Trying to Decide......

[Taath]

Hi All,

My wife (non-diver) and I have agreed that I get to take one week long scuba trip per year. Trying to decide what to do with mine for 2017.

I have it narrowed down to three options:

1. Bonaire. Looking at possibly doing the Dive and Drive option through Buddy Dive.

2. Nassau Bahamas, Blackbeard liveaboard

3. Cabo San Lucas in September/October. This trip would mainly be for the chance at seeing some of the great hammerheads......is it worth taking a trip for a chance at seeing hammerheads?

Thoughts? Which would you chose?

Thanks,
Taath

 

[drrich2]

To start, I'd read a # of trip reports comparing the Juliet live-aboard to Blackbeards, since it's moderately more expensive, offers a similar # of dives and better accommodations, especially since a solo trip to Bonaire is affordable. Then, I'd look at a trip on the Bahamas Aggressor, more expensive but more dives I think, and compare itineraries since I've read less enthusiastic trip reports about 'traditional' Bahamas live-aboard diving in the past year or so, and heard at least one good 1st hand report about the Grand Bahama/Tiger Beach itinerary the B.A. does part of the year.

I get that you're trying to narrow it down, and I'm expanding upon option #2.

You picked 3 very different options. Most Bonaire diving is off the west coast (leeward), and seeing any shark is pretty rare. Yet your main interest in CSL is hoping for great hammerheads! And Bonaire is mainly endorsed as a great Caribbean shore dive destination; option #2 entails living off a boat, and IIRC CSL is land-based boat diving.

Since I've been to Bonaire 8 times (which answers the question!), I'd next hit the Bahamas for a more reliable mainstream general warm water (pay attention to time of year with the Bahamas) diving experience. IIRC, Cabo San Lucas diving varies seasonally, and it seems less reliably predictable.

Undercurrent.org has a page on the western Mexican region; worth a look. Reading online, seems like Cabo Pulmo is the more lauded dive destination, but where I really see the glowing reports of that region is live-aboard diving on Socorro trips. Haven't been so I imagine if I got it wrong somebody will point that out; read some online reviews and see if you get the same impression. I imagine a Socorros live-aboard would be expensive, but compare total trip cost with airfare vs. a solo Bonaire trip to Buddy Dive Resort and see how it stacks up.

If you want great hammerheads, I see Jim Abernathy's Scuba-Adventures offers trips for that purpose. A lot more expensive than Blackbeard's, but compare total trip cost to the Buddy Dive trip (with airfare an issue on Bonaire trips).

Richard.

 

[Trevor JC Brown]

Hey Taath,
There is a dive site in La Paz that has schooling hammerheads (small schools) and you have a chance to see them in the gordo banks and a few other off-shore dive sites in the Baja Sur area. Sightings are generally best in the fall but by no means guaranteed. If your aim is to see hammer head sharks you would have better luck elsewhere. On the flip side, September and October are the best months for diving in the Baja Sur area with warm waters and good visibility. A great way to dive the Baja Sur area is to hit up Cabo san lucas, Cabo Pulmo and La Paz in one trip. It's easy to rent a car and it would be nice for the non-diver as all the towns have other activities. Whale sharks and sea lions are the highlights and both are guaranteed.

 

[Taath]

Thanks guys. I do see benefits to each of the options. I've since looked at the Juliet out of Florida. It is looking like a great option. Sounds like the diving in Bimini is pretty nice with a chance at Hammerheads year round. A little more expensive, but I'd save on airfare and not have to deal with the awkward sleeping arrangements on Blackbeards......

 

[tarponchik]

In the Bahamas, chances are fairly high that you'll run into a hurricane that time of the year. In Cabo, weather can also be iffy. We were there end of august and on 2 days the visibility was poor, although no dives were canceled. So if you want a safe bet, go to Bonaire. If you are desperate to see the sharks, go to the Bahamas, but you are unlikely to see any Hammerheads, just some reef sharks.

Me and my wife had agreed on one rule in the past couple of years: if we go on a one-week trip, it must be a non-stop flight. Don't know if this is important for you, but there hasn't been a single trip with a stop that the airline did not screw up somehow, either on the way there or back. It is OK if we go away for 2 or more weeks, but on a 1 week trip every hour counts.

 

[diversteve]

Going by yourself? Buddy's has a single supplement which I believe is about 50% more.

I'd do Juliet b4 Blackbeards also - but I stopped camping years ago as well. At least you'll only be sharing with one other person - maybe you can share one of the ensuite cabins as well. It's also a lot bigger boat so you don't have/want to spend the whole trip on deck or on your bunk. Sometimes on liveaboards you get that one obnoxious person so it's nice to find a place to get away. Juliet is also 40' longer than Blackbeards so there's a lot more room above and belowdeck.

By the time you price the Blackbeards flight to Nassau, (about a $400 differential on a same day flight) it's practically a wash since Juliet sails from Miami. American has $400 r/t non-stops to MIA also - less worries about your gear making it. One arrives mid afternoon - I've been on it for a different reason. Price flights to FLL on Southwest also - it's the other option for Juliet.

We've gone looking for hammerheads a couple of times, not in Cabo but farther north where they school to migrate south. So far - zero luck. I think El Bajo is a lot more likely though.

 

[Altamira]

You might be able to avoid the single supplement by joining a dive shop's group that is going to Bonaire when you want to go. A lot of dive shops take groups to Bonaire almost every year and sometimes have openings. This board is an excellent place to make those connections, and you can also contact dive shops in your local area or surrounding states to see if you can find a compatible trip.

 

[DeputyDan]

If your wife is going I would not recommend Blackbeards - since she does not dive.
My non-diving wife has always enjoyed Bonaire, one reason being that she feels safe there.

You might give the Cayman Brac beach resort a look see. It will be less expensive then due to potential hurricane issues.

 

[Doctorfish]

Sept-October
Hurricane Season in northern Caribbean.
I would certainly avoid live aboard with non diving wife and would opt for more southern places like Bonaire or Curacao. More to do/see for non diver on Curacao than Bonaire and better beaches. Diving about the same. Lot's of macro critters.

 

[Adventureseeker]

Hi All,

My wife (non-diver) and I have agreed that I get to take one week long scuba trip per year. Trying to decide what to do with mine for 2017.

I have it narrowed down to three options:

1. Bonaire. Looking at possibly doing the Dive and Drive option through Buddy Dive.

2. Nassau Bahamas, Blackbeard liveaboard

3. Cabo San Lucas in September/October. This trip would mainly be for the chance at seeing some of the great hammerheads......is it worth taking a trip for a chance at seeing hammerheads?

Thoughts? Which would you chose?

Thanks,
Taath

Hi Taath,

I've not personally been to any of the spots you mentioned except the Bahama's so I won't be suggesting a specific trip. However, if you do decide to go with Blackbeard's in the Bahama's, I'd like to invite you to go with our store in April. Blackbeard's offers budget friendly diving that is focused on just that, diving. We have done a couple of trips with them and they are great. That said, it is an adventurers paradise. It's not decked out with fine dining and 5 star accommodations. It's properly likened to camping at sea. If this is something that excites you, you'll love it. Plus they've been around for decades and know the best diving in the Bahama's. Hope to talk to you soon!

Garrett