I also thought of a liveaboard, but with a $5000 total budget including airfare during the high season, there may not be many LOB options. Possibly if they get a good deal on a Bahamas LOB, or perhaps Saba or St. Croix.
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If you want easy, laid back, nice views, good food and relaxed diving, and maybe save some money too....Cozumel fits the bill. Dives are really no more than a few hundred yards from shore and there are more sites than you can shake a stick at. See pretty anything and everything you want to see diving warm tropical waters. Just my two cents....I'll be there in August.
Honestly for Cozumel, I'd use one of the online services. Orbitz, Cheap Caribbean, etc. for your flights and hotels. Then do some research here on SB and find a dive operator you feel comfortable using. Several of them are vendors here and can even set up your entire trip for you. Just off the top of my head, Blue XTSea, Aldora, Tres Pelicanos, Dive with martin, all of these operators have very good names here on SB. So picking one really shouldn't be that daunting of a task. Hope this helps and I hope you find what you're looking for!
Thanks everyone for your feedback! We decided to book AKR for a week in the nicest room, which has AC and private waterfront deck. AKR has their two for one special running, so I think other mentioned resorts would be out of our budget. The airfare to Roatan was pretty high. We will bring plenty of DEET.
My husband keeps wanting to do a liveaboard. I'm hesitant because I enjoy some beach time, restaurants, and sightseeing on vacation. We will do a liveaboard eventually - but it does look like we need to budget a lot more for that trip.
Vidanta Resort Mayan Riviera and isla Mujeres / cenotesMy husband and I were certified in November. Since then, we've done Bonaire, Cozumel, some North FL rivers and springs, and we have a trip coming up to Key Largo.
We want to book a trip for March of 2020 and can't decide where to go. A travel agent at Caradonna Adventures has recommended Ambergris Caye (Ramon's), Roatan (Anthony's Key), or Grand Cayman (Cobalt Coast). It will be just the two of us and no kids.
I want awesome, easy diving, and a resort with pretty views and great food for when we aren't diving. Reviews about the awful sand fleas and mosquitoes have me hesitant about Roatan. I've read the diving in Belize isn't as good as the other locations. And Grand Cayman looks so manicured/upscale, and I think I'd prefer a more laid back vibe. But if the diving is superior and it has the great food, then it would probably win.
Opinions or other suggestions?
A thought for the future, the Turks and Caicos are a good place to do a liveaboard because the nicest reefs are rather far from shore and some aren't easily accessible via day boats. It's an expensive destination, but if you go during the lower season you may find a good deal and the water will be warmer.
There are 2 LOBs that work the area (Aggressor and Explorer) and they sometimes offer specials. I believe that you can fly direct to Provo from Atlanta, and if you could spend a few days onshore - before boarding the LOB - you can enjoy Grace Bay Beach, which is absolutely gorgeous! And there are good restaurants and fun shops on Provo also. It would be a little longer trip but you could experience the best of both worlds - great LOB diving and terrific beach and shore activities.
Have fun at AKR and please post a trip report for it and for Key Largo!