Where to go in late December?

[kbor]

I'm planning a dive vacation with my parents over Christmas. We are all fairly experienced and aren't too concerned with travel distance or price. I'm looking for a new place to go with really really good diving, a nice resort (mom's a little picky), and somewhere with nice beaches and maybe some hiking. I'd appreciate any suggestions keeping the season in mind. Thanks!

 

[robint]

I'm planning a dive vacation with my parents over Christmas. We are all fairly experienced and aren't too concerned with travel distance or price. I'm looking for a new place to go with really really good diving, a nice resort (mom's a little picky), and somewhere with nice beaches and maybe some hiking. I'd appreciate any suggestions keeping the season in mind. Thanks!

more info please! Your profile is blank so I have no idea what your diving experience is or where you live. You say you want someplace new, but you don't say where you have been!

December, over Christmas is the busy travel time so it is good you are planning now. Some resorts start booking up now so plan on that.
1- So......... what type of diving? What do you want to see? How many dives per day do you want?
2- What type of resort? Fancy like Vegas or do you want a rustic with over the water hut?
3- Your mom is picky.... like picky how? Does she want a 5star resort with a casino? Or do you mean she doesn't want any bugs? Does she want 24 hr room service or does she want hammocks by the beach?
4- Topside activities.... is that just for you or your family too? Hiking like jungle tours or ancient ruins?

 

[anzac65]

Wow. No concerns about distance or price ? The world is your oyster.... Do you really need to ask ?

 

[kbor]

i live in california, so we're leaning towards somewhere in the pacific, but the gulf of mexico is also an option. i have about 200 logged dives and have been to cozumel, kona and maui, thailand, curacao, florida. to answer your questions
1- 2/3 dives a day, but maybe less for the parents. i haven't seen many "bigger" things. be nice to go somewhere with mantas, sharks, etc. but also hoping for clear viz
2 and 3 - my mom wants something a bit "fancier". she definitely likes to be catered to
4 - i love hiking, the parents probably are more content sitting by the beach. i don't really care what kind of hiking. just something to get me away from them for a day if needed. jungle trek, ruins, rafting, doesn't matter, i like it all.

thanks!!!!

 

[danclem]

French Polynesia. It is absolutely beautiful. Lots for everyone to do: great diving, hiking, natural history, food!

Cheers,

Dan

 

[almitywife]

Vanuatu... for something very nice, Bokissa or Aore resort and dive the Coolidge in Santo; Bokissa Eco Island - Home or aoreresort.com Dive the SS President Coolidge in Vanuatu with Aquamarine

another Vanuatu fav is Hideaway Island (clean comfy bungalows) and 3 months ago we stayed at Tranquility in Vanuatu and loved the diving but i dont think mum would like the very very basic facilities

otherwise for something diff, Welcome to Niue a very very small island but it has eco, diving, hikes, biking and they use the NZ dollar so you gain on the exhange rate

 

[shoturtle]

Try to stay in the southern hemisphere it is the summer there. South Africa by Capetown is nice. Bali is nice. You can also look at going to the great barrier reef. But all these trips are 14+ hour flights. If you want just diving trip maldives and the mauritius or the sayschelles

 

[tvictory]

I'm planning a dive vacation with my parents over Christmas. We are all fairly experienced and aren't too concerned with travel distance or price. I'm looking for a new place to go with really really good diving, a nice resort (mom's a little picky), and somewhere with nice beaches and maybe some hiking. I'd appreciate any suggestions keeping the season in mind. Thanks!

Consider a cruise on M/Y Paul Gauguin in Tahiti and French Polynesia. They are affiliated with Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line and have itineraries round-trip from Papeete with ports of call at Raiatea, Bora Bora, Moorea, etc. Diving is conducted on zodiacs from the main cruise ship (only about 320 pax max). It's very upscale and probably is a better value than the very pricey things available in those parts.

 

[robint]

i live in california, so we're leaning towards somewhere in the pacific, but the gulf of mexico is also an option. i have about 200 logged dives and have been to cozumel, kona and maui, thailand, curacao, florida. to answer your questions
1- 2/3 dives a day, but maybe less for the parents. i haven't seen many "bigger" things. be nice to go somewhere with mantas, sharks, etc. but also hoping for clear viz
2 and 3 - my mom wants something a bit "fancier". she definitely likes to be catered to
4 - i love hiking, the parents probably are more content sitting by the beach. i don't really care what kind of hiking. just something to get me away from them for a day if needed. jungle trek, ruins, rafting, doesn't matter, i like it all.

thanks!!!!

okay, lots to work with then!
1. I would say check out Palau - Palau Pacific hotel is definitely up your mom's alley. Big critters - sharks and mantas. Boat rides are long (2 hours average and you are gone all day as the best dive sites are far south of Koror) but there are some great dive sites closer in to Koror. Not alot to do topside though.
2. Fiji - check out Wananavu Beach Resort Accommodation Fiji and other places like Pearl resort in Beqa Lagoon area. Luxury hotels and good diving. Big animals - sharks and maybe mantas.
3. Indonesia - I think you would all love Wakatobi Dive Resort - Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia or Lembeh Strait Resort in North Sulawesi - Scuba Diving with Nitrox at Critter Paradise No big critters but lots of little ones and bizarre ones!
4. If you want to go to the Caribbean - look into Turks & Caicos. Nice resorts and dives likely to see sharks.
5. Another luxury resort in Caribbean is Brac Reef Resort on Cayman Brac.

I would look at a dive travel website like: Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations to get ideas on prices and what is available out there. There are lots of resorts to choose from in Fiji so I only mentioned a few that friends have stayed at and loved. I think any of the destinations I mentioned fit all your criterion.

 

[kbor]

wow, thanks for the suggestions. i'm definitely going to look into palau. i've heard great things about sam's