC]

I have completed my pool and classroom work and would like to take a vacation in the next few weeks to be certified, and do a couple of other dives. I am looking for general recommendations of "where," with these parameters:
* easy dive conditions for a newbie
* reasonable airfare cost from Washington, DC
* on land stuff to see/do before or after diving. I'm not so much of a night life/resort type person, but would appreciate somewhere where there is local stuff of interest - whether that be natural beauty or local culture. Casinos, neon, and bars not the priority.
* prefer something outside of the continential U.S.
* good place to go as a single traveller for room rates & diving
* established dive places with strong teachers to finish PADI certification, with reasonable prices
* possibility that there will be availability with just a few weeks' notice
* not interested in a live aboard
* preferably somewhere I don't have to rent a car

Thanks in advance,
Claudia

 

[Cacia]

Cozumel?

also, you could rent a Divemaster very cheaply since you are so new and that way you'd have a nice stable predictable buddy that would be at your service.

Oh..to finish...well, same answer. THEN, you could do some more easy dives with your DM.

Coz is very affordable and walking friendly. Virgin Islands..maybe but crime would be an issue for a lone traveler on foot, IMO.

Cannot beat Hawaii for topside choices. Kinda far for you. Newark has a non-stop on Continental.

Caymans are very nice too.

 

[clem]

you ask for utopia... good luck....

 

[Carribeandiver]

Bonaire has most of what meets your criteria. You DO have to rent a car in Bonaire but the diving is the best in the world, is mostly easy diving. Has several dive ops that could help you complete certification. Is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other locations outside the continental U.S.
Almost all packages are set up to include living accommodations, unlimited tank fills, tanks, weights, rental truck (with tank rack).
As for other things to do, not a lot but Bonaire is an interesting place and with all the diving you can do, you will be too tired to do much of anything else.
The island has a Donkey Santuary is kinda fun, a butterfly farm, windsurfing, kite boarding, site seeing, several indian inscriptions caves and a large national park with interesting sites.
PM me if you want specifics, contacts, etc.

 

[robint]

I think you are asking for a bit much, especially on such short notice, doing your referral OW dives, out of US, see culture and be safe, female traveling alone, cheap for a single room, not a liveaboard ....

I would check out a dive deal on one of the major websites:
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
or
Caribbean Dive Island Vacations at Bay Adventures

hopefully you can get some ideas from those.

 

[j yaeger]

u.s. or british virgin islands
great diving and close
st. anywhere would be nice right now!!!
good luck

 

[chgodvr]

For a first time trip to finish your cert and get a couple of other dives in, Cozumel would be my top recommendation. Relatively inexpensive, numerous good dive operations to choose from, night life and other things to do if you are so inclined or just relax and enjoy the beach or pool at the hotel. Cannot think of a more ideal place. Beem there a dozen times and still love to go back periodically.

 

[robint]

I just found this which might work for you - Scuba toys has a group trip going to Cozumel in March:
Scubatoys.com Dive Trips, Travel with us! Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Bahamas

 

[mddyver]

ABC Islands. Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. Google Sunset Divers in Curacao. Email Lynn Bean. Meets 90% of your requirements. Great instructors. Easy diving. No live aboard. Good social network. No rental car required. DC-Miami-Curacao connections. Pool parties will give you all the night life you need depending upon your tastes and other diving guests. Can get all inclusive deals including accommodations, meals, drinks, diving, etc. Don't know about single room rates and your budget. Good luck. You'll have a great time.

Mike

 

[editmojo]

I second Cozumel. Cheap to get to. Fly to Cancun, bus to Playa del Carmen, ferry to Coz. Many Cheap places to stay down town or look at places like Scuba club for a package. Even the smallest hotel we have some affiliation with a dive shop.

Check out the Cozumel forum here. Lots of advice there.

I would also suggest doing your open water dives up here. Once you get to Coz you'll shoot yourself for wasting bottom time on skills when you could be enjoying the beautiful reefs.