Good Diving Nov/Dec

[DirtyDeeds]

I am looking for a good dive spot where the weather will be nice in Nov/Dec. I am a single guy traveling by myself looking for some topside attractions at night. I have been to Curacao so I am looking for somewhere else. I was thinking maybe ClubMed in the Turks. I have been recently AOW certified but not a lot of dives under my belt.

Thanks,
DirtyDeeds

 

[Doc]

You're heading to the Caribbean at the later months of the Hurricane season.

Curacao is South, below the "normal" storm tracks, the worst of it there might well be rain.

Turks has a giant X painted on it right about then.

If you are interested in "getting more dives under your belt", consider other alternatives besides Sandals/Club Med, etc. Select a dive resort versus a resort that has some diving.

If.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Well where is there a good dive resort to go around that time of year? Should I be looking into the South Pacific b/c of the weather situation? Is that area good to go for a somewhat newbie to diving.

 

[del_mo]

That time of year I look towards Florida. If some nasty weather takes aim, it's a lot easier to bail out and save your $$$.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

I was just down in the Keys. I am looking for somewhere I have never been before.

 

[RJP]

I was just down in the Keys. I am looking for somewhere I have never been before.

Come dive in NJ - the crowds are all thinned out in Nov/Dec. The water's a bit cool at about 40* but with a drysuit you'll hardly notice!

 

[Doc]

Well where is there a good dive resort to go around that time of year?

Go next door to Curacao, try Bonaire. The Bay Islands (Roatan/Utila/Guanaja) are also South of the true Hurican path. This will at least keep you in the Caribbean Dollar Limit expense zone.

Should I be looking into the South Pacific b/c of the weather situation? Is that area good to go for a somewhat newbie to diving.

Yes. No.

There are many areas that are better than the Caribbean for Nov/Dec time frame.

"...good to go for a somewhat newbie to diving"? Probably not.

I would stay in the (aforementioned) Caribbean locales or pick Florida (or some easy to "change-your-plans" area). Consider Bermuda/Nassau/GBI in that category.

At your stage in diving, get as many logged dives as you can. Don't worry so much about what you'll see or not see. At this stage, you'll be so busy diving that you may not notice all that much. Bonaire is a great place to expand your diving with boat familiarity as well as fairly easy shore diving.

If a storm comes through, you will see rain, but likely not much more. Due to the character of the island, the surrounding waters should be affected only on a limited basis. (compared to other Caribbean isles)

 

[dvrliz1]

Yep, yep, yep....Bonaire's the place! I total agree with Roatanman!

Liz

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Thanks All! I was thinking of Roatan but heard you can get a lot of rain that time of year. I definetly want to go there. I am thinking of going there in 5/07. I will look into Bonaire. I heard Bonaire has great diving but I thought it would be a little too quiet for me. Do they have casinos on the island that have roulette? Anyone have any suggestions on where to stay?

How about Curacao? Where do people recommend there as well?

DirtyDeeds

 

[Doc]

The Divi Flamiongo Bonaire has a Casino. Bonaire is really quiet. You can hear the hot tradewinds blow at night.

I think you can dive in one of those tanks at Vegas and it really doesn't rain there. So you would have everything you're looking for.

You misunderstand... Roatan has about the same issues with rain in that season as would the "ABC's" (ArubaBonaireCuracao) during these months. Same same. Roatan, however, well- you can hear the starlight at night, it's so very quiet.

Roatan? They used to have a Casino, but then, even us really dumb Americans figured out that any island casino where the island only has one casino... well, something's got to pay for all of those lights.

I thought you'd been to Curacao (twice according to your posts of 10/2005) and didn't want to return. Where did you finally decide to go after all of those posts, Roatan or Cozumel?

Club Med sounds better and better.