Where to go?

[catone]

Wow, thanks for the help, I'm impressed!

1. The Panhandle in NOV will be cold, water probably in the mid 60s.

Great point, I forgot about it

What kind of diving do you aspire do? Are you driven by the deep wrecks or do caves get your blood flowing?

For now I focus on just diving and getting the basics down, anything goes. And yes, deep wrecks and cave diving do get my blood flowing.

catone, this is a long shot but does your name happen to be Mike? Originally from Romania? If not, nevermind.

Extremely long shot but spot on! WTF?!

...it would suck to make arrangements than have a late season hurricane roll through the Carribean.

Yep, one more thing in favor of staying locally and just driving from place to place.

We will all be meeting up in October at Vortex Springs (VORTOBERFEST VI) for a megadive weekend. You are very welcome to join us!

Thank you, I knew about it but I'm working that weekend Where do you guys dive in Savannah area?

First thing to do is complete your profile so we can address your needs compared to you better.

Point taken. To DandyDon: great ideas and links, I'll look into it.

Thanks everybody for all your help, I'm even more confused now than before!

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Offshore GA, there are quite a few wrecks off the J-buoy. Sagebrush, Liberty Ship, and the Jane Yarn to name a few. It's about a 40 mile haul out there, but they are full of soft coral and fish. Grey's Reef Marine Sanctuary is out there too, just south of Sav. It is considered an AOW dive due to currents and visibility that can change rapidly. The Gulf Stream is over 100miles offshore so the visibility is definitely not what you will find down near W. Palm Fl.

In November, diving is still pretty good near Jupiter/W. Palm/Boynton Beach/Pompano FL. Those dives are pretty easy drifts (was just there last weekend with a brand new cert diver) and lots of pretty reefs/wrecks. It's about 6 hr drive to Jupiter from Sav.

Hope that helps you plan some trips. I would be happy to recommend dive operators for that area, just PM me.

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[mbram]

Extremely long shot but spot on! WTF?!

Haha, sorry to freak you out, I'm Mike your insta-buddy from the Span 10/Accokeek dive where we saw the huge Manta.

I remembered you telling me about getting some days off and that you were from ATL and dove the panhandle a lot. Figured that made it likely enough to ask.

If you end up coming down to the panhandle let me know, I'll do a few boat dives with you. Got my nitrox cert 2 days after our dive. There're also some good shore dives nearby.

 

[PatW]

Initially, I would suggest Key Largo. There are a pot load of dives there from shallow (30'<) to deep wrecks. The fish life at Key Largo is very good. Last trip I saw eagle rays, nurse sharks, morays, stingrays, a pot load of grunts, damsel fish, snappers, butterfly fish, angel fish, groupers including a goliath grouper. The corals are not as good the carribean but it is still good. The thing about the keys is you can work on your skills and experience and have some very nice diving.

On other places, I would also recommend the Caymans.

 

[DandyDon]

The Florida Keys does have some fun diving, including several fun wrecks. I've done the Spiegel, Bibb, Duane, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch, but not the new one off of Key West - which I am sure is fun. Catone said he likes wrecks, but I wouldn't do any of those without Nitrox. You can get that card for $100 total at some shops in an evening class.

Driving 10 hours (Mapquest says 11 hours 16 minutes / 724.40 miles) in one day is a bit much going, way too much returning. Maybe drive back to Orlando area first afternoon, then on home the next day.

 

[diversteve]

What about Curacao?

Look into Breezes - all inclusive resort in the resort area of town. I think it's about $1200 for the week - not sure what if any diving that includes. But everything else. They can bundle your flights also afaik. Someone here on SB just went there solo. Ocean Encounters has a dive shop on-site. Our location at Breezes Curacao Resort | Ocean Encounters Diving Curacao

Frankly I'm not a big fan of AI's - only stayed at one on Utila - but mention it since there'd be dive buddies for you. Ocean Encounters doesn't allow solo diving.

The Dive Bus is another option next door - escorted shore diving next door - they'll pick you up afaik.

Curacao diving is as good as Bonaire but there's more to do topside, food in all ranges, nightclubs, about a dozen casinos etc. Most of it nearby. From Atlanta you should be there around 2:45 - we used the same Continental connecting flight from Houston.

I don't think you could do Cayman for $2000, there's nowhere reasonably priced to stay as a single. November might be high-season for the resorts. And diving there is expensive.

Roatan is another option if you stay at one of the resorts with an on-site diveop.

Fantasy Island Resort is offering a special promo rate this fall of $699 all-inclusive single. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tr...nd-resort-offers-dive-travel-deal-decade.html

Or Cocoview next door - it's $950/1000 for the week plus $200-400 more for the single supplement. You can roomshare with a stranger instead of the single supplement.

Unfortunately flights will likely eat up a big portion of your $2000. A quick check on Expedia looks like around $800.

Personally I thought the diving was better in Curacao. And a lot less bugs...

 

[catone]

Haha, sorry to freak you out, I'm Mike your insta-buddy from the Span 10/Accokeek dive where we saw the huge Manta.

Okay, mystery solved, that was a very very long shot!! Hi Mike, I actually remember you quite well, as I thought of you reading the insta-buddy thread. Great skills (and gear) for a beginner (in fact it would be nice if even more experienced divers would have your skills), thanks for your offer, I would dive with you again anytime.

Initially, I would suggest Key Largo.

The Keys seem to be the favorite here, I tend to agree it has most of the benefits and there are a lot of things to see there.

So far I dove SilentWorld, Sea Dwellers, Horizon Divers, all good. Any preferences? How about lodging? I stayed at Key West Inn and enjoyed the location, amenities and definitely the price. Any other suggestions?

Thank you,
Mike

 

[catone]

The Florida Keys does have some fun diving, including several fun wrecks. I've done the Spiegel, Bibb, Duane, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch, but not the new one off of Key West - which I am sure is fun. Catone said he likes wrecks, but I wouldn't do any of those without Nitrox. You can get that card for $100 total at some shops in an evening class.

I've done the Spiegel and the Vandenberg off of Key west, great dives. I am Nitrox certified (and Deep/Wreck cert, too, both done on the Oriskany), looking forward to return there or even do the Bibb or the others.

Driving 10 hours (Mapquest says 11 hours 16 minutes / 724.40 miles) in one day is a bit much going, way too much returning. Maybe drive back to Orlando area first afternoon, then on home the next day.

I've done it in a little over 10 hrs both ways, I live in South ATL area. Actually, first time I did it, I gave myself 12 hrs to make it there, drove all night and got there in 10 hrs, a bit too early, it was 5:30 AM, SilentWorld closed, so I turned on the engine for the AC, got into passanger's seat and slept in the parking lot under the neon sign til about 7:30, then woke up, had a Subway sandwich right there, checked in, went to the dock and put in 4 dives that day
To me, the most annoying part of the drive was the toll-gates I had to go through (like 7 or 8 of them) each time I finally picked up some speed. Oh, and my butt was hurting after driving for so long

 

[DandyDon]

I've done the Spiegel and the Vandenberg off of Key west, great dives. I am Nitrox certified (and Deep/Wreck cert, too, both done on the Oriskany), looking forward to return there or even do the Bibb or the others.

Ah, my typing was based on a lack of info - cool.

 

[Straegen]

From Atlanta as well. My wife and I drive to Boynton Beach several times per year which is about 10 hours each way and not bad if you can split it with someone. We do these on long weekends. If we have more than 4 days to stay we fly and flights to the area via AirTran are often under $100. Car rentals do add considerably to the cost though. I HIGHLY recommend Kevin at Dive Boynton Beach:

Underwater Explorers - SCUBA Diving Boynton Beach, Delray, Palm Beach, Reefs and Wrecks

He can get you a discount at a nice beach front hotel as well.

Mexico (Cozumel specifically) is another great spot with cheap airfare and a deal at a nice resort can almost always be found.