Are There Other Places in This Hemisphere Like Sunset House?

[Randallr]

I'm looking for expert guidance from you all. I'm considering a week at Scuba Club Cozumel in July or August, and I wanted to know whether atmospherically and "dive-spherically," it's the place for me. The backdrop to this is: I went to my first AI dive resort in March, Sunset House in Grand Cayman, and really loved the people who were diving there, the cameraderie, the quality of the dive operation, the food and drink, and very much the photo operation. I'm interested in trying someplace new, but ideally would find a place like Sunset House. So my big questions about Scuba Club Cozumel or other alternatives are:

1. Is this a decent place for a solo diver? Will there be a mix of soloists and couples there in, say, July or August?
2. How are the rooms? I don't need (or want) fancy, just clean and decent, great to sleep in, ideally with a view of the water?
3. What about the food? Is it reasonably varied? How accessible are other restaurants? Would I need a car, or are there other transportation options?
4. I'm hoping for a place that's lively and friendly, but not a collegiate party scene - how does SCC (or other recommendations) stack up?
5. As far as Cozumel specifically, what's the diving like? I understand most dives are drift dives, and that affects the photography opportunities. But what's the quality of the reefs and marine life? (I was disappointed in the reef bleaching and fairly fallow marine life on Grand Cayman's West End. Any opinions about how Cozumel compares with Grand Cayman?)
6. Is there a photo operation on site? Any chance to take a photo lesson or two?
7. I think there's a shore dive at SCC. What's it like? (It was one of the best features of Sunset House.

And anything else you'd care to share with me. I've received fantastic travel guidance from Scubaboard. My big choice is whether to try a new place - Cozumel - or to go back to Saba (which I adore) or somewhere else. For me, the best thing about Sunset House was the people, and that's a very big consideration. Thanks, folks!

 

[dogface79]

Ok...let me preface this by saying that I have only stayed in Coz twice , 2 weeks total, and never in SCC...However, I can speak of the diving and AI hotels in general.

1. Solo diving is fine, I have always dove with Opals Dream and they are very accommodating.
2. Dont know...probably clean enough for a New Yorker.
3. You will be staying close to downtown...no need for a car to get to other restaurants. Food probably ok and edible but bland and not very gourmet.
4. Go downtown...not the liveliest of places but plenty of bars
5. Drift diving, cant compare (haven't dove in Grand Cayman, Yet, leaving Friday) bring Wide angle lens
6. Photo operation, yes, contact Armando Alentado through Facebook.
7. No good shore diving in Coz...sorry!

 

[diversteve]

other alternatives are:

Buddy Dive on Bonaire has most of what's on your list: "Eat, Sleep, Buddy Dive" There's several other resorts within walking distance, all have restaurants. Since the de-facto dive vehicle is a 4dr. pickup, most people won't mind if you tag along for shore dives either. I was asked twice if I needed a buddy while waiting for mine - once at Habitat and once at Bonaire Dive/Adventure. So finding one for shore diving probably wouldn't be a problem. Although the truck is usually included in a dive package also - breakfast is at Buddy's too. The thing about most shore dives on Bonaire is that they're accessed over loose ironshore/coral rubble - often just offshore - so if you go down you can get pretty hurt - and often you're the only one there.

Most resorts and condos on Bonaire offer some sort of dive/drive/lodging pkg. but none of them are true AI's with meals included.

It's maybe 5mins. to town (driving) from that area where there's a good mix of bars/restaurants/shops in all price ranges. Everything from KFC to It Rains Fishes - pricey seafood with a great view. The cruise ships stop there now also.

Capt' Don's Habitat might be another option also - it was the first dive resort on Bonaire. IDK much about it - except the Cliff/La Machaca dive sites are accessible from their dive dock - we did both on one dive. Bonaire Dive & Adventure also has a dive photo shop on-site. They serve the Den Laman and Sand Dollar condos - people other than divers stay there so it might be harder to find a buddy.

Maybe consider the Divi Flamingo also. From the Divi you can walk to downtown Kralendijk easily. Divi has the only casino on Bonaire also. And lockers on their dock for your gear. Their shore dive took a hit in a recent hurricane...

Every dive resort I mentioned above has a good shore dive off their property. Bari Reef between Den Laman/Sand Dollar has the highest # of counted fish species in the Caribbean. My buddy did a REEF fishcount dive(1) there - he identified 185 species - with help from the naturalist.


Cocoview on Roatan might be another option. You'll dive with the same people on the same boat all week so get to make friends quick. A slight downside of Cocoview is that it's somewhat isolated - you take a short boat ride to get there - not a lot of other stuff nearby. So most of your meals/activities are there - it's a full AI dive resort. One of the best shore dives on Roatan is off their beach, both the wall and Prince Albert wreck are shore accessible.

On Utila there are at least three full AI dive resorts. Since they're isolated from the main part of town, generally most people at them will be divers also. Deep Blue Utila, Laguna Beach and Utopia Village are options. All three resorts also have shore dives just off their property, Laguna Beach even has a dock out to the reef. Since they're isolated from town though, they're pretty quiet at night. At Deep Blue they will take you to town almost anytime, their staff travels to/from the resort via their boats also. Utila is somewhat harder/more expensive to get to also.

There are cheap accommodations in town and a lot of dive training operators. Deep Blue also has a good deal in the summer, $1000/wk in June, $850/wk in July - excludes alcohol. They'll meet you on arrival and transport you back to town/airport when you leave - the airport is really small and mostly outdoors. You can also fly into/ferry over from Roatan the same day - Details are on the Deep Blue website.

My last suggestion might be Lion's Dive on Curacao. IDK how good their shore dive is though. And it's more expensive. An AI if you buy a meal plan afaik. Ocean Encounters main dive shop is 50 yds. from their property. OE doesn't allow solo diving though. One other option is the Dive Bus - they do escorted shore dives all over Curacao. And will pick you up. The Seaquarium complex is next door, besides the aquarium there's shops & restaurants within walking distance. Downtown Willemstad is 5mins. by cab.

 

[Rescue Diver68]

2. Dont know...probably clean enough for a New Yorker.

Ouch!

 

[caymaniac]

Bonaire anywhere on the west side would fit the bill, walk into diving anytime, choose other areas by renting a vehicle. Bonaire is the easiest place we've found to shore dive from in the world.
Grand Turk also has a wall offshore with a number of dive ops.
A dive dedicated resort on San Salvador Bahamas, the Riding Rock Inn

You are looking for a dive dedicated resort, how about Cobalt coast on Grand Cayman?

There used to be a place on the Brac like it but its gone, soon however you could stay at the Brac Reef Resort and there will be a shore dive operator who's starting a new biz on the island.

 

[diversteve]

Just re-read your post.

Are you a certified solo diver wanting to dive alone or a solo dive traveler looking to meet up with buddies at various locations?

The reason I ask is some locations/operations I might suggest have specific rules about solo diving.

 

[Randallr]

Traveling on my own. I never dive w/o a buddy. I did go to Bonaire and stayed at and dove with Bruce Bowker in July. Got to know the Divi, which was next door. I liked Bonaire well enough, but it was surprisingly painful to get to. And Bonaire seemed to be mostly families diving together. I felt out of place, compared with Sunset House, to be frank. And I'm leery of just trying to pick up a buddy last minute for shore diving; on a limited-stay vacation, i worry id have to be more planful than that That said, I'm now so into learning the photography, that Bonaire has more appeal. So I will rethink, thanks to this excellent and thoughtful guidance.

As far as the New York comment: I'll tell ya, Dogface, when you live in the world's capital of commerce, entertainment, finance, sport, the arts, dining, fashion, and intellect, you grow a thick skin.

 

[diversteve]

You might consider joining Dive NY here on SB - some of their members dive in the Caribbean somewhat frequently. Meet people locally and travel with them to eliminate the insta-buddy issues. They also organize group trips occasionally, the last one was to Bonaire afaik.

Curacao is a little easier to get to also than Bonaire. Another option there might be AllWest Apts. in Westpunt diving with Go West Diving. There seems to be divers going there regularly from here. Westpunt is a little remote, just a few resorts/restaurants in that area. So you'd want a car most likely. I'm guessing the resort is kind of quiet also - it was the day we were there - diving - have not stayed there.

One other that just came to mind is Bolongo Bay Beach Resort/St. Thomas Diving Club on St. Thomas. It's probably easier to get to also but IMO the diving is a step down from Bonaire (most places are...) unless you like wrecks - there's a lot of them south of the island.

 

[Randallr]

Fantastic guidance from you all! I decided to book Scuba Club Cozumel. I've never been to Cozumel, and it really is one of the places I feel I've got to try. The rest I will hungrily save until later.

Boynton Beach area this weekend. And got my Enriched Air Cert last night. all is right with the world!

 

[splitpea58]

1. Hey New Yorker. I just got back from Cozumel (going again in July) and it's one of my favorite places in the world. To be fair I haven't been to Fiji, Yap and that side of the world. BUT to answer your questions....Although I travel with a buddy, I've met many solo divers on the boats. Just be sure you're with a diver with some experience. Leave the newbie solo divers to the divemaster.
2. Rooms and food depend on the hotel. We normally stay at Casa Del Mar. Hard beds, clean rooms, AC works so this Arizona girl is always happy!
3. Lively and friendly just depends on the crowd thats in town. I've been to Casa del Mar 4 times. Sometimes it's sedate, sometimes it's rockin'
4. Cozumel diving is FANTASTIC! I've never been to Cayman but the group I travel with say it's every bit as good. Drift diving is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. In a stiff current it's hard to line up for a perfect picture but many currents are slow and lazy so it's easy to shoot. The reefs are beautiful and marine life plentiful because the island has been aggressive in managing the lionfish. You'll be there in July or August? The whale sharks are in also. Ask at the hotel about an expedition. Should be around $200 to snorkel with the whale sharks. We'll be there in July and you can bet I'm swimming with them!
5. Don't know about photo lessons.
6. I have been shore diving many times off the Del Mar Aquatics pier. Stuff to see (of course) if you're into babies and macro but the eye popping stuff is on the reefs. I like to dive anywhere, anytime so I'm not picky and always find good stuff to see.
7. For whatever it's worth, my favorite reef for being lazy is Chancanaab (possibly spelled correctly?) and for swim throughs is Palancar Gardens.