Where to go?

[asiders9]

Hey everyone,
haven't been around here in a quite a while; been looking into getting a new bike but after deciding against buying one, I have decided I want to go diving! I haven't been in about 3 1/2 years and might not get to go for a while after this because I'm just a poor student! Having said this, I would really like to go somewhere great but am kind of limited because of money, scheduling and parents since they won't want me to go somewhere by myself/people I don't know and I don't have many friends who have money to go diving. SO, I will most likely go with my LDS and here are my options,

Spring Break in Cozumel
Midwest Aquatics

or

Dry Tortuga
Midwest Aquatics

or

Grand Turk,
which doesn't have a link on the site yet but the owner sent me the information about it. Here they're staying in the Osprey Inn for 7 nights w/ 5 days of 2 tank diving and unlimited shore diving. Lunch and dinner are not included and they don't have airline arrangements yet. Current price is $1350. Any Idea on the airfare price?



I love to see big stuff like sharks but I've been looking at a fish ID book a lot lately and think it would be fun to hunt for rare fish. I was told by someone quite a few years back that Grand Turk was the place to see the big stuff but didn't know if that still holds true. Also will there be a lot of drunks in Cozumel, since it's spring break,that I'll have to deal with (I'm not one of those people)? So far I have been to the Bimini on a liveaboard (fantastic) and to Provo (also fantastic). I really loved the liveaboard I went on but don't really know anything about Dry Tortuga diving, but it's also a lot cheaper. Any help would be greatly appreciated and sorry for such a long post if you've made it this far.

Adam

 

[Daveo957]

I went to the tortugas earlier this summer and besides the groupers everything was small. Not for you if your looking for big stuff (sharks) but it was a fun trip

 

[Garrobo]

Here's my agenda for Coz. A couple times a year I take a Continental flight to Houston and then on to Coz. Usually around $550-600 round trip from Columbus, Ohio. Ignore the bufoons in the airport lobby who are trying to sell you a condo or timeshare. They're just trying to make a living. I take the airport shuttle to Papa Hog's for a few bucks. You can get four nights at the Villa Blanca hotel (next door) and three days of two-tank dives (across the street) in a package for $395. More dives or nights, more money. They go out twice a day in small boats (six-packs) and put a DM with each group. It's mainly drift diving which is a breeze. They also have a 7-day package. Nothing fancy but surely adequate if you are only interested in diving.( As an aside, there's nothing worse than diving in the morning after a hard night out. Best to stick to diving.) PapaHogs is on the internet. I've never reserved through the hotel, just through Papa Hogs. Great people and staff. Two restaurants and a "seven-eleven" and staffed money change next to Hogs. There are lots of interesting stuff nearby in walking distance so you don't need a car or bike. Fact is, about the most dangerous thing you can do on Coz is drive, dangerous to both your body and pocketbook (policia). Lots of cheap taxis buzzing around if you need to go somewhere.

 

[asiders9]

anyone else?

 

[don Francisco]

I'm a big fan of Cozumel, where I think you get the most diving bang for the buck. With the Peso lower (who knows where exchange rates will be later) the value is even greater.

I generally dive with Aqua Safari, who's basic program is 2-tanks in the AM with an optional 3rd tank for $9.00. The nice thing is that you don't have to decide about the third tank until you're back from the earlier dives, so if you're too tired to do a $9.00 dive (fat chance) you can pass on it. Aqua Safari also offfers basic accomodations at Safari Inn, (simple, b ut clean and ccomfortable) which is in town above the store, convenient both for diving and after diving activities.

Overall AS has done a great job over the years, but there are number of great operators in Coz., so I suggest that if you decide on Cozumel, read some reviews in the Cozumel forum here at scubaboard, and pick a hotel and operator that suits your tastes.

I always stay in town, and never do all inclusives, since I like the freedom to explore the town in the evenings, and have never spent as much on meals and drinks as the all-inclusives charge.

If you decide to go to Coz. you can arange your trip yourself, and by shopping airfares hard on the internet, get yourself a great trip, and maybe save enough for that bike after all.

The other distination offering maximum dive value is Honduras. Airfare would be higher, but you save on the other expenses, so on a longer trip can come out ahead.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip. dF

 

[sharky60]

Coz, Coz, Coz!!!

Getting to and staying in Key West can be expensive and although diving is good there...it ain't Coz. ...not much is.

I'd love to go to the Turks, but I think you would get more travel bang for your buck going to Mexico.

Nowdays, it may be even cheaper for you to fly into Cancun and do the "bag drag" as we call it to Cozumel. There has been some good deals from Dallas to Cancun here lately and if you could get to Austin reasonably (possibly on Southwest?), a new Mexican charter called VivoArobus has been running some amazing deals to Cancun. As low as $9.99 each way! (plus taxes and stuff of course, but my wife and I booked 2 round trip tickets and our total for BOTH ROUND TRIP TICKETS was only $350!! less than a 1/2 of what American wants to fly just one of us directly into Coz from Dallas.

Basically fly into Cancun, take a shuttle bus to Playa del Carmen and then take the ferry from PDC over to Cozumel island. Sounds like a big hassle, but it will only cost you a couple hours of time and save you lots of bucks.

There are many low priced hotels and even some b&b's on Cozumel, Caribe Blu, Villa Blanca, Baracuda, Casa Mexicana, Casa del Mar to name a few, are all nice, clean, well run and low priced 'no frills', dive oriented hotels.

If you stay at Caribe Blu and dive with Blue Angel, the on-site dive op, you get a better hotel price.http://www.lorenz.pl/angel/index.html http://www.caribeblu.net/

Dive with Martin is one of the lowest priced dive ops on Coz, and one of my top 5 dive op recommendations. They usually have some sort of deal if you book multiple dives (not sure on the number), you get a free one tank night dive or free video, they also used to give the same deal if you brought items for charity, see their website for details www.divewithmartin.com

the food is good and can be very reasonable throughout the island, taxis are cheap and depending where you stay, you can even walk most places. we stay at Caribe Blu which is a mile out of town and make the walk quite frequently.

 

[djanni]

umel, umel, umel!!!

 

[robint]

Cozumel would be great for you, and going with a group from your LDS would make your parents more comfortable.

 

[scubapatton]

Cozumel is good.. try to daytrip across to Playa Del Carmen area to hit the Cenotes. Be smart and you will do fine there even traveling solo.

 

[boulderjohn]

Having been to Coz quite a few times myself, I can echo the recommendations you have received. Every one of the operators recommended has a good reputation, but there are other good ones you will find on the Cozumel section of SB.

I also agree with the recommendation to avoid all inclusives. If you are going to go somewhere that isn't Kansas, make the effort to see it what it is really like. If you stay in an all inclusive, you really aren't seeing the island, and your money isn't interacting with the local economy as it should. Cozumel has some excellent restaurants, and the Cozumel section of SB will give you a good listing. The people you will meet in town are among the friendliest you will find anywhere you vacation. Crime is close to non-existent, so you will feel safe walking anywhere.