where to go be a dive bum for a year or so?

[scubadada]

Shore diving; Bonaire Curacao, Cayman Brac, each allows 6 months stay.

 

[berndo]

What kind of diving are you looking to do?
You can do alot with your budget plus flights in some countries if you're willing to stay in basic accommodation but it won't be enough for many of the fancier live aboards.

 

[bassplayer]

What kind of diving are you looking to do?
You can do alot with your budget plus flights in some countries if you're willing to stay in basic accommodation but it won't be enough for many of the fancier live aboards.

yah understood, the plan is a bit of a compromise; relaxing sabbatical to do some research, with access to decent and hopefully relatively affordable diving. (at some point mid-year i'll splurge for a liveaboard trip e.g. in the maldives but that's not the part I'm trying to figure out)

 

[bassplayer]

You might want to consider Palau for the following reasons. First, you don't need a visa to live there and their currency is the US dollar. They speak English. Second, I think you can get a nice condo rental for about $800 month but check first. I believe their main bank is Bank of Hawaii. Next, given your IT skills, you can probably get a part-time job teaching at the community college in Palau. I met with the dean there and was offered a position but declined. Palau now has decent internet but look into what it costs. You may also be able to get work doing IT/marketing stuff for the dive shops. It's easy to go from Palau to the Philippines, Truk, Indonesia, etc. As a resident, I believe Sams will give you a discount on boat dives. You can probably get a last minute spot on live-aboards for a big discount. Probably the best reef diving in the world. Don't really need a car but a bicycle would be nice. Palau used to be a US territory but is now an independent country. Still, it has very close ties to the US. For example, a Palauan can move to the US without having to go through the immigration process, so there is reciprocity for US citizens living in Palau. There is (believe it or not) a US Coast Guard base in Palau.

I like this suggestion a lot, will do further research.

 

[Darnold9999]

I would look into Bali. Decent internet connections. Lots to do and see on the island, some pretty decent easy to access shore diving, accommodation at a huge range of prices and amenities and access to spectacular diving all over Indo and SEA a short plane ride away. Not a great time zone for connections to North America but otherwise is what you are looking for. You can stay close in to the tourist areas and have lots of contact with people or stay further away and pretty much never see the tourists except for divers.

 

[bassplayer]

I would look into Bali. Decent internet connections. Lots to do and see on the island, some pretty decent easy to access shore diving, accommodation at a huge range of prices and amenities and access to spectacular diving all over Indo and SEA a short plane ride away. Not a great time zone for connections to North America but otherwise is what you are looking for. You can stay close in to the tourist areas and have lots of contact with people or stay further away and pretty much never see the tourists except for divers.

this sounds good and i won't be working so finally have a chance to not factor in timezone. starting to think the best idea is just a series of 1 month stays and visit all these places.

 

[Centrals]

this sounds good and i won't be working so finally have a chance to not factor in timezone. starting to think the best idea is just a series of 1 month stays and visit all these places.

Regional air fare is pretty low.

 

[Litefoot]

If you have the time and resources to be a dive bum for an extended period of time, then I congratulate you for your success. I might suggest that, wherever you decide to go, you share your good fortune with the locals in the form of volunteer work or service or donations to benefit the community. I think you will find your experience greatly enriched for doing so.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Yes, Bali. A big dive scene and doesn'f feel totally alien to westerners. Not as crazy as Phuket. Get in touch with @ScubaWithTurk about it. It sounds like you want to go to Asia, but in the Caribbean I would add Utila to the list for consideration. I dive bummed it for a couple of months there.

 

[Centrals]

There is no need to have any base just move around the country as long as your visa is valid.
There are places to visit other than just diving eg. Laos, Vietnam etc.
Phuket old town is very quiet and have developed infra structure for onward travelling to other places of the Kingdom and the cost of living is low.
Diving season is various among all those countries so advanced planning is necessary.