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no offense to anyone, but the cities and amenities seem a bit... third world. We would like to go to a nicer,
God forbid you might meet a poor person. How distasteful...
Sadly, most 1st world 'developed' countries have trashed their marine ecosystems. The quality diving remains in those nations who are yet to sell-out to the $
All points well taken. Not certified, total newbie. And you're right, if one can really dive up to 5 hours per day, then other activities become irrelevant -- all the "activities" will be under water.
Despite the fact that numerous divers do 4,5 or 6 dives/day, newbie divers seldom do. They get very tired, often after just a 2 tank boat dive. If you are not yet certified, you cannot know your own response to 1 or 2 or more dives. Take that into consideration in your planning. Don't just plan based on wishful thinking.
Despite the fact that numerous divers do 4,5 or 6 dives/day, newbie divers seldom do. They get very tired, often after just a 2 tank boat dive. If you are not yet certified, you cannot know your own response to 1 or 2 or more dives. Take that into consideration in your planning. Don't just plan based on wishful thinking.
This is absolutely true.
New divers use way too much energy.
It just one of those things you learn about over time.
If you want to do a lot of diving, there are two things you might consider: 1. Get Nitrox certified while getting OW certification. PADI lets you get it far less expensive than getting it later. Diving Nitrox allows more bottom time v. air, and less surface interval. 2. Go where depth gives you the optimal dive time. The shallower your dives, the more time you get to spend under water. The Florida Keys (Key Largo), Cozumel, Cancun, Bahamas can offer shallow dives where you can enjoy longer bottom times. Even in Riviera Beach, FL (namely the Blue Heron Bridge), and Pompano Beach, Fl., shore diving can provide a lot of diving if you have the energy to dive from shore. It's inexpensive (shore diving is free....all you need are tanks and gear), you get to see great marine life, and there are many other things to do in the areas. BTW, diving BHB is only advantageous at slack high tide each day, but soooooo worth it! You can get 90 minutes of diving in, even if you only use air. Pompano, Lauderdale By The Sea, et al you can dive at any time of day, as much as you want.
Four of us are looking to go on a 7-day trip in late November. We're all first time divers. I only recently came to know that one can only SCUBA for 2 hours/day max. Hence, we would like to go to a destination with good diving, but also with lots of other outdoor activities to do the rest of the day -- hiking, scenic drives, restaurants, movies, culture. I have researched Bonaire and some of the other Caribbean destinations, and I have been to some of them as a non-diver in the past -- no offense to anyone, but the cities and amenities seem a bit... third world. We would like to go to a nicer, more modernized and cosmopolitan destination. All other factors being equal we would like the place to be closer to the US so as to minimize our travel time. Mexico, South America, Central America, Pacific Ocean -- we are open to anything.
Anyone -- thoughts?
For some of the most dramatic and largest volume of fish type experiences..including really BIG fish, Palm beach Florida is the obvious answer for you....No destination you have considered will have as many Sea turtles or huge goliath Groupers, Palm Beach has spectacular and amazingly colorful coral reefs...you need to see them to believe this...Seriously--the volume of advertising for the Keys and islands in the Caribean, leads many divers to believe that's all there is.... Palm Beach never paid the big bucks to the prostituted dive magazines, so it never became recognized as "an advertiser", which meant Palm Beach obviously could not be a dive destination..... This is so far from the truth, it could make you mad...
When you are not diving, palm Beach has incredible restaurants and entertainment districts less than 15 minutes away from the ecotourism and total getaway feel of Singer Island... ...this view shows the bulk of Singer Island, the resorts are concentrated on the South end....which you will see in the first video link I show next :-)
....Tell me what you want to do, I'll point out where they have this in Palm Beach :-)
Back to the diving...Take a look at the following :
Umm, are you getting certified for Open Water on this trip? If so, have you also considered study time?? I would go to an area that is known for having very good scuba instruction. I have been a diver for many years, and my husband is not. After our trip to Bonaire last year, he said that was the only place where he would do his training, and we are planning a trip out there for February. Diving is not like swimming, and for every one hour of diving comes another 1-1.5 hours of equipment prep and rinsing, as well as travel time for boat dives. I like Bonaire for what you are looking for. I have done training with Buddy Dive and they were excellent and very thorough. There is fun nightlife in town, hiking in Washington Slaagbai park, Kayaking in Lac Bay, Windsurfing, scenic drives, flamingo spotting on the salt flats, eco tours, cave snorkel tours and even some shopping in town. Food options vary from cheap to more $$$, drinks are good and the Karaoke place on the docks on Wednesdays is a blast. You will also want to rest, and study!
a week package 4 people sharing a 2 bedroom condo is diver $588pp and $439pp non diver
includes: 7 nights 4 people in 2 bedroom condo, unlimited shore diving, tanks, weight and belt, taxes, free Nitrox for certified Nitorx divers.
Bonaire would be eas shallow diving....
let me know if i can help in arrangements or if you have any other questions
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...this view shows the bulk of Singer Island, the resorts are concentrated on the South end....which you will see in the first video link I show next :-)
Scuba Planners Dive Travel 