The Diver Dilemma - where in 5 days?

[The_Daddy]

Hi All!

I am in the middle of a decision making crisis and definitively will appreciate your suggestions.
I'll be traveling for business purpose in Center/South America from the 15th November to the first week of December. My trip will involve Bogota, Lima, Panama and eventually Aruba. Based on this itinerary I would like to take the opportunity to dive in some nice place for 4 or 5 days maximum. I will not mind taking an extra (short) flight to get where i should.

The first option i was considering is Galapagos, but, given i cannot take a week, I will not be able to do liveaboard (that in my understanding is minimum one week) hence no Wolf and Darwin! There is not an option to go there with a cruise in 5 days? It is not possible to join to cruise two days later or to live earlier somehow even paying an extra in order to arrange the transportation to reach the boat?

Other option I'm considering are mainly in Central America (sorry to cross regional forum) and they are Bonaire, Costa Rica (excluding Cocos Island where I understand I have the same problem of Galapagos...too long cruise) and eventually something out of Colombia....

Given the fact I can do what I want, but in 4/5 days.....what will you recommend?

Last, being traveling for business, I will be already overpacked and will prefer not to bring my equipment along while renting everything and I understood this is not the case in several location...am I right?

Your time/help, is really needed and appreciated!

Confusingly
The_Daddy

 

[diversteve]

Bonaire ior Curacao are both a short hop from Aruba. Either are pretty much the best diving in that area. Boanaire is regularly picked as the best dive destination in that area. The only thing you won't find is big pelagics as your interest in Cocos/Galapagos seems to indicate.

On Bonaire you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a buddy if needed at any of the dive resorts - I was asked at least twice while waiting for mine at 2 different resorts. If you solo, many resorts have a good dive just off their property - several are named dive sites. Curacao is a lot more spread out so finding a buddy at most of the western sites may be more difficult. For shore diving check out the Dive Bus on Curacao. Of course both islands offer all sorts of boat dive options also. You won't have any trouble finding good rentals on either island, some of the gear on Bonaire was better than mine at the time. There's even some tech gear/doubles/rebreather support available on Bonaire. How can you go wrong with an island where the license plates all say "Diver's Paradise"

There's also decent diving - including some wrecks - off Aruba. Bocas del Toro in Panama might be another option - no personal experience there but it's on my list.

 

[The_Daddy]

Thanks Diversteve for your prompt and detailed advice.

Of course I would love to meet some big pelagics (who dosen't ? ) but I don't care much as far as the environment as a whole will provide a decent experience.
Indeed ABC seems to be my best bet and the closest to my itinerary. I even noted that i might be able to catch a return flight to Europe directly from those islands with no needs to fly back to bogota, and, I did not mention it earlier, I'm traveling with two friends that do not dive and while we should split the group if I go to Galapagos, we can go together to ABC i think.

Will wait tomorrow to check flights in the office... 'till then, any additional suggestion is welcome.

Thanks again.
The_Daddy

 

[diversteve]

non-divers will likely have a better time on Curacao (or Aruba) - more to do there, shopping, casinos, nightlife etc.

 

[Maxposeidon]

Hello,

options you have in Colombia.
Gorgona Island on the pacific side is usally 4 days, also good for your friends.
Capurgana close to the Panama Border also.
You can dive close to Bogota in Lago de Tota.
Cartagena on the carribean coast or Santa Marta / Taganga.
San Andres Island + Providencia.
These are the options in Colombia, on all destinations your friends can do stuff.
And in all destinations you can rent equipment and no problem to find a buddy
See ya
Max

 

[The_Daddy]

@diversteve, thanks again and well noted.

@Maxposeidon, thanks Max. Taking in mind I have the option to choose, and considering I live in Europe and cannot be back those places anytime i want, do you think should I go for one of the option you pointed out or I can do better at other sites mentioned earlier in the thread?

Can I ask you to elaborate a bit more about Cartagena if you can/feel to do so? Is it there the best option Isla Rosario?

thanks again.

The_Daddy

 

[DiveTheGalapagos]

I can only chime in to confirm that doing a liveaboard in Galapagos given your time constraints will be impossible. You need to overnight on the mainland as rarely do international flights arrive early enough in the morning for you to even fly out there, so Day 1 is flight and check dive. After that, until Day 7, boats are usually 18-24 hours away from port, so it's impossible to disembark early. So no, a 5 day cruise is impossible. Transportation to come get you would cost as much as the cruise itself if it could be arranged, but even that would require special permission from the Park which would be time consuming and costly to put together. That would be in a smaller, faster boat which would be a moving bomb with the amount of gasoline they would have to carry onboard (in large plastic barrels) to go that far. And would still take at least 10-12 hours in a small, very uncomfortable boat. In short - impossible. Logistics in the Galapagos are quite complicated and certainly unlike most other places in the world.

 

[The_Daddy]

@DiveTheGalapagos - thanks for confirming it. What about full equipment rental?
Given I will be able to take a week off, can i get everything in Galapagos (including finns, mask, suite.....)?

 

[Maxposeidon]

Hi,

basicily you have two options in Cartagena, Stay in town and take two tanks dive from Cartagena which will be nearly full day including lunch or you can stay in some of the Resorts in Islas de Rosario. Depends on your needs and what you want to do in the evening / night.

See ya
Max

 

[The_Daddy]

Thanks again Max.

The_Daddy