Where to go for 1st. dive trip?

[DepthJunkie]

I need some help picking my 1st. destination. Let me give you some background so that the choice will be perfect.

1) I am newly certified(14 logged dives, all in cold water). So I am looking for something that will not be too intense and an operation that is suited for all degrees of ability.
2) Wife is not a diver, so I will need some entertainment for her while I'm diving(beach massages by tanned,buff locals not an option, unless female DM's are equally attractive:D).
3) Would like to do some sight-seeing during shore time.
4) Would like eventful nightlife, learn some native cultures maybe, and a romantic resort and atmosphere.

I need this to go really well so that I can convince her that she will not be bored and I can go to the other locations.

Thanks

Any other ideas welcomed.

[robint]

Of your choices... I vote Cozumel but I would stick to an all-inclusive resort for your wife's needs. Take a day to go over to the Mainland to tour the ruins at Tulum and Coba or Chichen Itza for some Mayan culture.

robint:D

edit: I would go to Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations (http://www.caradonna.com) or Caribbean Dive Island Vacations at Bay Adventures (http://www.bayadventures.com) to look for nice package deals. They will also have hotel/resorts listed for you to show the wifey for approval.

[bubbles3d]

The only issue w/ Cozumel is that it is all drift diving. If your buoyancy is very good there should not be a problem.

[joedacor]

Hi Depth Junkie
Looking at your requirement for your Dive trip- if you have 10 or more days may be you wants to consider Tioman Islands, Malaysia, since They Visit Year. do check out tioman (http://www.tioman.com.my)

[-hh]

I need some help picking my 1st. destination. Let me give you some background so that the choice will be perfect.

1) I am newly certified(14 logged dives, all in cold water). So I am looking for something that will not be too intense and an operation that is suited for all degrees of ability.

I'd stay away from drift diving (Cozumel), as its better for you to learn how to not bump coral without a current before adding in that additional complexity.



2) Wife is not a diver, so I will need some entertainment for her while I'm diving(beach massages by tanned,buff locals not an option, unless female DM's are equally attractive:D).

With a non-diver spouse, what I've learned is that it is important to be back by lunchtime. Getting back at 1-2pm isn't a good way to make points, unless this is a typical lunch hour for the two of you.


3) Would like to do some sight-seeing during shore time.

Also decide for yourself if this includes shopping, or is more nature-oriented, etc. This will help you to decide if you're going to go for an 'urban' type setting (Coz) or 'countryside' (Little Cayman)



4) Would like eventful nightlife, learn some native cultures maybe, and a romantic resort and atmosphere.

Are you willing to miss the prepaid dive the next morning because you have a hangover and are moving slow from being out late the night before? :11doh: I'm not suggesting that this isn't a good thing, but its easy to overdo. In general, to really experience the local, you're going to need to get off the resort's property. Some destinations this is easy, others a bit harder. Sometimes its easiest done with a rental car, other times the local taxi's are the way to go.


-hh

[Divin'Hoosier]

Since you are such a new diver I voted for Grand Cayman. The diving is easier there. There is definitely more to do on Cozumel, especially when considering excursions over to the Riviera Maya.

[johnny_bravo]

None of those...go to Bonaire!

Cheers.

-J.-

[robint]

None of those...go to Bonaire!

Cheers.

-J.-
I agree that Bonaire is better than any of this other options, but with a non-diving spouse on her first trip with a diver........ :shakehead:ugghhh, Bonaire would probably kill any future chances of a dive trip! Cozumel at a fancy all-inclusive is a good way to ease her into the dive trip thing!! :D

[DeputyDan]

None of those -

It depends on who you are going with! This is very important

If on your own my vote would be Key Largo. Many reasons why I would chose this.

It's not my favorite locale but for your situation it would be my choice.

[del_mo]

What DeputyDan says. Key Largo has much to offer. Shallow reefs so you'll have long dives. Deeper intact wrecks that you might need to hire a divemaster to escort you, but well worth the extra cost.

If Florida interests you, Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach offers more great diving.

People who haven't dove Florida don't know what they are missing.

[nereas]

(x) None of the above.

I vote for Key Largo Florida.

It is unlikely that you are ready for Cozumel Mex.

[floridasungirl]

I started in South Florida so of course I think it is a great place to go diving, but my first big trip was to Grand Cayman. The Bahamas are also very nice but overall I agree that where ever you go, make sure you go to a big AI resort. The worst you could do is to stay in a dive resort with no town or other activities near by.

Many resorts will have other activities during dive times - hikes, horseback riding, jungle tours, shopping trips that you might not even be interested in going in.

Best option - let her pick the place and start from there.

[diversteve]

my .02

Cayman 1st dives generally go deep +/- 100' on the 1st dive down the Wall. You can stay shallow by staying on top of the wall in some areas but it's not always possible. So discuss your comfort level at depth with the diveop you choose.

Bonaire would bore your wife to tears. It does me after diving. Except for some good restaurants, sail/kiteboarding, 2-3 non-dive resorts and 2 small blocks of shopping that's about it. And no "eventful" nightlife unless that's sitting around diveresort bars at night.

Cozumel is mostly all drift diving - and deeper. So it's more suited for someone with 50+ dives or so, who's had some experience in currents and boat recovery.

Seems like what you're describing is Nassau. There's plenty to do there, Paradise Island, downtown, blocks of shopping, some good clubs, sightseeing at the Fort etc. Stuart Cove's is the bigger diveop there, they run all kinds of trips from Discover Dive to more advanced wrecks
and walls that lead you out over the Tongue of The Ocean (big drop) They do a lot of shark feeds/encounters and dive shallow wrecks in the area. Downside is they're on the south side of the island and all the resorts/Nassau are on the north side. But they have a free shuttle.
Bahama Divers is the other op, they also do mixed level trips. They're more conveniently located by the Paradise Island bridge and do more northern sites than SC. I think I'd dive with both.

From what I've read, Provo might be a good choice also. I've never been there.

You might also consider St. Thomas. There's a lot of diving on both the south and east coasts, some good resorts, nightlife downtown and lots of tourism stuff since it's a big cruise port also. Good dives we did off the East End didn't exceed much over 50-60'.

hth,

[drydiver]

I had a trip to Jamaica planned prior to my certification, so it became my first dive trip. I have not been anywhere else to compare it to, but as a newbie I thought it was very easy. I stayed at Breezes Runaway Bay which is one of the quieter AI's there. We went there for a wedding so I guess someone thinks it is a romantic place, I was there with my sister. They have shuttles to their other resorts, Hedonism, etc for some interesting night life. Others we knew went there and had a good time. They have daily excursions and other onsite entertainment, but otherwise you would not leave the resort unescorted. Every day they have a 9 am 2 tank boat dive for certified divers and then another 1 tank shallow dive at noon for the resort divers or those certified who need more recovery time. I saw plenty of sea life, rays, eels, fish variety, but again I have nothing to compare it to. No extra costs for any diving, rentals, etc except night dives @$50. One plus is that there are non-stops from Philly, downside is be prepared to meet the DEA and the hounds at the gate on the return flight. There seemed to be a lot of road consruction, I was there in April, because of a bunch of new resorts being built, and the shuttle from the airport was about 45 minutes. A very interesting 45 minutes.