Bad dive spot in the carribean

[Jersey]

January will be high season in SXM. That means lots of yachts, yacht people, traffic snarls..you get the drift. That said, it is a lovely island, great food, great people, a different beach for every day of the month plus Dutch and French cultural influences. Diving is not all that bad, but I wouldn't go there solely for a dive trip, unless it was a stop over from Saba. Diving is decent enough that if you have to have a fix, a 2 tank morning should suffice! Shopping in P-burg, Dutch side as mentioned is a girls dream come true! I prefer SXM to St. Thomas for shopping, find the hawkers in St. T to be relentless. In SXM when you say no thanks, they don't pursue you any further. Shopping should be done on a day when no cruise ships are in port, all prices should be respectfully negotiated and customers should partake in the beverages offered. Got to love shopping when they are plying me with beer!

Sorry, no way to any locations in Mexico. Too much stuff going on, even close to the tourist areas. Until some stability returns not taking my chances, too many other spots to visit. Friends love DR, all inclusives are popular, reasonably priced and don't leave the protected compound of the resort.

 

[DandyDon]

Sorry, no way to any locations in Mexico. Too much stuff going on, even close to the tourist areas. Until some stability returns not taking my chances, too many other spots to visit. Friends love DR, all inclusives are popular, reasonably priced and don't leave the protected compound of the resort.

I think Houston is more dangerous than the Yucatan, but I just change planes there on the way to the latter. Don't leave the protected compound of the airport. I do like to see the countryside so won't go where I don't feel safe traveling around.

Chichen Itza & Ek Balam ruins are a pretty easy day trip from Holbox if you like such, altho I really liked the hotel at the back gate of Chichen Itza and an early start at those ruins - so might suggest that first, then Holbox for a few days.

 

[mikerault]

Go to St Thomas and stay at the Bluebeard Beach Resort. To do any diving costs money for the cab both ways and there are reduced price trips for everything else.

 

[phelana]

Pregnant wife..please no offense but don't go to an island that she could get sick from the water...i.e Mexico..consider where you can get off island easily...I love Bonaire of course. Antigua's diving is ok but EAG reports 80% of the reef is dead. I specialize in both islands so can speak to this. Saba is amazing but oh gosh, so sleepy, no beaches and well, for me 3 days would be enough...she is not a diver, everyone so would she love Saba? I doubt it..I am going to throw out my other island Anguilla. There are big fish, wrecks but most of all wonderful beaches, OH SO ROMANTIC and great dining. See my blogs Anguilla Bliss and Bonaire Bliss and Antigua Bliss for more info. I choose Anguilla considering your dive needs and wife and baby.

 

[billmosel]

So the OP wants a nice sandy beach and wants to maybe do a dive or 2 without to much of a temptation to do a lot of diving. There are 2 places that I have been to that should meet your requirements.

1st is Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. The beaches are fantastic, the food excellent with a casino and a lot more. I bought a time share there (Melia Tropical) a long time ago and its absolutely the best but the diving sucks. We take a trip down south to La Romana for the day where the diving is a lot better.

2nd is Playa del Carmen. The beaches are very nice, good shopping, lots of restaurants and. There are some good dive ops there if you were tempted. (Coz is just a ferry away) if you wanted to check it out. The east side of Coz is worth the trip with nice a beach, beach bars and just plain relaxing.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[gypsyjim]

Before my gf certified, we visited the Beaches Resort on Turks and Caicos, a couple of times. Beautiful, all inclusive resort, in the Sandles Resorts chain. They only offered a 2 tank morning dive, which kept my butt topside, and available to spend time with the lady, more than many other of my vacations have. They do have a one tank afternoon dive, but it was in closer, and full of novice divers, and snorkelers, which made my staying ashore in the afternoons an easier choice.

The dives were included in the all inclusive price too! And the gf really liked the offering of restaurants available in their package. It would be a romantic getaway, where diving is available, but you won't be temped to overdue it, and abandon the young lady. As I HAVE been known to do

 

[RICHinNC]

No doubt....Barbados. Lots to keep you busy and many a great beach.

 

[DandyDon]

So how far along will she be? I guess bars are out of the question unless she's happy with soft drinks. I used to be a big drinker but don't care for ethanol anymore. I guess if her Doc approves the trip, it should be ok.

 

[Moonglow]

I agree: Turks and Caicos. Lovely, serene, and romantic. Close enough to Maimi for an easy flight; going deep into the Caribe can mean a long flight with possible aitport changes. English spoken, clean water, and the people are nice. There is good diving all around the islands for that once in the water chance.

 

[walesjoseywales]

st lucia is a very nice island with plenty to see and do look up the sandals resorts at rodneybay,,close to town love rondey bay,,,lookup ryan joseph great dm...