Regular to cozumel looking for a new destination

[ranada]

So we go to cozumel every year because we love the beautiful diving, the wonderful people, we feel safe when we go out at night and always meet the best people, tourist and locals both. From Texas airfare is not crazy and cost of diving is cheap. My fun group puts me in charge of finding the fun and low budget every year, hence cozumel. I'm ready to go somewhere different. Looking for comparable dive costs, clear water, sealife etc.. we are night owls and like to party on our off days, karaoke, 2 am tacos lol. Shore diving from hotel would be great to have too. We like all inclusive due to drinking but are good with going local store and buying mixers and hanging at pool post dive .. Looking at roatan, somewhere Belize, and ????

 

[Dan G]

My favorite Caribbean destinations are:
Little Caymen (going to be more expensive than CZM)
Grand Caymen ($$$)
Roatan (comparable dive costs if I remember correctly- more expensive to get to)

The viz in Coz is just so much better than anywhere, but these are some alternatives.

 

[flyboy08]

Yep, Belieze or Roatan fits the bill....GC is anything but cheap LCB offers good dive packages but with 150 people inhabiting the island, the party scene is limited...And don't forget Bonaire!

We also enjoy the Flamingo area of Costa Rica....Tamarindo is a party town!

 

[Doc]

I understand your list and desires quite well.

Nowhere else are you going to match even most of those criteria.

Not that I like Cozumel, but there's no other place similar. I find the diving there kind-of on the lower half of what's available in the Caribbean, but if that's not your main criteria, terrestrial activities can make up for that...a lot!

To mention Cayman in this thread is just funny. Roatan's airfare is likely 3x more. Bonaire is not inexpensive in any way, Costa Ricas diving is why the party scene is spectacular.

You can no longer please as many people in your diverse group that you have to date. Please continue to post on this thread even after you take the trip you'll have planned.

 

[uncfnp]

. Bonaire is not inexpensive in any way

I see this quite often but I find Bonaire is actually very economical if you dive a lot, especially with nitrox. I calculated once that we spend about 8 to 9 dollars a dive during our stay.

If you can find reasonable airfare, willing to stay at modest accommodations (or rent a nice villa if a group) and limit your meals out, Bonaire can be quite reasonable for the diver that goes to dive.

Obviously though its not going to have the food or night life of Cozumel.

 

[scubadada]

I think you should stay in Cozumel. It's easily the best fit for your requests.

 

[Dogbowl]

So we go to cozumel every year because we love the beautiful diving, the wonderful people, we feel safe when we go out at night and always meet the best people, tourist and locals both. From Texas airfare is not crazy and cost of diving is cheap. My fun group puts me in charge of finding the fun and low budget every year, hence cozumel. I'm ready to go somewhere different. Looking for comparable dive costs, clear water, sealife etc.. we are night owls and like to party on our off days, karaoke, 2 am tacos lol. Shore diving from hotel would be great to have too. We like all inclusive due to drinking but are good with going local store and buying mixers and hanging at pool post dive .. Looking at roatan, somewhere Belize, and ????

Based on your needs (low cost, great diving, great food, night life, easy to get to), I suspect you'll end up going back to Coz. There's a reason (many actually) why it's so popular.

Next closest maybe West End Roatan, but airfare will probably be higher.

Cayman's more expensive, significantly more.

Bonaire cost can be "controlled" but I heard people complain there's nothing else to do topside but diving.

Belize maybe Ambergris Caye?

Curaçao?

 

[flyboy08]

This is one reason we go to CZM

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[outofofficebrb]

Once you pay for the airfare everything else like hotel and diving is really inexpensive and supposedly great in the Philippines. (I’m talking $25 dives with nitrox on boat with DM or you can do all inclusive packages as well.) I booked for April and will let you know if Scubaboard is right on the great diving!

We live near a large airport hub so we can get out there for $500-600 on a regular basis from California which is the same price as us going to Cozumel sometimes. It’s pribably cheaper to fly to Cozumel from where you are but wanted to throw it out there because once you’re there, food and lodging is also cheaper than Cozumel.

There are obviously different levels of diving and accommodations available so you can also find diving and all inclusive just as expensive as Cozumel or even more but it is a good place to start.

Thailand also has inexpensive lodging and food - though i can’t comment so much on the dive prices but it is another option. In my experience, Southeast Asia diving is way, way better than diving in Cozumel, no contest.

Party scenes in thailand and philippines are right up your alley. Think Puerto Galera in Philippines.

 

[KathyV]

So we go to cozumel every year because we love the beautiful diving, the wonderful people, we feel safe when we go out at night and always meet the best people, tourist and locals both. From Texas airfare is not crazy and cost of diving is cheap. My fun group puts me in charge of finding the fun and low budget every year, hence cozumel. I'm ready to go somewhere different. Looking for comparable dive costs, clear water, sealife etc.. we are night owls and like to party on our off days, karaoke, 2 am tacos lol. Shore diving from hotel would be great to have too. We like all inclusive due to drinking but are good with going local store and buying mixers and hanging at pool post dive .. Looking at roatan, somewhere Belize, and ????

How many people are in your group, how many dives do you like to do, and when do you like to travel? What is your target trip budget? Have you considered chartering a liveaboard dive boat?

I have been on a number of LOBs but I have never dived the Cat Ppalu, but it departs from Nassau and will handle 12 guests for a week's cruise and includes 19 dives, accommodations, food and drinks, and optional land excursions. So that's pretty cheap and Nassau should be easy to get to.

The individual rate is around $1700 and it should be less if you charter the boat, or half the boat. You are likely to see sharks but keep in mind that the Bahamian waters are cold in the winter and spring months IMO. I don't see any mention of nitrox on their web site so I don't know if they offer it on-board.

Just a thought, good luck!

Cat Ppalu - Charter Scuba Diving Liveaboard Sailboat from Nassau