Where to spend 10 days?

[CaribTrekker]

My husband and I are avid divers and planning a vacation for 10 days in April. Ideally we'd like to get in at least 4 dives per day with a few nights dives too. We are not set on any particular part of the world and budget is not a major concern.

That said we have been to Cozumel/Mexico/Akumal, Bonaire, and Roatan. The places we're considering are: Australia, Palau (liveaboard?), Fiji, Caymans (photo class w/Cathy Church?), or returning to Bonaire.

Requirements for diving are warm water, great vis, lots of photo ops, and a decent meal & bed at the end of the day. We did like Bonaire for the freedom to choose our own dive schedule, so access to shore diving is an added bonus.

Thoughts? I'm looking for feedback about best places to stay from our list or any other locations we haven't considered!

 

[Damselfish]

If time and money would allow you to do someplace like Palau or Fiji, I'd be looking at those places first. Or maybe someplace in Indonesia (so many choices there.)

Since you haven't done Cayman yet that's certainly a good option too, we never seem to tire of Cayman. With 10 days you might consider splitting the trip, like stay at Sunset House a few days if you want to do a photo course there, then spend the rest on the East End or go to Little Cayman. I say this because while diving from Sunset House has it's points (like shore diving and a famous photo op) their boats will not for the most part get you to the best diving there.

We had a great trip on the Palau Aggressor, and spent a couple pleasant days before at Palau Pacific resort to catch up at with the time. The kayaking is great too. (We followed Palau with some time in Yap as it's an easy add on, though the flight times are horrible.) The Pacific liveaboards tend to get booked up pretty far in advance though so it might be getting late for that. Dive shops often book these whole boats for groups, but may turn back unused spots at some deadline or you might be able to find out who has the boat reserved and get on their trip.

Our best trip so far has been a liveaboard in the Maldives, though viz varied widely and photography was challenging in the currents.

(You want to be very comfortable in the water and have your skills in good shape for Palau or the Maldives, at under 50 dives might or might not be too soon.)

 

[tedwhiteva]

Roatan - Anthony Keys resort - would fit your requirements.

 

[SFLDiver3445]

If you're into the photography thing, have you considered Wakatobi?

Wakatobi Dive Resort - Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia

 

[robint]

I you want to do 4 dives per day for a week, you've gotta do a liveaboard!! It is the easiest, no stress vacation you will ever have. No kidding, we are doing our 3rd Liveaboard end of this month and our 4th next April or May on the Nekton. My husband and I want to dive dive dive and their is no better way.

Check out:
Nekton Diving Cruises - Comfort, Stability, Worldclass Diving (April is Belize or Bahamas)
and
Aggressor Fleet | The ultimate in live-aboards since 1984 (their Fiji or Palau trips)
and
Explorer Ventures: Adventures in Live-Aboard Diving (their Turks & Caicos or Saba or Australia trips look great)

robint

 

[jasondcrawford]

I agree with robint. Have you done a liveaboard before? If not, it is definately the way to go. Be careful though, because once you do one, you'll never be satisfied diving any other way. You'll get 5 dives in each day, and it will be the most relaxing week you've had.

 

[mjh]

Another vote for a live-aboard. We have trip reports, galleries and slideshows for Fiji, PNG, Palau, Thailand, etc... If you want to get a lot of diving in it's a great way to go.

 

[BTravlin]

You might also consider the Cuan Law in the British Virgin Islands. Loved it.

Welcome Aboard Cuan Law - Liveaboard Diving in the British Virgin Islands

 

[RICHinNC]

I would say Bonaire....but it is such a pain to get there.