Where to go now? Travelling from the u.k.

[Steve A]

We were going to book Sharm el sheikh Egypt for a 3rd time last week in late September/early October but as my wife and daughter are coming I have decided to give it a miss for a while until it settles down there (we will return as we love it there).
The thing is where do we go now? my son wants to do a padi referral as well.
We will be travelling from the U.K. and would prefer 10 or 11 nts somewhere with nice weather and nice diving preferably nice and easy. Trouble is Budget as we were expecting to pay a max of £1000 british pounds each person for the holiday + £250 diving expenses. How can anywhere match up to Sharm on such a budget? We could stretch a little more but as there are four of us I have to be realistic.
Anyone got any suggestions where we can go travelling from the U.K.? we are new divers with 20 dives each and only ever done Sharm we are NOT interested in Wrecks etc. just pretty coral and fish and keeping safe. Thanks Steve

 

[diversteve]

You could almost make Curacao work on that amount. Maybe closer to L5000. Start here: Curacao Travel- Caribbean, Curacao, Dutch Caribbean

Stay off the water, do some cooking, and mostly shore dive. If you stay away from the higher priced resort areas and their affilliated operators it could work. If you boat dive, probably not. You'd need/want a car/SUV to get around. Ours was about $500 for the week plus $100 for gas - it's $4something a gallon. We rented from Avis at the airport.

There's about 50 shore dive sites there - most with beach entries. Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Curacao, ABC Islands Generally what we saw was a lot of fish, turtles, eels, a few tarpon, and lots of invertebrates, lobster, crabs, schools of squid etc. Twice dolphins went by our apt. in Lagun but we never saw them in the water - except at the Dolphin Dive at the SeaQuarium. But it's $200pp.

I just did some quick checking and it looks like there's a KLM flight thru Aruba looks like around L725pp. Long overnight flights both ways though. Use this to determine options: Matrix - ITA Software

We stayed here for a few days. It's about a block from the water but there's a view. Piscadera Bay Resort Curacao - tropische vakantie bungalows - Home Older but recently refurbished. They have 2-3BR, 1-2Ba units. Full kitchens, outdoor decks, a few with pools. I think a week cost us just $900 including the required cleaning/electric charges. It's pretty safe, quiet, gated, fenced and guarded. Most properties were.

There's several food options nearby, Pirates Bay beach bar (affordable), restaurants at the Marriott or Hilton across the street and a Denny's about a mile away. There's also a couple of smaller casinos and ocean view bars for the adults. I think you can buy a daypass at the Marriott if the kids want a pool. A large market (Centrum) is about a mile inland also. 10mins. to downtown, 10-30 mins. to the better dive sites west of there. Downtown Curacao has restaurants from McDonald's to pricey/fancy at the Fort. If you're near Salinja, we liked the Ribs Factory - it was fairly reasonable IIRC.

Caribbean Sea Sports at the Marriott across the street does PADI referrals for $275. Curacao Diving - Caribbean Sea Sports Curacao - diving, dive shop and boat trips

But for the bulk of your diving get air from somewhere like Relaxed Guided Dives - not only are they cheaper but centrally located. Relaxed Guided Dives Curacao - Shore Diving Courses - Dive Shop Farther west Discover Diving is also an option: Discoverdiving & Restaurant -> Home  

If you don't mind quiet, there's some affordable rental properties in the Lagun area also.

The Dive Bus is also an option for escorted shore dives. Welcome to the Dive Bus They pickup in Willemstad. If you haven't done much shorediving, start with them. They'd show you some of the better sites, help with gearing up etc. and Suzy or Mark are a wealth of information about other locations. And willing to freely share. We spent about 20mins. making plans with her once - after we'd determined that our schedules meant we'd not be able to dive with them. There's little to no current at any site on Curacao and most are easy beach entries.

Maybe Aruba also? There's some big AI resorts there and good diving. Some shore dives scattered around the island also. Just not as many.

 

[robint]

Late Sept-early Oct is the end of hurricane season in the Caribbean. It could mean great weather or it could mean a tropical storm anywhere.
With your budget in mind, I would consider 2 options, and both are dependent on airfare costs.

Cozumel, MX.... great diving and the most inexpensive destination in Caribbean, best bang for your buck. Look at packages with Island Dreams Travel scuba diving vacations, cozumel scuba diving, dive travel, dive resorts, diving trips to see price comparisons. If your wife and daughter don't dive, then I would think about trying Hotel Cozumel. It is decent, and walking distance to town for cheap eats if you don't want the meal plan.

Bonaire..... great shore diving, easy stuff, tons of fish. Not quite as diverse diving as Cozumel, but since you are new divers it might be more what you are looking to do. Check out several diff resorts on that same website, Island Dreams Travel scuba diving vacations, cozumel scuba diving, dive travel, dive resorts, diving trips or other dive travels sites like Caradonna or BayAdventures. All have the same stuff available, and prices for you. We like Buddy Dive in Bonaire, but there are other places that work, too. We like Buddy's because of the free nitrox, truck included in price, and great shore dive house reef.

robin

 

[johnatabc]

I haven't been, but I have considered Aqaba in Jordan.
Pricing looks similar to Sharm / Dahab - with the added bonus of the possibility of a trip to Petra to keep my non-diving spouse happy.

 

[Krazyklaws]

Have you thought of Dahab? I'd recommend the Bedouin moon and reef 2000. Very reasonably priced, you'll have change from your budget and the diving is as easy or challenging as you want it to be. Reef are a great operation, and the hotel is basic, but friendly, clean and welcoming. We book with Longwood from the UK, and its usually cheaper than booking direct.

 

[supergaijin]

Dahab is still Egypt- given the recent events, I'd remove Egypt from my travel destinations. From the UK, I'd look at the Indian Ocean. Seychelles? Mauritius? Maldives?

You may find some deals on resorts in the Maldives for that time of year. Now there are 'local' hotels which are usually a good deal cheaper than resorts. Saying that, resort prices usually drop at this time of year so you may be surprised.

 

[Krazyklaws]

Personally, I wouldn't write off Sinai because of the troubles in Cairo. The larger places may have some issues, but we have friends in Dahab and they are only aware of the trouble via the tv. It's a lovely laid back place.

 

[Asad]

I also recommend Aqaba. Hot and sunny with calm waters, regular flights to/from UK etc.

 

[Doc]

Maldives. I have traveled there (from USA) through England and accompanied by many British divers.

 

[Searcaigh]

+1 for Aqaba, usually great visibility and other stuff to do for non-diving spouses