Six days in... help me decide?

I'm hoping to get away for six days over the Christmas holiday. I can get one-way flights to the following places from where I live:

Bermuda
San Juan, PR
Cancun
Grand Cayman
Bahamas
Panama
El Salvador
Florida: Fort Meyers, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale

Any recommendations for where would have the best diving for my trip length. I'm thinking four days of diving.

On your list Grand Cayman is probably the best. Also the most expensive. The only location on your list with shore diving options - except SoFl.
Nassau/Freeport are good for boat diving - also sharks since both have feeds. Dolphins at UNEXSO also.
IDK much about Bermuda but it will be colder then.
The better diving in PR is not near San Juan.

I agree with Grand Cayman as #1, and would pit Bahamas a close second. I think the other locations are much less desirable for a dedicated dive trip. Multiple dive days in Florida could be ok at the Keys, with shallow dives and deep wreck dives.Debbie and I spent a week on Grand Cayman in 2010 and were very happy with our choice.
DivemasterDennis

Thinking out of the box....or off the list....I would recommend Barbados. Costs to get there are comparable or less and the diving is good, plus there is a LOT to do above ground. Yell if interested (PM) and I will provide detailed info.

tenley,
bermuda sits in the middle of the gulf stream.
thats why all of her coral and fish are tropical.
most of the dive sites are shallow.
that's why there are close to 400 wrecks.

stay at grotto bay resorts and dive with triangle divers.
been there,

Thank you everyone!

---------- Post Merged at 12:41 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 12:31 AM ----------

Hi Steve and Dennis,

Do you recommend any dive resorts in Grand Cayman?

Tenley

There's several options,

Cobalt Coast on the north side or Sunset House just south of town - both have shore dives off their property. At Sunset House My Bar is a diver's bar and the Cathy Church U/W Photo school/gallery is on-site.

Cobalt Coast is in a quieter neighborhood about 20mins north of town. Divetech there does some interesting dives, they have a rebreather tryout and an escorted scooter dive along the wall to their other location at Lighthouse Point nearby.

Sunset House is in the departing flight path but that's not usually a problem except during the occasional day flight. You can also walk to downtown - to get to anything from Cobalt Coast you'll want a car.

I've never stayed at either resort. I personally feel the better diving is off the north/nw side. Many of the really good dives are in that area. Sunset House being south of town may not go as far past NW Point to dive them, it's a long way for them. The shore dives are equally interesting, off Cobalt Coast you can get to the North Wall - it's a swim though - Sunset House has the famous Mermaid and a small wreck just off their property.

Compass Point(condos)/Ocean Frontiers is an option on the much quieter East End. As is the Morritt's timeshare/condo complex - there's a Red Sail (Tortuga Divers) facility on site.

We rent condos along Seven Mile Beach since most of the dive operators run shuttles with daily pickup. Most keep their boats in one of several nearby marina's since the diving off SMB is for the most part too far out to access from shore. There's also some hotel options both on/off the beach. A more affordable option is Comfort Suites, Ambassador Divers is on-site there.

In case you're not aware of it, everything on Cayman is expensive. Boat dives average 2/$100 and lodging and food costs are also high. One advantage of Cayman over the Bahamas is you can shore dive there, the reef off most of the Bahama islands is too far out. Most of the sites have a dive operator on site so you can usually arrange for a guide if desired. Some idea can be found here: Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Cayman Islands, Caribbean

My wife and I just got back from GC late August. The diving was absolutely amazing. We stayed at the Westin in SMB, which was a very nice hotel. We rented a car and shore dove every day, so we got to see a lot of the island. We dove from cobalt coast to the north all the way down to sunset house and everywhere it between.

We are trying to get back in Dec the same time frame you're looking at. It looks much pricier that time of year though.

Due to the increased price, we're thinking some place cheaper like Sunset house. The reef, the restaurant, and bar there are awesome and very laid back.

I've heard there are even cheaper places to stay depending on your level of comfort. I really fell in love with everything about GC and can't wait to go back.