Where to go? Looking for Sharks & Nightlife

[Augy]

I'm planning a dive trip for next April or May for myself and a friend. We're leaning toward the Nassau (Bahamas) to do the Stuart Cove shark dive. However, I'm getting the impression that diving the Bahamas isn't all that great.

We're looking for someplace that has lots of entertainment and nightlife but isn't too far to travel. We just came back from Cozumel (2nd time in a row, it's so cheap!) so we're avoiding that. I like Coz and the after-dive entertainment is fun when the cruise ships are in but we need to broaden our horizons

Anyway, any suggestions on a dive destination in the Carribean/Mexico/Latin American areas where we can expect an energetic night life, great diving, and shark diving (or other big animal encounters)? Maybe it's asking too much?

Thanks!

 

[mjh]

Typically great diving locations with all the things you are looking for are more remote and have very limited "nightlife". In addition due to the cost of getting to these places most divers are doing 3-5 dives per day. Coz is about the best combo I know of, maybe Maui. A Thai friend of mine said Koa Samuii was relatively untouched by the recent disaster, the diving is not quite as good as Coz. Utlia has great diving, whale sharks at the right time of year, and a young backpacker nightlife, no "clubs".

 

[GotAir]

I have heard that Coco Iland off the SW side of Costa Rica
is a place you can dive with schools of 100+ HammerHeads plus
Manta's, Rays etc........
Its on my Top Ten place's to see!

GotAir

 

[RICoder]

I'm planning a dive trip for next April or May for myself and a friend. We're leaning toward the Nassau (Bahamas) to do the Stuart Cove shark dive. However, I'm getting the impression that diving the Bahamas isn't all that great.

We're looking for someplace that has lots of entertainment and nightlife but isn't too far to travel. We just came back from Cozumel (2nd time in a year, it's so cheap!) so we're avoiding that. I like Coz and the after-dive entertainment is fun when the cruise ships are in but we need to braoden our horizons

Anyway, any suggestions on a dive destination in the Carribean/Mexico/Latin American areas where we can expect an energetic night life, great diving, and shark diving (or other big animal encounters)? Maybe it's asking too much?

Thanks!

Did Nassau w/ Stuart Cove. They are a really great group of people, and total pros. The shark dive is certainly fun, but keep in mind that they are Carribean Reefs, not exactly the Great White. In a total of 12 dives on my trip, I only had 2 that there were no sharks on, whereas I saw a bull shark on 2 of them, along with some eagle rays and the like. The dives are pretty good, but I found the Caymans to have better overall dives, and a better overall nightlife.

If you do go to Nassau, DEFINATELY dive with Stuart Cove's a few times (and book ahead, they do discounts). In addition, research into who can bring you to the Blue Holes and some of the more exotic dive sites...I think Dive Dive Dive is one of them.

Other points on Nassau...
-Don't eat in the hotel, it'll be expensive and crappy.
-Do eat at Conch Fritters and Johnny Canoe's (Johnny Canoe's on a Sat night at 8pm or so is fun, 'cause the Junkanoo guys come through)
-Internet access is pricey in the hotels and anywhere on Cable Beach. Hit town and go to the one next to Iguana Cafe (also good food). They have rates of $10/hr or something.

 

[Augy]

Did Nassau w/ Stuart Cove. They are a really great group of people, and total pros. The shark dive is certainly fun, but keep in mind that they are Carribean Reefs, not exactly the Great White. In a total of 12 dives on my trip, I only had 2 that there were no sharks on, whereas I saw a bull shark on 2 of them, along with some eagle rays and the like. The dives are pretty good, but I found the Caymans to have better overall dives, and a better overall nightlife.

If you do go to Nassau, DEFINATELY dive with Stuart Cove's a few times (and book ahead, they do discounts). In addition, research into who can bring you to the Blue Holes and some of the more exotic dive sites...I think Dive Dive Dive is one of them.

Other points on Nassau...
-Don't eat in the hotel, it'll be expensive and crappy.
-Do eat at Conch Fritters and Johnny Canoe's (Johnny Canoe's on a Sat night at 8pm or so is fun, 'cause the Junkanoo guys come through)
-Internet access is pricey in the hotels and anywhere on Cable Beach. Hit town and go to the one next to Iguana Cafe (also good food). They have rates of $10/hr or something.

Thanks for the info. I have to admit I'm not exactly looking to meet any Great Whites :11: Regarding the Caymans vs Bahamas, is one considerably more expensive than the other? From what I've found online for flight/hotel packages, Nassau looks quite a bit less expensive than the Caymans. What about food/beverage costs between the two?

Thanks for the tips on eating and places to go. We'll keep that in mind if we end up going to Nassau. I'll look into the Blue Hole dive, as well. Thanks again.

 

[Island Hoppa]

Thanks for the info. I have to admit I'm not exactly looking to meet any Great Whites :11: Regarding the Caymans vs Bahamas, is one considerably more expensive than the other? From what I've found online for flight/hotel packages, Nassau looks quite a bit less expensive than the Caymans. What about food/beverage costs between the two?

Thanks for the tips on eating and places to go. We'll keep that in mind if we end up going to Nassau. I'll look into the Blue Hole dive, as well. Thanks again.

hey man
the caymans will be much more expensive than nassau. it is more of a tourist area. if you want good diving with an awesome night life i would check out southeast asia. i know you said you dont want to travel that far but living in thailand would be far, far less expensive than staying in the caymans or nassau. a plane ticket is not much either if you book ahead. not to mention the diving and night life are much better. hope this helps.

 

[blawler1]

Augy

Nassau is generally a little cheaper than Cayman, but not Cozumel cheap. If nothing else, the currency translation is 1 for 1 as opposed to 1 CI to 1.25USD as is Cayman.

Nassau has plenty of nightlife including two casinos. The Atlantis casino is the largest in the Caribbean/Atlantic area. The Atlantis itself is a cool place with the massive aquarium and water park.

Stuart Cove's gets a bad rap for being a cattle boat operator, but I only had good experiences with them. If you stick to the "adventure dives", namely shark feedings and DPV wall flying, there are many fewer divers. The DPV dives have a max of 6 divers. These are cool because you combine sharks, DPVs and the James Bond wrecks. One of the typical sites is the Bond movie wrecks which include the Tears of Allah from Never Say Never Again and the Vulcan bomber from Thunderball.

Another option may be Grand Bahama. They have cool shark dives, two casinos and plenty of night life, but I heard it took a direct hit from one of the hurricanes earlier this fall and may be in bad shape like Grand Cayman, but probably not as quick to bounce back as the Bahamas probably don't have the funds the Caymans do. Anyway, if it is open, it is pretty cool and easy to get to.

 

[Puck]

Augy

Another option may be Grand Bahama. They have cool shark dives, two casinos and plenty of night life, but I heard it took a direct hit from one of the hurricanes earlier this fall and may be in bad shape like Grand Cayman, but probably not as quick to bounce back as the Bahamas probably don't have the funds the Caymans do. Anyway, if it is open, it is pretty cool and easy to get to.

Just got back. Nightlife is so-so, but hotel and food is reasonable. Double check with a couple of dive ops about the shark diving. Between fishing and other factors, there may be fewer than there were before the hurricanes. Grand Bahama Scuba, Unexo, or Sunn Oddessy should have the current skinny on the sharks.