September Caribbean Dive Trip Recs?

[smashweights]

Hey all! The wife and I have been looking for an early September vacation and realized a quick week of diving in the Caribbean would be a feasible option for us. Looking for suggestions, trip advice, etc as we've never done a dedicated scuba vacation before and realizing this is fairly short notice (3 months out). It would be just the two of us. My wife is OW certified but hasn't been able to dive other than her PADI OW certification training 2 years ago, so easy, safe diving is paramount. I have heard great things about Bonaire and it sound like easy, accessible shore diving is plentiful, which seems perfect for easing her back into diving. I may try to get her out to a local quarry so we can do a little refresher dive in very easy conditions before going.

1. Is Bonaire a good beginner dive destination? If not, are there better options? Open to anything Caribbean.

2. Any recommendations on where to stay, dive, shops, resorts, etc? We're pretty adventurous and have lots of non-diving international travel under our belt. I've read anything from full-service resorts to getting a cheap hotel just renting a pickup truck and scuba kit and self-guiding around the island are options. I think we'd err towards the former but if the latter is super easy and safe I'm open to anything.

3. Safety tips and tricks related to number 2? It would be just the two of us and I'd prefer not to worry about trucks getting stolen, etc.

4. I have a full dive kit but my wife only has mask, fin, snorkel. I was thinking to buy a dive computer for her as I've seen plenty of recs that having a personal dive comp would be a best next piece of kit for her and renting the rest of her gear. I currently dive a Shearwater Perdix 2 that I love and am considering a Peregrine Tx for her so I don't have to learn a new system to help her and so if she gets more into things in the future I can expand out to AI if she ends up with her own full kit. Obviously this is not a cheap option at around $750 for just the Peregrine someone who might only dive one week a year so if there's other suggestions, I'm all ears. Do dive shops ever rent out transmitters so if she had the Tx but not a transmitter? Yes, i'm overthinking this.

5. Is it worthwhile to just invest in some of the cheaper dive gear, like a BC or wetsuit? If we're gonna drop 1/3rd of the cost of the BC on a week of rental, might be better to just buy it and have consistency for future diving.

6. Any other planning advice? Easy, fun, safe is priority. Cost isn't a huge factor but I'm frugal by nature.

Thanks in advance for any recs!

 

[aquabluegreg]

The Caribbean is a pretty big place and lots of destinations. My favourites are the Cayman Islands with Cayman Brac a bit less expensive than Little Cayman Beach Resort. Lots of places on Grans Cayman but more touristy. I have had a bunch of divers to Curaçao recently and love it there. Either LionsDive or Sunscape but there are other options. Bonaire is the old standby.Buddy Dive and Captain Dons shine there. Belize offers lots of options too, with Huracan Dive Resort one of my favourites, small and friendly.

On dive gear, I'd suggest rentals are about $30 a day for a full kit. I would buy your wife a computer and there are some decent entry level models, but Shearwater is tops if you want to spend the money. Rent the rest for one trip a year.

 

[DiverDan1975]

Hey all! The wife and I have been looking for an early September vacation and realized a quick week of diving in the Caribbean would be a feasible option for us. Looking for suggestions, trip advice, etc as we've never done a dedicated scuba vacation before and realizing this is fairly short notice (3 months out). It would be just the two of us. My wife is OW certified but hasn't been able to dive other than her PADI OW certification training 2 years ago, so easy, safe diving is paramount. I have heard great things about Bonaire and it sound like easy, accessible shore diving is plentiful, which seems perfect for easing her back into diving. I may try to get her out to a local quarry so we can do a little refresher dive in very easy conditions before going.

1. Is Bonaire a good beginner dive destination? If not, are there better options? Open to anything Caribbean.

2. Any recommendations on where to stay, dive, shops, resorts, etc? We're pretty adventurous and have lots of non-diving international travel under our belt. I've read anything from full-service resorts to getting a cheap hotel just renting a pickup truck and scuba kit and self-guiding around the island are options. I think we'd err towards the former but if the latter is super easy and safe I'm open to anything.

3. Safety tips and tricks related to number 2? It would be just the two of us and I'd prefer not to worry about trucks getting stolen, etc.

4. I have a full dive kit but my wife only has mask, fin, snorkel. I was thinking to buy a dive computer for her as I've seen plenty of recs that having a personal dive comp would be a best next piece of kit for her and renting the rest of her gear. I currently dive a Shearwater Perdix 2 that I love and am considering a Peregrine Tx for her so I don't have to learn a new system to help her and so if she gets more into things in the future I can expand out to AI if she ends up with her own full kit. Obviously this is not a cheap option at around $750 for just the Peregrine someone who might only dive one week a year so if there's other suggestions, I'm all ears. Do dive shops ever rent out transmitters so if she had the Tx but not a transmitter? Yes, i'm overthinking this.

5. Is it worthwhile to just invest in some of the cheaper dive gear, like a BC or wetsuit? If we're gonna drop 1/3rd of the cost of the BC on a week of rental, might be better to just buy it and have consistency for future diving.

6. Any other planning advice? Easy, fun, safe is priority. Cost isn't a huge factor but I'm frugal by nature.

Thanks in advance for any recs!

You will have lots of good options.

Two recommendations:

1. If you want more "beginner" terrain and conditions, I recommend Roatan. Some shallower sites with great life and structure. Reefs are a little rough from a parasite that has been causing havoc, but unfortunately a lot of places are dealing with similar issues. Rare to do a drift dive off of West End where many of the resorts are located. Anthony's Key Resort does a nice job.

2. For a little more of an advanced experience (although still appropriate for beginners), I suggest St Lucia. Walls that go deep (more for the advanced crew). Good life. Shore dives. Last time I was there, the reef and its fauna seemed reasonably healthy. I hope that is still the case.

 

[smashweights]

You will have lots of good options.

Two recommendations:

1. If you want more "beginner" terrain and conditions, I recommend Roatan. Some shallower sites with great life and structure. Reefs are a little rough from a parasite that has been causing havoc, but unfortunately a lot of places are dealing with similar issues. Rare to do a drift dive off of West End where many of the resorts are located. Anthony's Key Resort does a nice job.

2. For a little more of an advanced experience (although still appropriate for beginners), I suggest St Lucia. Walls that go deep (more for the advanced crew). Good life. Shore dives. Last time I was there, the reef and its fauna seemed reasonably healthy. I hope that is still the case.

Thanks for the suggestions! We've done some snorkeling on a pair cruises in Roatan before and stayed just outside of Soufreire in St. Lucia about ten years ago. How do the ABC islands compare? Roatan didn't strike me as a very nice island for an extended stay.

 

[DiverDan1975]

Thanks for the suggestions! We've done some snorkeling on a pair cruises in Roatan before and stayed just outside of Soufreire in St. Lucia about ten years ago. How do the ABC islands compare? Roatan didn't strike me as a very nice island for an extended stay.

St Lucia has more luxury accommodation options, and the mountainous terrain gives other land-based options such as hiking and trekking that Roatan cannot offer. However, Roatan has some nice resorts. I have stayed at two. Mayan Princess and Anthony's Key. Anthony's Key was quite nice. Great food and service. Relatively easy trip into West End to check out the night life/bar scene. I felt safe but it would not be advisable to explore outside of the tourist zones at night. Also, try to fly into Roatan directly to avoid flying into the mainland and taking a boat over. The other options that Roatan can offer depending on the time of year is a whale shark excursion.

I have not been to the ABC islands. Perhaps someone else can draw a comparison.

 

[tkaelin]

Bonaire hands down especially for a September trip and looking for easy

 

[lexvil]

Curacao

 

[aquabluegreg]

Curaçao is overlooked. Great boat and shore diving, strong on reef protection, good food and rich history. Roatan and Anthony's Key is a good spot unless you are in the 50% that gets eaten alive by the sand flies and no-see-ums. In the eastern Caribbean Dominica is a great destination, beautiful on land and underwater. Think Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[davecampbell]

Curaçao is our go to for the Caribbean.

 

[smashweights]

Curacao

Curaçao is our go to for the Caribbean.

Quite a few Curacao votes, have any of you done Bonaire to and can compare?