Where to dive next?

[potato cod]

Okay, I've got a frequently flier ticket burning a hole in my pocket. I also know that I have to arrange things WAY in advance to make these things work. So, I'm starting to plan my next tropical dive vacation and the itinerary is limited by where the airline flies. I'd love some input from others who have been to these places.

Travelers include me and my husband. We like a laid back atmosphere, prefer to avoid areas with lots of large resorts and cruise ships (i.e., really touristy places), enjoy both big and small marine critters, and MUCH prefer reefs to wrecks. Great diving is the key factor, but for topside activities snorkeling, hiking, and nature are all a bonus.
Our options include:

Aruba. I know it's near Bonaire. Is the diving comparable? I also understand it's nearly impossible to get from Aruba to Bonaire cheaply (no ferry).

Bahamas, Nassau. We dived off Nassau a couple of years ago, and compared to our recent trip to Turks and Caicos, this just wasn't nearly so impressive. A liveaboard to less impacted areas might be okay, though.

Barbados

Cancun. I assume we'd want to take the ferry to Cozumel, but I don't know how much of a logistical headache this is. I do speak Spanish, so that's not a problem. The ruins are a definite draw here.

Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Puerto Rico
St. Maarten
St. Lucia

Any thoughts on these locations?

 

[altaskier]

What airline do you have the miles on? Have you considered going farther than the Caribbean?

 

[potato cod]

What airline do you have the miles on? Have you considered going farther than the Caribbean?

The airline is JetBlue, so the places listed are as far as I can get

 

[robint]

The airline is JetBlue, so the places listed are as far as I can get

IMHO, none of the places you have mentioned are prime scuba diving destinations. Most are vacation destinations that offer diving.
No, Aruba is not like Bonaire. Aruba is a party destination. Bonaire is a dive destination.
Jamaica is a party destination.
Cancun is an option if you go further south, like Playa del Carmen or over to Cozumel for the diving. Still not prime, but okay. The ruins are amazing, and so is the cenote diving. Check out my trip reports about both.

If you can get to Ft. Lauderdale or Puerto Rico, then I would go there and jump on one of the Nekton liveaboards. Nekton Cruises > Home
Check out my trip report about Medio Reef and Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas on the Nekton.

robin

 

[Doc]

If you can get to Ft. Lauderdale or Puerto Rico, then I would go there and jump on one of the Nekton liveaboards.

Getting to Nassau first (and leaving as quickly as possible) bygetting on an island hopper to tag up with the Nekton or another liveaboard on an out island of the Bahamas is far and away your best bet.

How much would it cost to island hop from Nassau to San Salvador? The Riding Rock Inn is an enchanting throwback to dive resorts of the 1960's.

Your other island options eliminate themselves pretty quickly with your criteria.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I'd do the trip to Cancun and grab a room in Playa de Carmen. You could do the cenotes, dive Playa and also do day trip(s) over to Coz. I was reallly impressed with the diving in Playa and you could make a nice comparison to Coz with a ferry ride. You can also dive the cenotes for a day which is a great bucket list dive. The ruins are also conveniently located just a bus ride away at Tuluum. I just did this trip twice and the resorts are practically giving rooms away.

 

[handel27]

cenotes amazing, but don't stay in Carmen. go further south, to akumal if you can. you'll want to spend a few days, snorkel at Xel-Ha (shell-HA) then ferry to coz, which is spectacular.

flights from Aruba to Bonaire are just less than US$200 pp/r/t and very convenient. we're doing it in August (1 week in Aruba on a gifted time share then 9 days diving on Bonaire). you can stay in a condo on Bon for less than $100 p/n and the diving is cheap as dirt.

you can dive Negril but not much to it.

 

[Dave1981]

Puerto Rico - I know an Instructor there that really rates it highly. On my list
St. Maarten - Done a few dives on the dutch side, nothing to write home about compared to the rest of the USVI's or BVI's
St. Lucia - Some brilliant diving there, a couple of my best dives in the caribbean down by marigot bay and the pitons and highly recommended. The island it's self isn't that fantastic though in my opinion.

Oh yeah, and sulpher springs/piton hike and rainforrest tour are all good in St Lucia. The main town often has a few big cruise ships in though and is very touristy. The resorts outside of that are very expensive.

I suspect there could be some good diving in the dominican republic from having been there, but could be quite wrong about that.

Dave

 

[vladimir]

Bahamas, Nassau. We dived off Nassau a couple of years ago, and compared to our recent trip to Turks and Caicos, this just wasn't nearly so impressive. A liveaboard to less impacted areas might be okay, though.

Any thoughts on these locations?

I have traveled to a couple of your choices. They all have one thing in common: they aren't bona fide dive destinations. These are places where people dive as an adjunct to their beach, sun, and fun vacations. Once you've been to a real dive destination, like Turks and Caicos, you will be disappointed by the diving at places like these, I have found.

 

[DeputyDan]

You could go to St Marteen and take the ferry to Saba!