Recommendations for North/Central America or the Caribbean

[Grey_Wulff]

I'm hoping to draw on the considerable experience of those of you who are familar with dive locations in North/Central America and the Caribbean. We would like to take a short dive vacation (4 - 7days) in late March or early April within a relatively short flight of San Diego. By my reckoning that limits the choice to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Florida, or one of the many Caribean Islands (most being reachable on an over night flight).

Here's the catch, my wife is a vacation only diver, likes to see lots of fish, dive in warm waters, keep her dives shallow (typically limiting herself to a maximum of 50ft and prefers 30 - 40ft) and is probably not going to be into drift diving. Last year we went to Bermuda - it was brilliant! Does any one have suggestions for a good location that meets these criteria? If you do, and can also suggest a dive outfit, resort or hotel that you had a good experience with that would be much appreciated as well.

Grey_Wulff

 

[caymaniac]

I'm hoping to draw on the considerable experience of those of you who are familar with dive locations in North/Central America and the Caribbean. We would like to take a short dive vacation (4 - 7days) in late March or early April within a relatively short flight of San Diego. By my reckoning that limits the choice to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Florida, or one of the many Caribean Islands (most being reachable on an over night flight).

Here's the catch, my wife is a vacation only diver, likes to see lots of fish, dive in warm waters, keep her dives shallow (typically limiting herself to a maximum of 50ft and prefers 30 - 40ft) and is probably not going to be into drift diving. Last year we went to Bermuda - it was brilliant! Does any one have suggestions for a good location that meets these criteria? If you do, and can also suggest a dive outfit, resort or hotel that you had a good experience with that would be much appreciated as well.

Grey_Wulff

I would suggest, Bonaire, Curacao or any of the Caymans. You can find diving in the 20 to 60 ft. easily at any of these locals. I would also say that they are different in the their night life as Bonaire has more to do than say Cayman Brac and the most quietest of all would be Little Cayman.
The diving in the Carribean will top Hawaii (especially if you are thinking fish) but there is more to do topside Maui than any place in the Carribean.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

 

[Desa]

Your wife and mine have a lot in common. (warm, clear, shallow water). We spent 10 days at Habitat Curacao and I cannot express enough how easy the diving was for her, and I loved it as well. You can do shore dives on the "house reef" that starts in about 25 ft and goes well gently downward to depths in excess of 100fsw. There is little or no current and the marine life is abundant.......Sorry, starting to sound like a travel agent here

The only downside is, for some people, Habitat is about 30 minutes from town. We rented a truck and went diving around the island. Unless you stay in town or drive to town, there really isnt anything to do except eat/sleep & dive. (thats what we liked about it.

Bonaire would be another good choice, the shore diving is probably better there, I just really like Curacao. Just my 2psi

 

[Grey_Wulff]

I'm hoping to draw on the considerable experience of those of you who are familar with dive locations in North/Central America and the Caribbean. We would like to take a short dive vacation (4 - 7days) in late March or early April within a relatively short flight of San Diego. By my reckoning that limits the choice to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Florida, or one of the many Caribean Islands (most being reachable on an over night flight).

Here's the catch, my wife is a vacation only diver, likes to see lots of fish, dive in warm waters, keep her dives shallow (typically limiting herself to a maximum of 50ft and prefers 30 - 40ft) and is probably not going to be into drift diving. Last year we went to Bermuda - it was brilliant! Does any one have suggestions for a good location that meets these criteria? If you do, and can also suggest a dive outfit, resort or hotel that you had a good experience with that would be much appreciated as well.

Many thanks for the advice. I've started looking at Bonaire, Curacao and The Caymans. If anyone else has suggestions for locations meeting those stated above they would be greatly appreciated too.

Grey_Wulff

 

[scubatwinned]

Here's the catch, my wife is a vacation only diver, likes to see lots of fish, dive in warm waters, keep her dives shallow (typically limiting herself to a maximum of 50ft and prefers 30 - 40ft) and is probably not going to be into drift diving. Last year we went to Bermuda - it was brilliant! Does any one have suggestions for a good location that meets these criteria? If you do, and can also suggest a dive outfit, resort or hotel that you had a good experience with that would be much appreciated as well.

Roatan in Honderas has all that you are asking for. Dive for 4 days and then fly to San Pedro Sula, I think about 4-5 hour drive to Copan. Small town, great hotels, restaurants and Mayan ruins, day 6 to walk around, day seven to get back to city for flight home. You get to dive as does wife but she gets to see the ruins and do a little shopping at the small markets in Copan, a bit for both and the ruins are very interesting. Get to dive and score points with the wife for maybe a more intensive dive trip in the future...