We are looking for opinions on the best quick dive trip for July leaving from east coast. We only have 4 days and so we were thinking Bahamas, Bonaire, Cozumel and Florida. We are both experienced divers
would like pelagic experiences and no cattle calls. Please be specific about which dive shop and resort you prefer and why, thx
Opinions needed on quick trip
- Thread starter rjdm
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jjardin
Contributor
If you are talking 3 nights -- I would drive to North Carolina and save my money for a longer trip. See the Sand Tigers. Water is really nice. I was hot in a 3mm. http://www.aquaticsafaris.com/ is who I went with the last time I went there. The "East Coast" is a pretty long thing--where are you coming from? Do you mean 4 full days on the island? Or a day to go, a day to dive, a day to not fly & a day where you leave?
Bonaire has no pelagic experiences...
Bahamas of course is notorious for shark encounters...but so is Florida...look into diving out of Jupiter a few miles north of West Palm Beach...Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.
Cheers.
-J.-
Bahamas of course is notorious for shark encounters...but so is Florida...look into diving out of Jupiter a few miles north of West Palm Beach...Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.
Cheers.
-J.-
robint
Contributor
scratch Bonaire off your list... no pelagics and long travel time to get there and back would suck for such a short trip.
Cozumel? Well, I have seen some nurse sharks there on occasion but not a regular guaranteed thing.
Bahamas - yes you will see sharks, on regular dives and shark feeding dives. We've done two trips on the Nekton but those are 7 day liveaboard trips - lots of sharks. Since you are only doing 4 day trip, I would think about going to Stuart Cove's. Unfortunately, I think they have bigger boats. I think there are only 2 dive ops to choose from and the other is the same size op. Other's may have more info on that.
Florida - yes, southeast coast from Ft. Lauderdale north to Jupiter has diving with occasional sightings of sharks. Once again, not guaranteed.
All that said - from your list of wants and that it is a short trip -go with the Bahamas.
Cozumel? Well, I have seen some nurse sharks there on occasion but not a regular guaranteed thing.
Bahamas - yes you will see sharks, on regular dives and shark feeding dives. We've done two trips on the Nekton but those are 7 day liveaboard trips - lots of sharks. Since you are only doing 4 day trip, I would think about going to Stuart Cove's. Unfortunately, I think they have bigger boats. I think there are only 2 dive ops to choose from and the other is the same size op. Other's may have more info on that.
Florida - yes, southeast coast from Ft. Lauderdale north to Jupiter has diving with occasional sightings of sharks. Once again, not guaranteed.
All that said - from your list of wants and that it is a short trip -go with the Bahamas.
dvrliz1
Guest
Robin and RJ,
Actually from East Coast, Bonaire is EASY to reach, quickly, if you know how to do it!
We actually get people for long weekends here (4 days). Best way to go for short trip is to take AA (to Miami then direct to Curacao, then a 15 minute flight to Bonaire) You arrive on Bonaire about 3:30 pm, leaving Miami about 11:30 am. Dive 3 days (you can get a night dive in the day you arrive 2-4 the next day then 1-2 the next morning to keep with the 24 hour rule. The flight back from Curacao leaves at around 2pm the next day back to Miami.
So see....easy quick trip these days.....
Liz
Actually from East Coast, Bonaire is EASY to reach, quickly, if you know how to do it!
We actually get people for long weekends here (4 days). Best way to go for short trip is to take AA (to Miami then direct to Curacao, then a 15 minute flight to Bonaire) You arrive on Bonaire about 3:30 pm, leaving Miami about 11:30 am. Dive 3 days (you can get a night dive in the day you arrive 2-4 the next day then 1-2 the next morning to keep with the 24 hour rule. The flight back from Curacao leaves at around 2pm the next day back to Miami.
So see....easy quick trip these days.....
Liz
tadeotadeo
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