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I want to do a dive trip to the caribbean this summer, probably late July. It will be my only trip of the year, and I have about 5 total days to do it. I'm not too picky about the type of diving, I'm just looking forward to warm water and good vis.
Things are tight this year, and I need to be as thrifty as possible.
My non-diving wife will be coming with me, so I need to go someplace that at least has a clean hotel, a nice beach for her to use while I'm diving, and some halfway decent restaurants for dinner.
I'm thinking the Bahamas because I can get some cheap flights there, but am open to suggestions.
I want to do a dive trip to the caribbean this summer, probably late July. It will be my only trip of the year, and I have about 5 total days to do it. I'm not too picky about the type of diving, I'm just looking forward to warm water and good vis.
Things are tight this year, and I need to be as thrifty as possible.
My non-diving wife will be coming with me, so I need to go someplace that at least has a clean hotel, a nice beach for her to use while I'm diving, and some halfway decent restaurants for dinner.
If you had a week, I'd suggest Bonaire or Cozumel, however you only have five days, and will need an 18 hour surface interval, which means you'll probably only get about 3 days of diving (you lose quite a bit of time flying and need an 18 hour SI before leaving).
If your wife likes snorkeling, she'll love Bonaire. If not, she'll probably be bored.
Although the diving isn't optimal, you both might actually like a 5 day Caribbean cruise. Cruise ship diving is variable (sometimes excellent, sometimes just OK), she won't be bored, and you won't lose a day before flying.
If it doesn't have to be the Caribbean, you might like the St. Lawrence river. By the end of July, it's almost as warm as the Caribbean, the wreck diving is great, there's tons of stuff for you both to do and you wouldn't have to fly there if you're anywhere in the northeast.
We're in New Jersey and will either use Philadelphia or Atlantic City airport. Spirit has some good deals to the Bahamas from AC. This is primarily a trip for me to dive, so I want to max out the diving as much as she'll let me.
My wife won't snorkel at all, but loves the beach. We have had a couple of awful experiences on cruises and aren't interested in them.
We're in New Jersey and will either use Philadelphia or Atlantic City airport. Spirit has some good deals to the Bahamas from AC. This is primarily a trip for me to dive, so I want to max out the diving as much as she'll let me.
My wife won't snorkel at all, but loves the beach. We have had a couple of awful experiences on cruises and aren't interested in them.
I'd go to Canada. The St. Lawrence is warm by then, the diving is great, the towns are a ton of fun, and Brockville has festivals and events almost every weekend, all summer.
You could probably drive there from NJ in less time that it takes to get to the airport, park, get through security and wait for your plane.
I can recommend St.Joh USVI. It looks like its going to be about $500 R/T to St.Thomas from Phili and from there its a short sea taxi/ferry over to St.John. As far as a place to stay my wife and I have an amazing experience staying with Maho Bay Camps at both there Maho and Concordia locations. Maho Bay is closer to to Cruze bay and has regular taxi service into town during the day so no car rental needed. They have a small dive shop on location and offer quite a few daily SCUBA charters through local outfits. Many will even pick you up right on the beach at Maho Bay. In addition they have a great store and restaurant bad bar on sight. The one thing I will say say is that you are roughing it a bit with primitive kitchen et in your cabin tent and communal showers and bathrooms. Still an amazing place and it is completely off the grid! Go Eco travel!!
They have a second location on the island as well. On the southern tip of the island is Concodria estates, there Higher end resort. There you get your own bungalow with a fridge, solar shower, toilet etc etc. Very nice and well equipped. They also have pool (if you don't want to make the five minute walk down to Salt Pond Bay. They also have there own general store, SCUBA charter services, restaurant and laundry services on sight. Concordia is also completly off the grid as well.
The kicker is that they are both very reasonable prices at about 125-175 p/n. I can provide more specific info for you if you would like. I give both locations a big thumbs up.
We're in New Jersey and will either use Philadelphia or Atlantic City airport. Spirit has some good deals to the Bahamas from AC. This is primarily a trip for me to dive, so I want to max out the diving as much as she'll let me.
My wife won't snorkel at all, but loves the beach. We have had a couple of awful experiences on cruises and aren't interested in them.
Thanks again to all.
Based on this criteria, I'd recommend checking out either the Plaza Resort in Bonaire or CocoView in Roatan. The former because it's got the only real beach in Bonaire (they imported the sand), and the latter because it's got the easiest access for maxing out diving while your wife lounges on the beach.
Go to the one that you can get the best deal on and/or the best flights to fit your schedule. You really can't go wrong with either one ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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"Diving...is an active, physical form of meditation. It's so silent - you're like a thought."
Jerry Garcia
Cozumel!!! You can be on a boat by 4:00 if you take the USAir 6:45 flight through Charlotte(I'm from Cherry Hill & just got back) Stay at the Barracuda Hotel for aroud $80 per night for the room. Old hotel but clean, nice beach & pool and short walk(no cab rides) to town for lots of good cheap restaurants especially Cuchina Economica. Dive with Deep Blue, they can pick you up right on the hotels dock(Dive Paradise is the onsite dive operator) Deep Blue is cheaper & does all the great dives. I just did 10 dives, 5 with Nitrox including park fees & dive surcharge for the far north & far south dives for $361! Tell them the guys from South Jersey Dive Club sent you. Ask fro Sandro as DM.
just a note on cozumel... all of the diving (and related dive shops) is done on the leeward side which doesn't have much for beaches. So if that will bum out your wife either stay at a place with a really nice pool or have her trek over to the windward side while you're diving.
you could do a cheap vacation across the way in playa del carmen which will have far better beaches but worse diving. St. John in the USVI is far from a bargain, but July is out of the high season for the whole caribbean so prices in general should be good.
Bay Adventures has some really good deals on alot of destinations. The one they have for Hotel Cozumel should suit you just fine. It's all inclusive including alcohol and there's plenty of stuff for your wife to do when you're out diving. You'll get three dives a day except for the last day, so that will make up a little for the short stay. They have a gigantic pool and hot tub and lots of shopping for the wife. This is about the best "bargain" around. Hotel Cozumel-Bay Adventures
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Jim Kerr
Dive To Live, Live To Dive
Stop, Breath, Think, Act
Bay Adventures-Hotel Cozumel
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