I'm planning a week dive trip for early Apr 2008 for my wife and I. She is a vacation diver who dives 1-2 times per year. She does not like long boat rides and rough seas (gets seasick). I have tried shore diving but that was a disaster. I have taken her to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, St. Croix, and Aruba. Looking to try something new this year. I'm considering Curacao, Bonaire (yes, we would boat dive!), Ambergris Caye, or St. Kitts. I'm worried about rough seas outside the reef at Ambergris Caye in early April. Also, have not read too many positives about diving in St. Kitts. Top side activites would be a plus, but not a show stopper. Opinions/suggestions.
Dive trip recommendations
- Thread starter scooter6
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divergirl1227
Registered
A group of us just got back from Bonaire, I am a vacation diver (husband dives Lake Michigan I have no interest) and a new diver. I do not like rough seas either. I found Bonaire to be the best....All I read said Bonaire was great for new divers and it was. Even the shore dives were easy. I will be in Curacao in Jan. and hope for the same.
good luck!
Tremers
good luck!
Tremers
Dave Zimmerly
Contributor
Yeah, I would recommend Bonaire as well...easy diving, little or no current and lots of stuff to see.
Dave (aka "Squirt")
Dave (aka "Squirt")
under water
Contributor
I will second the vote for Bonaire.
There are many of the shore dives that do require you to wade in through surf, across rocks, etc, but you can stay at a place like Den Laman, Sand Dollar, Cap't Don's, etc and just use their docks to step into the water a few feet from where you get the tanks. It is less work than a boat dive.., really! You have LOTS of room to gear up, and less distance to haul the tanks. You also get to enjoy the shallows and all the critters as you come back to the easy steps onto the dock.
You can do the boat dives too to mix it up a bit and get to those places that might be a bit much for someone that hates shore dives (or the work involved). My wife fits this category and she loves Bonaire. I wouldn't do more than 6 boat dives in a week and the rest from either your resorts dock or another one. Also, be sure to check out Oil Slick Leap.. easy entry (GIANT STEP) easy exit .. (ladders) Parking on premises.
There are many of the shore dives that do require you to wade in through surf, across rocks, etc, but you can stay at a place like Den Laman, Sand Dollar, Cap't Don's, etc and just use their docks to step into the water a few feet from where you get the tanks. It is less work than a boat dive.., really! You have LOTS of room to gear up, and less distance to haul the tanks. You also get to enjoy the shallows and all the critters as you come back to the easy steps onto the dock.
You can do the boat dives too to mix it up a bit and get to those places that might be a bit much for someone that hates shore dives (or the work involved). My wife fits this category and she loves Bonaire. I wouldn't do more than 6 boat dives in a week and the rest from either your resorts dock or another one. Also, be sure to check out Oil Slick Leap.. easy entry (GIANT STEP) easy exit .. (ladders) Parking on premises.
DeputyDan
Contributor
Bonaire - where the good divers go the heaven!
robint
Contributor
Here's another one for Bonaire! Do one boat dive per day, only 5-15 minutes boat ride, then shore dive the rest of day. We were just there in June.... my photos and videos are here: <Ron & Robin's Bonaire Trip> <>Photos
robint
robint
DeputyDan
Contributor
Bonaire - where the good divers go the heaven!
Its the quarry for the others
[/QUOTE]
Its the quarry for the others
[/QUOTE]
carib_traveler
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Hi Scooter,
Going to Bonaire in december so can't say much about that yet, but I learned to dive on Curacao (Curacao dive operator Caribbean Sea Sports Curacao - scuba diving, dive shop and boat trips) and like diving here a lot. The cool thing is that there's a lot of variety in the kind of dives you can do and there's also plenty of activities topside (The island of Curacao - A real, different Caribbean vacation | Bon Bini Curacao).
Going to Bonaire in december so can't say much about that yet, but I learned to dive on Curacao (Curacao dive operator Caribbean Sea Sports Curacao - scuba diving, dive shop and boat trips) and like diving here a lot. The cool thing is that there's a lot of variety in the kind of dives you can do and there's also plenty of activities topside (The island of Curacao - A real, different Caribbean vacation | Bon Bini Curacao).
TheDiveBus
Contributor
I agree with the previous post. We live here in Curacao and just got back from a dive vacation in Bonaire. The dives and what you'll see on them are pretty much the same in both Bonaire and Curacao but there's much more choice in Curacao in terms of topside activities, places to go, things to do when you're dry, restaurants etc.
The shore diving in Curacao couldn't be simpler. You literally walk in from the beach at most dive sites. It's 6 steps from the gearing up area at The Dive Bus to the ocean's edge, for example. It doesn't get any easier than this ;o)
Happy planning!
Suzy
The shore diving in Curacao couldn't be simpler. You literally walk in from the beach at most dive sites. It's 6 steps from the gearing up area at The Dive Bus to the ocean's edge, for example. It doesn't get any easier than this ;o)
Happy planning!
Suzy
Scuba Mama
Contributor
Hi Scooter6,
You definitely can't go wrong with either Bonaire or Curacao. Both have incredible diving year round. Check out Bonaire Pros -- Dive travel & windsurfing vacations to Bonaire or ~ ~ ~ Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire ~ ~ ~ for great Bonaire packages.
You definitely can't go wrong with either Bonaire or Curacao. Both have incredible diving year round. Check out Bonaire Pros -- Dive travel & windsurfing vacations to Bonaire or ~ ~ ~ Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire ~ ~ ~ for great Bonaire packages.
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