Coraline_Reef:
Thank you for the suggestions. It sounds like Bonaire, Curacoa, or Grand Cayman from the posts. I heard Cozumel may not be a good choice because of hurricane damage...? Do you know when Continental is expected to have the nonstop to Bonaire? Will the water still be warm at these places around Feb.?
Cozumel will snap back pretty quickly. The first divers are there this week. If you're newer divers, know that most of Cozumel diving is drift diving, not that it's difficult, but you have to understand what to do.
Bonaire is much quieter, the diving is effortless, the whole island caters to divers (and lately windsurfers) The water is usually calm, the entries in some places couldn't be easier - most of the diveresorts/condos on the water have their own dive docks. Not a lot of beaches on Bonaire, most of the west side, including the majority of the dive sites are ironshore and coral rubble that require a good pair of boots to navigate over.
There is a profusion of coral, soft corals, sponges and small animals on Bonaire. Frogfish, Seahorses, some turtles and lots of reef fish. The water is startingly clear since it's a Marine Park offshore, there's no pollutants allowed into the ocean.
Cayman is probably as good or better. I've seen visibility on Cayman exceed 150'. Lots of bigger fish/animals, Rays, some Sharks, millions of fish and corals and big sponges. It's the most expensive place to stay in the Caribbean though, the food costs are especially high. And since it's the offshore banking capital of the Caribbean, the dollar is fixed at .80 against the CI dollar so your money doesn't go too far.
Most of the diving on Cayman is via boat, there's 4-5 shore locations but a lot of the island is ironshore down to the waterline so access is difficult except at a couple of the dive properties. Seven Mile Beach is a nice stretch of sand, but there's no close shore diving off it, although there is some great boat diving further out. But if you go, do stay there, all the dive outfits will pick you up with their vans and take you to their boats.
Water temps on Bonaire will be between 80-82' all year round. Cayman is about 80' right now, not sure if it cools off later.
The Continental flights to Bonaire start Dec. 16th. All the flight options to Bonaire are here:
http://www.infobonaire.com/airlineinfo.html
Do a search for Bonaire - if you do an advanced search with my name, several of my Bonaire "travelogues" will show up. Another good source for Bonaire info are the forums at
www.bonairetalk.com, for Cayman try
http://www.divecayman.ky/
hth,