closest place where the diving is warm(er)

[csrpj]

hi all,

i'm a new diver from the south bay. i find montterey very, very cold, and am wonder the closest (or most accessible or cheapest) place from this area where the water temperature is significantly nicer (greater visibility and marine life is also a plus).

in the future i may have the time and funds to take trips to the great dive sites of the world, but for now, where could i go on say a long weekend for some pleasant diving?

[Steve Eady]

What do you consider warmer ? We dive wiskeytown lake up here in Redding, not alot to see but Bass and maybe a trout. Water is at 62 now and going up. summer it will be mid 70s

[Kryssa]

We've found long weekend trips to warm water don't usually give us a good value because you have at least one day at the end where you can't dive. So Thursday-Sunday trips really only have 1-2 days of diving. For example, red eye to FL gets us in Thursday AM. Maybe 2 afternoon dives, 4 dives on Friday, and 2 Saturday morning. Then an afternoon flight will get us back to San Jose Sunday evening.

Here is what we consider to be relatively inexpensive places to dive with warm water and good conditions and life... I'll assume "warm" is 75F...

Hawaii
-Fly direct from San Jose to Kona for $450
-Stay in a condo ($700-1000/week)
-Do most (if not all) of the cooking yourself
-2 tank boat dives are about $125

Cozumel
-We fly SFO to CUN using Virgin America points, retail is about $600
-Next time we're trying Aldora Villa for $85/night
-2 tank boat dives with Aldora are $89, but that is on the high end for the island

If you aren't picky about your accommodations as they are bunk beds, check out Blackbeard's live aboard. Its about $950 all-inclusive for a week, plus flights to Nassau. That's probably going to be the cheapest per-dive warm water trip you can find.

[g1138]

My parents have a heated pool and a yellow lab if you're interested.
I'm still trying to teach him how to freedive. His form on the giant stride is amazing though, granted I still have to remind him to check his landing area before jumping. ;)

In all seriousness you may want to look at better exposure protection. If you find Monterey cold, then it's probably because you have ill fitting exposure protection.....ok it's also because Monterey is freaking cold.
Have to taken a look at custom skin in 2-piece suits w/ attached hoods? Or drysuits?

[merxlin]

Kryssa, where are you finding airfare for $450 round trip to Hawaii? Please share 'cause I am having trouble finding that price one way!

[Scubagolf]

So Cal Channel Islands in the summer and fall get water temps in the low to mid 60's. Catalina is accessible and gets in the upper 60's. Check out the Kelp Divers-So Ca section on SB.

[Kryssa]

We paid $459 round trip on Alaska Air San Jose-Kona for 9/1 to 9/9 this year. I just checked and the current fare is $503... quick, book it hehe :)

Also, if the fare goes down, Alaska Air will give you a credit to use for the difference within a year. Keeps us going back :P

Don't forget to book the Manta night dive ;)

[zinmaker]

You can buy a drysuit for the price of a warm water vacation, and have many more enjoyable dives here on our California coast.

[Peter_C]

I paid $127 shipped for my partners drysuit. At 100lbs wet, she would have never completed certification without it. She is still willing to dive with me, so the cold doesn't keep her out of the water. Plus the reports from Monterey of 50-80' of vis is kinda tropicalish.

[cmburch]

Alaska Airlines credit card if traveling a lot. I think $75 per year fee. $110 companion fare at end of each year. It use to be less like $50/yr and $55 companion fare. So save some money for long trips. Delta credit card also has some good perks.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Tropical diving you can drive to: http://www.rociodelmarliveaboard.com/
Adm. Linda and I did it last year and enjoyed it.

Chuck

[Kryssa]

Chuck, have you done a Caribbean liveaboard? If so, how does this compare?

4 hour drive from Phoenix... not bad!

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

[Slater]

Close to California. Cabo Pulmo which is on the inside edge of Cabo. Do a search..

[thymex01]

Have you heard of Cabo Pulmo, close to Los Cabos ?? Excellent diving and warm !! La Paz also is great !

check my web page, i organize dive trips in this area.

Mar y Sierra - Página web de marysierra1 (http://www.marysierra.com)

Hasta pronto !

---------- Post added ----------

Rocio del Mar is FANTASTIC !!!!!

[diversteve]

4 hour drive from Phoenix... not bad!
And there's a shuttle - about $200 R/T from the Phoenix airport directly to the boat.
Head Out To Rocky Point - Your full Service Charter & Shuttle Service to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Mexico on the Sea of Cortez! (http://www.headouttorockypoint.com)

---------- Post added ----------


where could i go on say a long weekend for some pleasant diving?San Carlos, MX is warm (80+) in the summer thru about mid-October. You can fly into Guaymas on USAirways and cab over. About a $700 flight in June. Many dive groups stay at the Best Western Tetakawi in town (cheaper) or MarinaTerra Resort. Behind MarinaTerra is the harbor the dive boats leave from - you can walk over with gear. There's also several restaurants/bars nearby so you don't need a car - except you'd need to set up your diving once with a shop in town. There's about 3-4 dive operators in town - many affiliated with shops in Tucson or Phoenix. http://www.sancarlosmexico.com/diving.html

Most divetrips go to Seal Island - about an hour offshore - there's a Sea Lion colony (leave your snorkel off your mask), Cortez Angelfish, Puffers, Stingrays, maybe an Octopus etc. It's a harder substrate but there are some small corals also. There's a submarine canyon south of the island so bigger stuff is sometimes seen. When you ride out there's often dolphins riding the bow wave. It's shallow, usually low current diving near the island, up close it's 10-20' or less then gradually drops to about 80'+. They often do cert dives there.

You might also check with El Mar Diving here in Mesa - they have a $499 trip that includes 3 nts. hotel, dinner, 2 days of 2 tank boat dives and the bus ride. Next one is July 19-22nd. http://www.elmar.com/sancarlos.php

From SFO to PHX flights are about $300/2 hrs - there's a lot of them daily - El Mar would be a $25ish cab ride from the airport.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Chuck, have you done a Caribbean liveaboard? If so, how does this compare?

4 hour drive from Phoenix... not bad!

I've done four weeks on Caribbean liveaboards and this was as good. Also as good as Kona. Not as good as Fiji (five weeks, going back next year (Linda won a trip)) or Australia (two weeks).

And if I recall correctly, the shuttle was $100.

I posted pictures from the trip: http://chucktribolet.smugmug.com/Underwater/Sea-of-Cortez-2011/


Chuck

[diversteve]

And if I recall correctly, the shuttle was $100.It is for 6 or more.
You and your friends can ride in the saftey and comfort of our two, fifteen passenger Chevy vans. Rates start at $190.00 per person,(based on two)round trip. One-way and solo travelers based on availability. One-way rate is $100.00. Groups of six or more, just $100.00 per person, round trip. "Group" refers to the number of people in your party.

[Chuck Tribolet]

It is for 6 or more.

I believe they treat everybody for Roccio del Mar as one group. There were the two of us, but almost all of the rest of the van was was Roccio del Mar.

BTW, the boat holds 20, but there were only 11 divers on our trip. All 11 were on the van, and going down there was one couple going to some resort.

[Chuck Tribolet]

I've been misspelling the name of the boat. It's Rocio del Mar.


Chuck

[alibi 2]

hi all,

i'm a new diver from the south bay. i find montterey very, very cold, and am wonder the closest (or most accessible or cheapest) place from this area where the water temperature is significantly nicer (greater visibility and marine life is also a plus).

in the future i may have the time and funds to take trips to the great dive sites of the world, but for now, where could i go on say a long weekend for some pleasant diving?

We drove in one day to San Diego and spent the night at a motel 6...the next day we drove to San Quentin and spent the night at a great motel...then we drove to Santa Roselia where we stayed at a great place recommended by AAA ...that night we sipped Margarita's on the balconey and watched the dolphins jump in the 85 degree water of the sea of cortez...the next morning we arrived in Loreto where we spent the next 5 days doing some of the best diving in our lives around the coronado islands before driving home...it amazed us that we had such a treasure so close to us..

[KRL1973]

bay area flights to Ft Lauderdale tend to be cheap (<300). There is some OK shore diving around Palm beach and late summer diving with sharks and goliath grouper out of nearby Jupiter, FL. Rental car down to key largo an option as well.

I haven't done this trip myself yet but it is on my list of quick, cheap trips to do when I get a chance

[NE_SSI_Diver]

Even though I have no experience with west coast dive locations, I do with cold water dives.

I believe that there is no need to go on a dive vacation to escape to cold when you can buy a drysuit for the same price (or cheaper) and dive locally. If you are on a budget I would suggest the Scubapro Everdry 4 which only costs $1000. Only a thin undergarment is needed ($125)because of its neoprene design. With a total cost of a little over $1100 you can stay warm and cozy in 48 degree water (I know because of personal experience). With a thin layer of under armor material you will be fine in 60 degree water. I don't know how cold the water is in your area, but a drysuit should solve all of your cold issues.

Buying a drysuit for the price of a vacation will be very cost effective. You only have to spend the money once and can dive very often locally while still being warm. If you do not have a restricted budget then there are more expensive drysuits such as DUI's. Good luck in finding a solution to your problems.

[KRL1973]

Even though I have no experience with west coast dive locations, I do with cold water dives.

I believe that there is no need to go on a dive vacation to escape to cold when you can buy a drysuit for the same price (or cheaper) and dive locally. If you are on a budget I would suggest the Scubapro Everdry 4 which only costs $1000. Only a thin undergarment is needed ($125)because of its neoprene design. With a total cost of a little over $1100 you can stay warm and cozy in 48 degree water (I know because of personal experience). With a thin layer of under armor material you will be fine in 60 degree water. I don't know how cold the water is in your area, but a drysuit should solve all of your cold issues.

Buying a drysuit for the price of a vacation will be very cost effective. You only have to spend the money once and can dive very often locally while still being warm. If you do not have a restricted budget then there are more expensive drysuits such as DUI's. Good luck in finding a solution to your problems.

That's a good point.
Warmth alone isn't the only consideration for most. Yes, the drysuit greatly improves how cold I get/stay on a dive locally but with the extra lead, hood, pee valves, leaks storage and maintenace etc. it is very different from warm water diving wearing just a pair of trunks or a thin shorty, no hood and having very little lead on you.

I dive local cold waters all the time and enjoy both wet and dry (prefer wet in most cases), but I also look forward to and savor warm water trips. Opinons will vary, but the difference in comfort between wet and dry for me is not great enough for me to forego a warm water trip.

PS. I have a very nice drysuit that I will gladly exchange for RT air tickets to Bonaire ;)

[NE_SSI_Diver]

Now that you mention Bonaire I can give some more insight. I was just there a couple of moths ago with my LDS and the trip was relatively cheap. I think that if you take the Red Eye flight and stay at Buddy Dive Resort (one of, if not, the best diver orientated resorts on Bonaire IMHO) it works out at about 1,600 dollars per person with 6 boat dives. And the nitrox upgrade is free, and with unlimited shore dives you can add as many dives as you want with no extra charge. Bonaire is a great choice to escape cold waters and the diving is exceptional while also being cheap.