Where to go in March?

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JDelage

Contributor
Messages
340
Reaction score
79
Location
Seattle, WA USA
# of dives
200 - 499
Hello all,

I was planning on going diving in March - 10 days to 2 weeks, early in the month. I'll be on my own, so I'd rather not go somewhere where there's absolutely nothing to do out of the water. I am not looking especially for an absolute party town, but some level of evening life, something to do out of the water, walking / exploring, a number of nice food options (important!), maybe some museums or hikes, etc. I went to Cozumel last year and liked it - topside was a bit boring, but the diving was awesome.

Right now I'm looking at Santa Maria in Colombia, Recife in Brazil, Coron (or others) in Philippines, and Phuket (or others in Thailand). I'm a bit overwhelmed by Phuket, but apparently this is one of the best sites in the world... I'm not married to those options. I'd love to find something really good and not overpriced in Latin America, outside of the Yucatan.

I'm a non-technical diver, OW certified, but I'm a strong swimmer and I have done several dozens dives, so I'm comfortable with any type of rec dives.

All suggestions welcome!
 
JDelage:
Hello all,

I was planning on going diving in March - 10 days to 2 weeks, early in the month. I'll be on my own, so I'd rather not go somewhere where there's absolutely nothing to do out of the water. I am not looking especially for an absolute party town, but some level of evening life, something to do out of the water, walking / exploring, a number of nice food options (important!), maybe some museums or hikes, etc. I went to Cozumel last year and liked it - topside was a bit boring, but the diving was awesome.

Right now I'm looking at Santa Maria in Colombia, Recife in Brazil, Coron (or others) in Philippines, and Phuket (or others in Thailand). I'm a bit overwhelmed by Phuket, but apparently this is one of the best sites in the world... I'm not married to those options. I'd love to find something really good and not overpriced in Latin America, outside of the Yucatan.

I'm a non-technical diver, OW certified, but I'm a strong swimmer and I have done several dozens dives, so I'm comfortable with any type of rec dives.

All suggestions welcome!

My first recommendation is Cozumel diving with a small operator and getting to see a lot of fine reefs that are offered there from to shallow to deep. There is plently of night life throughout the town. Options for easy night dives as well as things to see and do during the day to keep you occupied.

Anthoer option is Costa Rica. Lower vis diving and cooler water than Cozumel but normally lots of bigger sea life from sharks to Eagle rays. Take a jungle canopy tour, river boat tour and get up close with a lot of crocs. Very friendly folks and beautiful country.
 
Thanks Jim. I was in Cozumel last year, I'd like to go somewhere else this time. Where in Costa Rica would you recommend?
 
Try Utila, but based on your description, don't stay at Laguna Beach- it's a bit more secluded than most. You'd have to take a boat ride to get into town. Look for somewhere in town, Mango Inn, etc. Plus, march is prime time for Whale Sharks, something not to miss. We've got pics posted from our trip last year (we're going back again this year!) good luck! Oh, and there are topside activities- horseback riding, fishing, and the restaurants are good and cheap!
 
Thailand is fantastic. It's a long flight so 10 days might be cutting it short. Phuket, (Patong Bh.)has night life, more then you may want but Kata and Karon Bh. are a bit toned down. The diving right around Phuket is OK but a liveaboard to the similans is fantastic and alot less expensive then in other parts of he world. The culture, the food, the people are the best.
 
Have to agree with Mase but in general the diving around Phuket is also great at the moment as there are plenty of sightings of the bigger pelagics due to the thermoclines and greenish water. Koh Racha Noi-Mantas, Minke whales seen off Sharkpoint, whaleshark at Richelieu Rock, Mantas at Koh Bon and Koh Ta Chai.

Oh I wish I could be diving rather than sitting in the office...
 
I was going to suggest The Red Sea until I saw where you were situated. Oh well.
pwwm
 
Hello,

I've dived both Santa Marta and Recife and I've been in Phuket but didnt dive there.

The diving is not fantastic in my opinion in either of the first two.

Santa Marta is not particularly Caribbean-like diving at all. And you'll have to be reasonable adventurous for the top side activities in Santa Marta. Apart from snorting cocaine and smoking dope most of the backpackers go there as a starting point to walk to the "Lost City". I had a friend who did it years ago who said it was an amazing experience but very hard (a week's walk through the jungle). Santa Marta (i.e. Rodadero) beach is OK but not world beating. You could combine Santa Marta / Cartagena (4 - 5 hours by bus) and San Andres / Providencia (1 hour direct flight from Cartagena for about $200 return). Cartagena old town is beautiful but the beach is rubbish. Some hectic night life if you are up for it. Also some very annoying street hawkers. Decent diving (I recommend La Tortuga dive school). San Andres and Providencia have fantastic diving but are more quiet, especially Providencia so you won't want to stay for too long if you get bored topside (personally I loved the Providencia atmosphere - extremely friendly people). Note that March is still the windy season at all these Colombian sites so some of the better dives (e.g. Burbujas in Cartagena or the SE side of San Andres) will be off limits if it is too choppy.

Recife's dives are all wrecks so I reckon they would get a bit samey after a while. Recife if a big Brazilian tourist destination mainly Brazilians but also some Italians so there is certainly night life. You could also do some decent day trips (e.g. Olinda) but you're talking big distances in Brazil to visit any other cities.

Phuket was my least favourite place in Thailand, or at least Pattong, the main town was. Might be better (but quieter) staying at Kata which had a much nicer beach and a lot less sex workers than Pattong! If I had dived at the time maybe it would have been different. I loved Ko Phi Phi and Krabi (this is all pre-tsunami) but again most activity is limited to beach, bars and the sea (apart from some rock climbing in Krabi).

john
 

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