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Littlerayray

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Location
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
# of dives
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My girlfriend isn't a diver and is uncomfortable with diving February of 2017 I want to take her to the carribean for a 10 to 14 day vacation I also want to dive at least once a day except for one or two days the and maybe do a couple multiple dive days.
My question is where is the best place to go for both of us I don't want her to be bored while I'm diving and want her to have fun as well are their dive charters that will allow non divers aboard I've been to the carribean before on a cruise
Islands include st thomas, Dominica, st Lucia, st marteen I want her to enjoy the experience as much as I so any input is appreciated
 
Perhaps Grand Cayman or Grace Bay(T/C) might suit you both? What does she like to do?
 
She has never been outside of Canada and she enjoys beaches she's never really gone shopping I would maybe like to take her snorkeling. we both enjoy our adult beverages and dancing we are still trying to figure out what to do with the 3 little ones since it's her first vacation I want to just take her and leave the kids home
 
Hi there!

I suggest taking king a look at Oasis Adventure for destination inspiration. If you do decide to go with a Liveaboard dive charter, you should know that they do welcome non-divers, and there is plenty of fun for them as well. If fact, this may be the best situation because she will be right with you before and after each dive. Plus, you can choose to dive or not at a moments notice throughout the day.

As for specific destination recommendations, I'd say it depends a lot on where you are flying from, your budget, you "dive wish list" and a few other details. If you'd like, I'd be happy to chat with you to find out more about your ideal vacation and give you some more suggestions and tips! I can be reached at 1-808-345-0766 or 1-202-800-9007 or by email at info@oasisadventure.com

Happy diving!
Kelly





My girlfriend isn't a diver and is uncomfortable with diving February of 2017 I want to take her to the carribean for a 10 to 14 day vacation I also want to dive at least once a day except for one or two days the and maybe do a couple multiple dive days.
My question is where is the best place to go for both of us I don't want her to be bored while I'm diving and want her to have fun as well are their dive charters that will allow non divers aboard I've been to the carribean before on a cruise
Islands include st thomas, Dominica, st Lucia, st marteen I want her to enjoy the experience as much as I so any input is appreciated
 
hello,
Varadero , cuba !! you will find and do everything you want, from diving / snorkeling /beach / shopping / all inclusive hotels/cheap / and a very save country , let us know if we can help you out !! you can check us out in here : Best scuba diving varadero
Regards!!!!
 
Best advice I can give you--It's her first vacation, so make the trip all about fulfilling her desires first, and if you get to dive some of the days, that is icing on the cake.

Since you have been on a Caribbean cruise, you should know whether or not she would like that. If she has never been outside of Canada, she might love a 10-14 day cruise to the Southern Caribbean out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. From your experience, you know that many of those cruises hit several dive destinations where you have the option to dive on those days while she might enjoy another type of excursion such as snorkeling, beach activities, sighteseeing, etc. If she is happy to do something else while you dive, join her for whatever type of excursion she would like to do on all of the other port days. In addition, a cruise ship would give you ample opportunity to fill the adult beverage and dancing squares, as well as enjoy pretty good, unlimited food, nightly shows, pools, spas, and just plain relaxing. I have been on dive boats at some ports that had both divers and snorkelers on board and while not the best situation, it can work if the op has its act together. However, from my experience, the combined dive/snorkel excursion is the exception.

Definitely leave the kids at home.
 
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Here's some options. I've been to all of them if you have questions. I included brief +/-'s based on your posts.

Grand Cayman - https://www.caymanislands.ky/ - Cayman Islands Tourism Association - Cayman Islands Vacation, Grand Cayman Tours

Seven Mile Beach is an excellent beach. Resorts/condos lining it. Some like the Marriott/Westin have dive operators on site - all the others will pick you up anywhere along it - there's about 2 dozen dive operators. Also there's snorkel only operators - often snorkeling near Stingray City at Sandbar - 4' deep. Diver operators also take snorkelers for a fee - the dive is only 15' deep. The Kittiwake wreck is both a dive and a snorkel intentionally. Turtle Reef on NW point is listed as both on Dive365cayman.com And it is, I've been there. Sundivers on-site can hook you up with a dive guide. Red Sail at the Westin does afternoon dives where they invite snorkelers - shallow location, probably discover divers/cert dives also. There's nightlife and dancing on Grand Cayman - maybe 1/2 dozen clubs or so. O Bar is one I remember, there's also Jet and others. Margaritaville downtown for the cruise tourists. Which there's a lot of daily. Parts of Seven Mile Beach can be a little congested also - esp. when the cruise ships are in since they bus them to the beach and the tourist attractions past it.

Curacao - Curacao, a unique Caribbean island paradise. Official Curacao site

Lots of nice beaches, most are also shore dives. Most also have an on-site dive operator. At some it's fairly easy to find a buddy - we were asked twice at Porto Mari - a locals beach. Also boat dive operators work the entire west coast. Ocean Encounters welcomes snorkelers on their afternoon boat also. Plus there you've got the Dive Bus - escorted diving is all they do plus they'll pick you up most places in town. Snorkelers can ride along for a reduced fee. Contact Bas Harts Diving also - he can probably do sites good for both. Playa Jeremi - ironically one of few sites with no facilities - is on Frommers Top 10 Caribbean Snorkels list. There's also a combo dive/snorkel/beach boat that goes out to Klein Bonaire a couple days a week - haven't been on it so IDK details.

In town you'll find nightlife, dance clubs used to be around Salinja. More than once driving around at night we heard one near downtown also. Mambo Beach Club is both - a DJ'd club and a beach bar. There's also jazz at the Avila. About a dozen casinos at the resorts also.

One interesting option for Curacao would be to spend your 2nd week on Aruba. Lots of nightlife there and some decent boat diving. The Antilla is a pretty famous wreck. IDK Aruba except that it's pretty cheap to fly locally between the islands - one of the US carriers lands there and people move over to Bonaire and Curacao the same day easily. Midweek I've seen prices around $100 r/t.

Last option is Turks & Caicos. Beautiful by Nature - Turks and Caicos Islands - Turks and Caicos Tourist Board

It's much like a smaller version of Grand Cayman with an even better beach. Grace Bay Beach is named one of the nicest inthe world. Lots of upscale resorts border it. Diving there is off Grace Bay or NW Pioint by boat. I don't think there's a lot of snorkel/dive combos but there is snorkel operators. The best of the diving is far south though off West Caicos and French Cay - the moorings are too deep for snorkelers and the trips run all day basically - pickup at your resort between 8-9AM return at 2:30PM. I know there's some nightlife/dancing in Grace Bay - I was at one club there that did with a live band on Friday night. And heard at least one more driving around at night. Also two smallish casinos. They offer free pickups if you want to enjoy your adult beverages. If you have to bring the kids, Beaches there would be an excellent option - they have programs for all ages. And advertise they'll take them away so you can be alone.

I realize Oasis's business is about booking them but DO NOT take your g/f on a liveaboard - guaranteed she'll be bored the 2nd day. First of all everybody is a diver. So the boat empties 4-5x a day. Then when the divers are back all conversation at lunch/dinner is typically about diving. Followed by hours at night looking at photos/videos shot that day. Then everybody is tired and goes to bed about 9PM. I'm an insomniac so I spend a lot of hours on the boat alone - occasionally run into the night crewman on watch.

Plus it's not a cruise ship. Meals run around the diving, if you're lucky there's a hot tub on the sun deck. A couple have kayaks or one even has Hobie cats. Even the boats that offer shore excursions may be more limited than they sound. The best boat for that is probably Cuan Law in the BVI's but it's not the best diving and they only port 2-3 times during the week. There's some really nice deserted beaches I suppose the g/f could kayak to. It's all pretty shallow so there is snorkeling options also. It's just that she'd really be tied to the boat and the dive schedule. Since there's probably not enough extra crew to take her somewhere - when they port they tender people on shore using the dive tenders which are obviously in use all day during the dive schedule.

Really I wouldn't though if this trip is supposed to be about her. Two of you sitting on deck while others dive makes no sense. And they're not large ships - usually around 100' or so - so there's not even a lot of privacy. And the walls are pretty thin...lol.
 
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I appreciate all the tips and advice I'm going to show her all these options and more and see which one she gets excited about most

As for the diving she knows I love it and wants me to dive she says she would feel like a piece of turd knowing she was the one who made me miss out on the opportunity to dive in those beautiful waters (and this is why I love her so)
 
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