Where should I go in October?

[MaizeNBlue88]

During the week of October 17th - October 24th I will be on vacation and would like to visit an island in the Caribbean. Given that this is ScubaBoard, you're already aware that I'm going to want to dive. I'll be AOW certified by then working toward Master Diver. My wife is OW certified working toward her AOW, but probably won't be by then. We just started diving in the Spring, so in terms of experience we're relatively new divers. We've never been out of the country so any suggested location will be a new experience. I know that October is the start of the rainy season in many parts of the Caribbean so maximizing good weather is definitely preferable. Here are my guidelines to help with your suggestions:

1. Price: Less than $2500 without airfare. This includes hotel, food, diving, etc.. Cheaper is preferable if possible.

2. Diving: Since we'll be traveling from Saturday - Saturday, and given we won't be able to dive on Friday, that leaves 5 days of diving. Over the course of those 5 days I would like to get in as much diving as possible, but not an "overwhelming" amount. I was thinking at least 3 boat dives per day or 1-2 boat dives with some shore diving. Hopefully ultimately amounting to at least 15 to maybe 20 dives over the 5 days. Also given that we haven't been diving in the Caribbean we would like to see the largest variety of life possible. I would like the chance to see some larger marine life as well; such as rays, turtles, dolphins, or sharks. Like I said, the more there is to see, the better. I'm also not sure if I like the idea of drift diving, but you guys let me know what you think.

3. Weather: As I stated earlier, I understand that October is the start of the rainy season. I'm okay with a little rain as long as it doesn't cut our dives short; but sunshine is obviously preferable.

4. Topside activities: Adventurous topside activities would be a plus, but I don't forsee us NEEDING to have a ton to do topside because we'll be so tired from diving and being in the sun all day. Various topside activities are a plus but not 100% necessary.

5. Beach: This one is more for my wife. I'm sure you all understand, she's going to want a beach to lay out on when not diving. I could just go nap in a hammock but I know she's going to want a beach. Let's consider this one another plus but not 100% necessary.

Lastly, please include any other advice or suggestions you have as far as Caribbean dive vacations are concerned. We're international travel newbies and just need some help. I've done so much research that it's making my head spin. All of the facts, opinions, reviews, and data are starting to bleed together. I hope to have a decision made and trip booked by the end of the week so your help is invaluable.

 

[KathyV]

Although I have never stayed/dived at the Plaza Beach Resort in Bonaire I have visited the property and it looked nice. They are an all-inclusive and their current fall special is $944 per person double occupancy. That includes accommodations, all meals, drinks, unlimited shore diving and free nitrox. You can add 6 days of 1 tank boat dives for $140 per person which is very cheap; see the link below. There is also an upgrade for 2 tank boat dives per day but I don't know the price.

You will need to rent a car, at least part of the time, because you should be comfortable with shore diving to really enjoy all that Bonaire has to offer and it is a great place to explore. Boat dives are less common on Bonaire, most folks visit for the diving freedom and wide opportunities provided by shore diving.

I have read both negative and positive things about the Plaza Beach Resort so you should do some research. One thing I recall reading is that the house reef shore dive is a hefty distance from the dive shop so you have to haul your gear rather far - but I haven't confirmed that.

There will some additional costs like tips for the dive shop, a small marine park fee, gasoline, and an exit tax.

We have been to Bonaire several times in October and it can get rainy but it has never been bad. You will be very close to Venezuela. The water is quite warm and the island lies below the hurricane belt so it is less likely to be hit by a major storm than the middle Caribbean islands, Central America, the Bahamas, or Florida.

There's not a whole lot of beach on Bonaire (because the reefs are so close to the shore) but I think that your wife will be happy with the beach options available at the Plaza Beach Resort.

Bonaire is an interesting place, you will be on Dutch soil and visiting the Netherlands when you go there. The island has a diverse topography including desert, marsh, jungle, salt flats, beach, and seaside. And you will see windmill farms and salt hills and a flamingo preserve and a donkey sanctuary!

English is widely spoken, they drive on the right side of the road, the US dollar is widely accepted, and it has a wind-surfing colony. Yet it is exotic, foreign, and tropical; it's a wonderful place!

Bonaire also has an interesting history; visiting the slave huts was really an eye-opening experience for me and you will see large mounds of sun-bleached conch shells in Lac Bay.

The diving is great IMO. It is not spectacular but there are healthy reefs, lots of tropical fish, and beautiful corals. Not a lot of big animals but you will see turtles, rays, morays, tarpon, barracuda, and maybe a nurse shark. The diving is also pretty easy. You are close to shore and there is usually very little current, and it is difficult to get lost. Entry and exit can be the hard part about shore diving.

I love Bonaire and it would be a great place to make your international diving debut. I have met lots of friendly people on Bonaire but I should mention that the island has a persistent history of petty thievery, so you can't leave anything valuable in the car or lying around. I believe that the rooms at PBR have in-room safes.

BTW, you may be able to dive on Friday morning depending on your departure time on Saturday. We have often gotten up early to do "dawn dives" and morning dives on the house reef on our last full day on the island. As long as you have an 18-24 hour interval before flying it should be fine.

Plaza Beach Resort is not a perfect solution, but I think it will fit your budget and requirements - good luck wherever you go - have a great vacation!

Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire - Caradonna Dive Adventures

---------- Post added August 11th, 2015 at 04:41 PM ----------

Here is a recent trip advisor review from someone that loved PBR but there are other reviews that are not as enthusiastic:

Best Birthday Ever at Plaza Beach Resort, Bonaire - Review of Plaza Resort Bonaire, Kralendijk, Bonaire - TripAdvisor

---------- Post added August 12th, 2015 at 07:29 AM ----------

You mentioned that you are new to international travel so I wanted to remind you to get your passports soon, if you haven't already done that; because it can take time to get them.

---------- Post added August 12th, 2015 at 07:32 PM ----------

I forgot to mention that you have to book the special at the Plaza Beach Resort by August 31.

 

[ColoDale]

Is the $2500 per person or for two?

If it's per person then you have more options.
If it's for two you are more limited obviously.

For $2500 for two you may have to go with a package probably to a larger hotel and tourist area.
If I use $80 per 2 tank dives plus $50 for a third dive for boat dives you are looking at $650 per person. I have been places where it was much more and does not include tips. It may not leave much for hotel depending on what you want and if the budget is for two people.

I kind of think your budget will keep you on the beaten path if you want amenities on the budget (not per person).

Generally the cheapest I have found is Cozumel but that is drift diving and you can see nurse sharks, maybe some eagle rays but Oct is not the season for them, we have seen dolphins but very rarely and you will see turtles.
The beaches in the southern and west side of the island are better but the sand is coarser than the East side (1 eco hotel) and on the mainland.
You didn't say that you wanted walls or wrecks. Sounds like you want fish life more than anything.

Your wish list is pretty much what we look for (we like walls and drift though) but I have not found any one place in the Caribbean that has it all.
You could try Turks and Caicos but it's higher price in general.
You might find something in the Cayman Islands if you use a package and your budget is per person. Caymans are more expensive in general. Could be a stretch but low season might bring a reward.
The Bahamas would be good for sharks and the beaches are good. It can be cheaper or expensive depending on where you stay.
Bonaire would be good for fish life. We've not been but have been planning a trip. We intended to do some boat diving while there but shore diving is a main attraction. Bonaire travelers like the previous post can fill you in.
Have a look at Roatan but topside might not fit your wants.
Have a look at Ambergris Belize but we have found it was more expensive than we thought. But could find a deal maybe.
You might have look at the airlines packages, possibly travezoo for pricing and destinations. Every once and awhile they get have a good one.

That time of year (Oct) is pretty good for deals to many places.

It is also the tail end of hurricane season. We have been to the Caribbean many times in Oct and there have been hurricanes but missed them all. If you are concerned get trip insurance.

For international travel, we plan for longer time between connections if possible in case of delays which happen (frequently) especially coming back into the US through Customs and Immigration with a connecting flight.
Pay attention to prohibited carry on items that might be confiscated.
Pack lighter than you think you need to. Get the basics and fill in what you think you'll need. Bring a light jacket - Oct can be chilly sometimes at night and for rain.
Watch the bag weights to avoid extra charges and if you bring your own gear, your dive bag may weigh more on the way back because of wet/damp gear. Buy a hand scale to use before you leave. We don't take ours with us due to weight but allow a couple of pounds for water.
Put minimal change of clothes in your carry on in case your bags don't make it. Include a swimsuit, scuba mask if you take one.
Make photocopy of your passport page with your info on it. Store apart from your passport.
Take extra cash for unexpected things like forgetting the sunscreen, food, forgot to pack underwear and local vendor doesn't take credit cards, etc - You never know and you don't have to spend it.
Get DAN diving insurance - chances are small anything will happen but if it does many foreign countries don't care about your US health insurance and want to be paid up front. We always carry a credit card with a high limit just in case plus DAN.
Relax, you will get there eventually and there are plenty of other people willing to yell at gate agents (it doesn't make anything happen any faster)

The first trip is always a learning experience. Go with the flow. If you need an answer to a question while traveling ask multiple people. Some think they know (other travelers) but don't and you may regret following singular bad advice.

Good luck (ps looks like a Michigan fan in Ohio)

 

[diversteve]

I could agree with everything Kathy posted - the dive is on the NW end of the property and the shop/lockers/boats on the SW end. So it's a pretty good walk. If you see anyone in a Toucan Dive t-shirt standing around, they have a golf cart. Also they stage tanks up there a couple times per day. They have the only reasonably priced beach access on Bonaire also, Divi has a small beach (and is currently doing major renovations), Harbor Village has the other nice one but not in your budget, the beach at Eden Beach is terraced with railroad ties so it stays put, there's a small one between Den Laman and Sand Dollar condos also. There's also a beach reconstruction going on between Eden Beach and Den Laman - no resort but there's plans for a concession. IDK the current status. Add in the Pink Beach dive site, Bachelor's Beach when the tide is out and I've pretty well covered the Bonaire beach options.

Now a contrast/compare with Curacao. It's practically the same diving, the islands are 50mi apart. But the difference is that Curacao has extremely nice beaches and sandy entries - the reef there starts maybe 200+ feet out in most areas - or about 40'. A standard practice there is to surface swim out 5mins. or so till you see it to save a little gas. We also return u/w at many of the sites there are vertical rock formations that extend down into the water so it makes a good spot for a safety stop. About the best example of this is the north side of Playa Jeremi - Frommer's lists it as one of the top 10 snorkels in the eastern Caribbean.

The other advantage to shore diving on Curacao is practically every beach is a dive site, all have some sort of food option and most have a dive operation on-site. So you can haul tanks or get them locally - we did both. They charge a small fee $3-4 - to use the facilities but those often include lockers, showers and a dive dock at the few sites it's needed. Some people think that's a reaon not to dive Curacao, personally I think it's a reason TO dive Curacao.

Once you leave town/the dive resorts on Bonaire there is exactly one dive site (out of 60) that has refreshments - it's wherever the food truck is that day. Curacao has the same convenience as Bonaire also at many of the resorts - dive operation on site for both tank rentals and boat/shore dives there. One interesting thing about Curacao is if you go with the right operator, they dive everything but the dives that are shore accessible, it's not uncommon on Bonaire to see a boat tied up at a shore dive.

There's also a Klein Curacao but it's several miles off the SE point so there's only several operators that go there. Curacao's version of the Buddy Dive drive-thru tank pickup is called Relaxed Guided Dives - on the main road west of town. You'll pass it every time you dive west or drive east or downtown. We stayed a few days in Playa Lagun - a nice beach, good dive for turtles (fish cleaning brings them in) and Discover Diving is on-site for tank rentals. If you rent a truck, they have a loading dock for tanks so you can just slide them on. Too quiet for us so we moved back to town.

Curacao being a larger, more populated island has a lot more infrastructure, restaurants, more resorts, other activities. Also a busier cruise port downtown. But you don't want to stay downtown anyway - besides being crowded, the diving there isn't the greatest. And it's all on low cliffs so no beaches till you get a little east (it seems like south) into the resort area. Curacao has several areas where they breakwater protect the beach so you have both a good shallow dive and a nice, wide beach. Almost all with a dive operator on-site as well until you get farther east or west.

The other bigger town on Curacao is Westpunt - it's 45mins. drive from town. Limited restaurants (about 6) and resorts. Go West Diving is on site there and Playa Kalki in front of it is in the top 10 dives on Curacao. They also dive Watamula by boat twice a week, many consider it the best boat dive - you can't get there from shore. Lodge Kura Hulanda is there, it's very nice, very quiet at night and on just an average or maybe less than average beach though. They try but it's pretty rocky. I snorkeled around the coral heads just off the beach chasing flounder once - the Lodge itself is higher up the cliff. All West Apt's on the other end of the beach is sort of a divers resort - the other Go West shop is there. I don't recall if they have a pool - and a lot of steps down to the dive site/beach.

Boat dives on Curacao run around 2/$100. A 5-day unlimited tanks/weights shore dive pkg. at RGD is $129.

When you're looking for a place draw a 5mi. circle from the harbor downtown. Anything past there gets really quiet at night. Look in Jan Thiel to the south or see what you think of the Avila Beach Hotel - it's almost downtown yet quieter. No diving there but a nice beach. Then it gets a little busier with the Sunscape AI resort (better for kids) and Lions Dive Resort next to it - both across from the Sea Aquarium. The main Ocean Encounters shop is 50 yds. south - it's their house operator. (both) You mentioned dolphin diving, that's guaranteed there since they get dolphins from the Sea Aquarium for it - for $200pp.

Going north/west the Piscadera Bay resort area is pretty quiet also and it's like 3mi. from the port. The reason is the port is on the north shore of the harbor but the shops etc. are south. So all the traffic goes that way. Curacao is primarily a day port so take advantage of the shops/restaurants in the RIF fort complex after they leave - it's what we do. Walk across the swinging bridge to Punda - it's where all the brightly colored buildings are.

In that area we've stayed at Piscadera Bay Resort - duplex condos with full kitchens etc. No pool unless you pay more for the few condos that have their own - I'm not even sure those are rentals. They have access to the beach there at a beach club that's a five min. walk across the street. The Marriott there has Caribbean Sea Sports on-site and does both boat/shore dives. The Hilton next door is older and doesn't have a great beach - it's been charitably called a dump by people who've stayed there. I ate/walked around one night, I'd agree. The hotel is like something out of the 60's.

Another option close to most things is Blue Bay Resort. It's a condo property but they have restaurant(s?) on-site and a dive operation. Nice beach and Blue Bay Wall is a shore dive there. There's two condos, some by the water and some by the golf course so get the right ones or you'll be driving to the beach. Or wish you had.

Going north there's some properties near Playa Lagun - that area is vertical - most sight on bluffs about 60' over the water. So no beaches but Playa Lagun Beach is 2mins. away. At Lagoon Blou or Bahia Apts/Diving it's down a flight of stairs. Not a lot of restaurants in that area. Past that the next big concentration is in Westount as mentioned above. If you are going to stay out west, it's suggested you stop for groceries in town before driving out - Centrum Market is one mile south of the airport rotary and sells cheap styro boxes for this.

So that's Curacao more or less. Everything can be found here - Curacao Official Site - A Unique Island Paradise

---------- Post added August 13th, 2015 at 04:23 PM ----------

Forgot to mention - there's the Dive Bus is you're looking for a guided shore dive option for your first dives. Fishlife was about the same as Bonaire but we saw a couple of Sharks, Moray Eels, Turtles, Squid and an occasional Grouper. Often there's a barracuda or two near the dive docks as well. One shadowed us the whole dive, pre-lionfish culling so IDK why. Ask the on-site operator where to find the seahorses also - if they're there, they know.

 

[PaulDM]

In October, very good in Mexico. Besides cenotes have a chance to see bull sharks. Just start the season.
Here you can see a gallery Gallery

 

[RJP]

KathyV and diversteve's posts should be combined into a "Bonaire & Curacao" sticky.

I love both equally... but I love them differently. When I travel with my dive buddy we go to Bonaire and do 30 dives in a week. When I travel with my non-diving wife and non-diving kids we go to Curacao and I get in 15 or so dives in a week.

As my wife says "Bonaire is where divers go for vacation, Curacao is where vacationers go to dive."

 

[KathyV]

Hi MaizeNBlue88, did you pick a dive vacation destination for October? Where did you decide to go?

 

[Jordan23]

great. lol . now we know what to choose (i gess) (between thoes too)...
what is the cheepest way to go from bonair to curcao or vers? by boat or? what is the cost?
thanks for your answere

 

[robint]

I would go to Cozumel.... Scuba Club Cozumel specifically.
Scuba Club Cozumel Dive Resort - Cozumel, Mexico - Scuba Club Cozumel
diving, room, and food included.. free shore diving
relaxing place, walking distance to town
no real "beach" but a nice big sandy area
not a fancy place, more like a small Bed&Breakfast

my trip report from last trip:
http://www.rnrscuba.net/2014_Cozumel/2014_SCC_photos.html
and
http://www.rnrscuba.net/2012_Cozumel/2012_ScubaClubCozumel.html

shore diving:
[vimeo]11565537[/vimeo]

and a compilation I made of diving Cozumel
[vimeo]11934524[/vimeo]

 

[Divebooker.com]

​Grounding on your requirements and in addition to what's been already said here, we suggest you check the Bahamas (please follow this link to learn more: Scuba diving in Bahamas) , where you get the shark dives, although the encounter is possible year round, October is not the best season for it; nice beaches and diverse marine flora and fauna.


Many different hotels are available and it's possible to find something suitable. Fast transfers from Florida are also possible.


Hope you enjoy your trip regardless of the destination you choose