Where is best for avoiding sea sickness?

[AlanA]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me where amongst the Pacific Islands would be cheap to get to from Auckland (NZ) and more importantly would offer very calm seas for my wife who gets
sea sickness in the bath! She's a great diver but can't handle bobbing around in the surf or anything but the soothest boat ride. I'd appreciate any advice that I can get.
Thanks,
Alan

 

[deepstops]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me where amongst the Pacific Islands would be cheap to get to from Auckland (NZ) and more importantly would offer very calm seas for my wife who gets
sea sickness in the bath! She's a great diver but can't handle bobbing around in the surf or anything but the soothest boat ride. I'd appreciate any advice that I can get.
Thanks,
Alan

Truk Lagoon (Chuuk) is an atoll reef system with all the wrecks inside. Usually never more than six inches of chop inside the lagoon. And spectacular (wreck) diving. :14:

 

[almitywife]

not knowing your diving experience, i suggest Hideaway Island in vanuatu

small island via port vila, they offer 3 dives per day plus shore dive and night dive and dive trips are 5 to 15mins away.

the fact that they are single dives and via a lagoon means you dont stress about being stuck on a boat for long boat trips and double dives - i too suffer sea sickness badly

if you dont mind very very very basic then Tranquility (moso) island in vanuatu also has good diving, short boat trips and i wasnt seasick once

cheers

 

[Travelnsj]

Palau in March usually has some flat waters. I've never gotten seasick in a bath (on an LOB i probably could)....but when....walking in rain....I better have taken my Mechlizine!

I feel your wife's pain!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I realize that you are looking at dive destinations in the Pacific, but...

I think you should save your pennies for a vacation on the Caribbean island of Bonaire. The shore diving there is fantastic. Your wife will thank you.

 

[Shasta_man]

on land

 

[AlanA]

not knowing your diving experience, i suggest Hideaway Island in vanuatu

small island via port vila, they offer 3 dives per day plus shore dive and night dive and dive trips are 5 to 15mins away.

the fact that they are single dives and via a lagoon means you dont stress about being stuck on a boat for long boat trips and double dives - i too suffer sea sickness badly

if you dont mind very very very basic then Tranquility (moso) island in vanuatu also has good diving, short boat trips and i wasnt seasick once

cheers

Hi Almitywife,
Thanks for the suggestion of Hideaway Island, we took your advice and went ahead and booked 10 days diving from the 9th August. I'll do another post when we get back incase anyone wants to know how we got on.
Cheers,
Alan

 

[almitywife]

talk about pressure.. now im worried!!

i hope you enjoy it - the good thing about hideaway is that you can get off the island and head off somewhere (to Port Villa for dinner/markets) ect anytime you want but the island/onssite restaurant/onsite dive shop has everything so you dont have to leave the island if you dont want to

now....

your bungalow should have a mini fridge so i always head to the local Bon Marche supermarket in Vila (the one on the top of the hill) to stock up on cereal, milk, tuna ect. we're not cheap but eating out 3 meals a day gets a bit full on after a few days and we hit the local markets for bananas

getting around Vila is dead easy. you go to a bus stop and wait for a targo van to take you somehwere for 200Vatu pp (about $2). sometimes you get on the bus and other people are already on and they might get dropped off first so you can get a bit of a unplanned tour which is nice!

on your non diving day go to the Cascades. its about a $10 entry fee and 10min drive and you can walk/swim right at the waterfall face. take your scuba booties and mask and you can swim in a number of pools along the way. its a hike up there but a nice non diving thing to do i thought

otherwise a day trip to Tranquility (you can book via reception) means you will have a double dive and lunch at Moso island (we were there at christmas time and really liked the diving)

oh, and if Stella is there (reception) can you please tell her Lorraine & Theo say hello

enjoy - i hope you have a good time & wish it was us going instead of you !!

 

[AlanA]

Thanks for all of the info. 2 weeks and 5 days and counting !!! Looking forward to escaping cold, wet and windy Auckland for a while.

Alan

 

[AlanA]

So the pressure is off ! We had a fantastic time, although I did still get a little sick, but on the whole it was dead good. The highlight being a 3m leopard shark about 2m away - sods law that the camera was safely in our dive bag back on dry land ! I even managed 8 dives with Alan taking my other 2 on some of the rougher days.

So thanks very much for the suggestion - it was awesome.

Sarah