Memorial Day Dive Destination Ideas

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eotm

Registered
Messages
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Location
Boston, MA
# of dives
100 - 199
I just found out I will be able to take Memorial Day weekend off, and am looking forward to doing some diving. Anybody have recommendations for where to go? I know that is a very open ended question, so I've provided additional detail below:

Timing: 3 nights, leaving NYC Friday afternoon and returning late night Monday or early Tuesday (call it 10am at the latest). This is likely require direct flights.
Dive Experience: ~30 dives. Have my PADI Advanced and an SSI Nitrox Certs.
About Me: Guy in early 20s, travelling alone. So I will need to find a dive buddy and would prefer somewhere with nightlife.
Already Been To: Grand Cayman (West Wall), various Palm Beach dives, Peurto Rico (including Vieques), Costa Rica's Gold Coast (want to dive Cocos but not happening on this trip). I've also done GBR and The Similians in Thailand, but obviously don't have enough time to go to Asia.

At first glance, it appears that Bonaire, Curacao and Jamaica (Negil) are good options, but would love to expand that list. What do people think? Specifically looking for advice on dive season (weather, marine life), boat operators (open to liveaboards, boat dives + hotel or shore diving from a diver's resort) and spectacular sites/attractions.

Thanks
 
If it was me for a short trip like that I'd only go where I could go on a direct flight. Then I'd consider the flight times so that I could get there Friday night, dive 4 dives Sat, 4 more on Sunday, then leave late enough Monday to off gas enough from the last dive Sunday. I'd probably go to Jupiter, Florida flying into Orlando. Surprising good diving in Jupiter, check out the Florida sub forum, people are always posting interesting videos of what they see.
 
Not sure about the night life component on any of the following suggestions but a dive trip from NYC three nights memorial day weekend, look at Bahamas, Provo, or FLL (diving FLL or in upper Keys). All are reachable on relatively short nonstop flights and you can get two days of diving. Bermuda would be another but accomodations as a single it may be cost prohibitive.
 
What tkaelin said...^

At first glance you don't seem to be able to get to Curacao or Bonaire in less than about 15-18 hours within your timeframes. You could meet the Friday night/Sat morning Bonaire United red-eye out of Houston but that won't get you there till 6AM Saturday morning. This close, that plane may be full also.

Also IDK if you could get back on Tuesday, Bonaire is mostly set up as a weekly destination - Sat->Sat so flights are limited mid-week. You might have to puddle jump over to Curacao first - problem with that is the AA flight (720AM) is too early from Curacao to connect from Bonaire. There's also a later afternoon flight but IDK if it gets you back to MIA early enough to connect onto NYC. Curacao isn't exactly a major hub. There's also an Insel Air flight to MIA or CLT - IDK the days/times. Or look at connecting thru Aruba.

Check it here - they'll have all available options: Matrix - ITA Software Enter your date/time restriction then you can drill down in the results to timeframes/stops etc.

Provo works within your timeframes. Flight is $1600+ though and it's expensive to stay there. Try the Comfort Suites, it's in Grace Bay where most all the nightlife is also. There's a small casino also, they'll pick you up. It's all boat diving so finding a buddy won't be difficult. Most of the diveops pick you up so a $25ish cab ride from the airport would get you to that area. Everything is mostly within a few blocks so you could probably do without a car.

Look at Nassau or Freeport in the Bahamas also. JetBlue has good connections - even a couple of direct flights IIRC. There's nightlife in downtown Nassau. Also some reasonable hotels in the Cable Beach area. Decent boat diving from either island, deep walls are accessible. Bahama Divers is near Paradise Island - they dive every day of the week. Cove's is the other option - they shuttle you 45mins. each way to dive. They might be the better option if you want to do 4 boat dives during the day - BD only does 3.

Freeport might be a little too quiet except possibly in the Port Lucaya area. There's also a casino there - not near much of anything else IIRC. But it's been awhile so that may have changed. UNEXSO does some good dives, sharks/dolphins etc.

Maybe look at short connections Thru San Juan - there may be local connections to other nearby islands. We layed over there once and there were lots of later afternoon/early evening AA/American Eagle flights to nearby islands. Places like Barbados, Dominica etc. IIRC.

Try St. Croix also. There's a Seaborn flight that connects thru St. Thomas later at night - we almost used it. It's a small local airline so there will be luggage limitations. Shows up on the Matrix^.

Aruba also but it's not cheap - about $2K for the flights. 6hr's out, 4 hours (direct) back within your timeframes. Plenty of nightlife on Aruba. Some good shore dives if you can find a buddy. Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Aruba, ABC Islands

From what I've read the diving in Jamaica is pretty average - a lot of it is fished out. But if you can get there easily...
 
Forget the Caribbean. Road trip to Ocrakoke Island, Outer Banks. Beautiful Beach, Water, Wrecks , Big fish(all varieties) and easy to get to. What more can you ask for? Sometimes the wind comes in, but it is such a cool area you won't care. Have fun
 
Thanks guys. Pretty clear that there is no way to get to the ABCs. Very likely booking St. Juan and then puddle jumper to St. Croix. I believe those flights are low-level enough to not cause off-gassing issues, which is great, and then I can late night redeye back to NYC.
 

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