newdiver3:
Every year my whole family goes to akumal, mexico. I just got certified last year and went to akumal in august. we usually go in February but I started college this year and just cant swing missing a whole week. So my parents said that since I love diving so much they will take me somewhere during my week off in March. I could go back to mexico but I am working there this summer so I think I want to go somewhere different. There are just SO many places I hear and read about but I have no idea where to go. Something not to expensive...definately not somewhere like Australia or Fiji or Hawaii, even though I would love to go there. I am a fairly new diver and this is my first diving not in akumal. I feel comfortable there knowing the dive masters and all so this is pretty different for me. So any suggestions?
Budget minded? Frankly it doesn't get much better than Cozumel. Yeh, I know this is still Mexico, but the diving is much different than the Yucatan coast. If you need a beach for Mom then you might want to check out some of the southern resorts like the Reef Club. Want to be closer to town then the Hotel Cozumel is nice, although it lacks a beach. Both places have all-inclusive packages. San Miguel is a neat twon to spend some time in when not in the water. You can find out a lot more on the Cozumel sub-forum.
Possibly do this for about $1600 each, including airfare. Mexico is still the cheapest place to go.
Bonaire? You can go out of Philly on Air Jamaica with a stop-over in Montego Bay. I just came back from there on saturday myself. The Plaza Resort is about as nice as it gets there (with a beach). You could check into getting a 2 bedroom villa with full kitchen. The diving is good there, very good.
Eating is expensive. If you eat out or at the resort restaurants expect to dish out possibly as much as $300 each for a week. Or you could pick up some goodies at a grocery store and eat lunches in your villa. All depends on your itinery.
I would say you can do this for about $2000 per person, with airfare.
Roatan isn't bad diving either. I stayed at Fantasy Island in January and will not be going back there. Didn't like the food. I like my bacon crispy, not just warmed (and so the food went). I might do Cocoa View one of these days.
I wouldn't give rave reviews about the beaches there so it might not be the best for Mom. Also the No-seeums can eat you alive so be fore-warned.
Only other place I've been so far is Cayman Brac and this is diving. Stayed at the Brac Reef Beach Resort. Beach isn't the greatest, but adequate, IMO. Diving was so-so, but the service was terrific (valet diving). The food was incredible ( I like desserts).
I think, generally speaking, any time you cruise over to the Caymans, Bahamas, BVI's, etc you can expect to pay around $2500 or more for a week trip, depending on where you stay. Just seems like the farther east you go in the Caribbean the more it costs.
Don't pass over the iea of doing a live-aboard like the Nekton Pilot. That could possibly be a nice trip for all.
OK, I'm outa here for a while. Whatever you choose I hope you have a really good time.
