Best dive trip location for beginners

[n733lk]

I recently booked a trip through Continental Vacations to Coz and they were extremely helpful. They offer discounted packages if you book your hotel and flights together, BUT I actually booked mine separately and it wasn't a problem. Typically no cancellation or change fees if you follow their policies, which I found to be very liberal.

Using ScubaBoard was probably the best place you could have started. I'm new to diving and recevied some fantastic recommendations on my trip! Once you decide where you are going and which Dive Op you will be using, etc., I'd recommend posting them on SB for feedback. I actually made some changes to my itinerary after reading others experiences.

Good luck!

 

[RJP]

A trick that I just heard and plan to try next month in Bonaire for finding the entry point is to tie off the line on your reel at the entry point at say 25', the go straight out/down for another 30' depth and tie it off again.

Seems like a bad idea. Please re-consider.

As was raised above... there's nothing to tie on to but the reef. Even if you find a dead piece of coral on either end, the line in between will impact the environment and/or create an entanglement hazard.

In the end... natural navigation in Bonaire is easy, easy, easy. Current is light if present at all. You're not going far from shore to the reef, and you're probably not traversing that far along the reef. (If you are, you're going too fast and missing stuff.

For the most part, if you keep the reef to your left for 20min, then turn and keep the reef to your right for 20min... you will exit the water right where you entered.

Believe me - I'm a wreck diver - I'm used to having a line with a boat on either end (one on the bottom, one on the surface) and then running a reel from there. If I can naturally navigate in Bonaire... ANYONE can!

 

[SoccerJeni]

BVI? Nothing to see here. Move along. Tell other people planning to visit the BVI there is nothing to see here either... but if they have to come, make sure they avoid my favourite spots.

Hum...are you saying that because you don't want the crowds?

 

[SoccerJeni]

Thank you so much everyone for your responses! I can't wait to really dig in and preparing options for my friends. You've been a huge help!

This is not the trip for someone who wants to do five dives a day, but as beginners, I doubt you do . . . but it IS a trip for someone who wants to dive steadily, but also enjoy the sun, some swimming, gourmet food, good wines, and a lot of pampering.
I would recommend talking to Virgin Island Sailing if you are interested. They have done a fabulous job for us three times, matching the group with the right boat.

TSandM - Thank you so much for this! I really had thought a trip like this was out of my reach, however, I think you're right, comparing all the costs involved it may not be!

What I have bolded above sounds like my ideal trip. That sounds like pure bliss to me and I cannot think of anything better! Do these boats stay out in the ocean the entire time? Or do they ever dock at a location so we could see some different sites and the culture too?

Oh, if I could just be there right now!!!!

 

[Rhone Man]

Hum...are you saying that because you don't want the crowds?

Noooooo :shocked2: Would I lie to you? :blinking:

 

[herbdb]

Seems like a bad idea. Please re-consider.

As was raised above... there's nothing to tie on to but the reef. Even if you find a dead piece of coral on either end, the line in between will impact the environment and/or create an entanglement hazard.

In the end... natural navigation in Bonaire is easy, easy, easy. Current is light if present at all. You're not going far from shore to the reef, and you're probably not traversing that far along the reef. (If you are, you're going too fast and missing stuff.

For the most part, if you keep the reef to your left for 20min, then turn and keep the reef to your right for 20min... you will exit the water right where you entered.

Believe me - I'm a wreck diver - I'm used to having a line with a boat on either end (one on the bottom, one on the surface) and then running a reel from there. If I can naturally navigate in Bonaire... ANYONE can!

This will be my first trip to Bonaire. My impression from reading is that the entries were rocky. I would never tie a line where it could hurt the coral or other organisms. Fear not.

 

[RJP]

This will be my first trip to Bonaire.

You'll be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Mike]

You're kidding, right? If a diver can't figure out how to swim to the left for 1000PSI, turn around and swim to the right for 1000PSI, and then crawl out of the ocean with 750PSI or so in their tank... they shouldn't be diving ANYWHERE!

Worst case scenario, you miss your exit point by a bit and need to walk 25-50yds with an empty AL80 on your back.

Need for a DM? Again, if you "NEED" one you should go back to OW class. If you "WANT" one to point out critters etc that's fine, and there are plenty of ops on Bonaire that offer boat dives with guides in the water.

Iron shore? What's the issue for beginners that's any different than for experienced divers?

I can't imagine a better Carribean location for beginners than Bonaire.

No, not kidding. I've seen plenty of 'experienced' divers who can't competently do what you've outlined as what should be so simple. These guys being brand new, I'd say to get more dive experience before you go to Bonaire. New divers who can take on the new additional task loading of what Bonaire entails and do it easily would be some unique newbies in my opinion.

Sure you can do the boat dives out to Klein and have a DM as a result, but whats the point of going to Bonaire if that's all you're going to do?

 

[SoccerJeni]

Noooooo :shocked2: Would I lie to you? :blinking:

Hum...is this a trick question?

 

[diversteve]

Do these boats stay out in the ocean the entire time? Or do they ever dock at a location so we could see some different sites and the culture too?

It's a crewed charter. Meaning you own the boat for the week. So they go where you want to go - stay as long as you want to stay, move the boat when you tell them to. Put into port when/where/how long you tell them. It's on the webpage: http://www.visailing.com/chartervs.htm

In the BVI's there's also the option for Rendezvous Diving. Several dive operators - DiveBVI on Virgin Gorda or several on Tortola will meet you with tanks, Divemaster etc. at a moored location. You set it up in advance and call them on the VHF when you want to dive. I don't think it's much more expensive than their standard rates.

It's an alternative to making frequent stops for fills - most mid-range sailboats don't carry a lot of tanks onboard. That's pretty easy though in the BVI's - DiveBVI has a fill station on their dock in both Spanish Harbor and Leverick Bay. IIRC there's one or two on the other side of the channel on Tortola also.

Personally I'd try to rent a big catamaran - more liveable space between the hulls. We often saw them moored at divesites that we day dove from Virgin Gorda.

Places not to miss: Pusser's Company Store on Marina Cay, Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke - Foxy created the Painkiller there, Foxy's Tabu on Diamond Cay, the beach bar at Little Dix Bay on Gorda (georgeous beach) The Willy T Floating Bar off Norman Island, the Baths off Virgin Gorda and the Beach BBQ friday night at Leverick Bay. On Virgin Gorda there are some beaches only accessible from the water.

Must dive is the Rhone off Salt Island, they filmed the Deep there. It's also remarkably well preserved, 70', has an easy swimthrough and interesting wreck stuff on the stern section. There's also a swimthrough past the 15' high prop. I don't like wrecks especially but I enjoyed two dives there.