Hello all,
I hope you can help. I am looking for a two-week holiday in August somewhere in/near the US that is a 'special' place to dive, but also provides a "nice" holiday (for non divers).
I have been reading through these forums with interest and I am pleased that I've found such a good source of advice. However, it seems that the more I read of previous threads, the more bewildered with information I am becoming and I would LOVE it if you all could offer some specific advice.
Here's the low down: there are six people (3 couples) to please on this holiday - four are divers (who got their advanced certificates in Keywest last year but haven't yet logged many dives i.e. less than 20 and have no equipment) and two of the ladies, don't dive but snorkel (and would like a nearby/immediate beach and pleasent h/motel with pool etc.). We are a range of ages between 21-50 and some are travelling from the UK (so I don't know if some places cost less to fly to). Without including diving and air costs we have about a $500-$700 accomodation budget per person; but probably can't afford to spend too far over $1000 each for the accomodation plus diving.
One of the divers wants to do lots of courses and dives, the rest of us are happy just diving wherever there are fish, but we did have an excellent time doing our advanced last year with the superb instructors at Southpoint Divers and so we all would be interested in specialities as long as the instructors came highly recommended.
So, the divers want to dive somewhere special and the others want a "nice holiday" - where could you recommend, and if possible a specific resort and/or dive centre?
So far, I've not even managed to select a location, let alone a resort and I'm getting bewildered by it all!
Quick summary of what I think I've found the most likely options from the forum:
Cozumel - ace diving, inc. drifts and cave; relatively cheap and cheerful but some serious concerns about the drift diving currents being difficult and too many tourists, bad DM's and crap resorts - would need a recommended nice place to be.
Bonaire - everyone seems to LOVE diving at bonaire and there is plenty of shore diving available so the eager diver would be happy. But will it provide enough entertainment for those who are not divers and it is too expensive for our budget - will the diver who wants variety/speciality dives be content??
Caymans - lots of varied and interesting diving but a little beyond our budget??
Belize - Biggest barrier reef in US, same reef system as coz (?) but without the current and tourist issues. CAN YOU SHORE DIVE HERE? Atolls supposed to be amongst best diving in the world and Ambergris Cave recommended for access to town/mayan ruins/mainland etc.
Because of the different people's situations etc. I am also confused as to whether I should be looking at inclusive dive packages or not. I guess that if there is 'unlimited shore diving' available then its probably a good idea.
Any help would be much, much appreciated. I appreciate that people can only offer an opinion, but if you can make a recommendation or even just help to steer me on my course, I would greatly, greatly appreciate the help!
So many thanks in advance to those who reply,
Kindest regards and happy diving
Becky
=-)
I hope you can help. I am looking for a two-week holiday in August somewhere in/near the US that is a 'special' place to dive, but also provides a "nice" holiday (for non divers).
I have been reading through these forums with interest and I am pleased that I've found such a good source of advice. However, it seems that the more I read of previous threads, the more bewildered with information I am becoming and I would LOVE it if you all could offer some specific advice.
Here's the low down: there are six people (3 couples) to please on this holiday - four are divers (who got their advanced certificates in Keywest last year but haven't yet logged many dives i.e. less than 20 and have no equipment) and two of the ladies, don't dive but snorkel (and would like a nearby/immediate beach and pleasent h/motel with pool etc.). We are a range of ages between 21-50 and some are travelling from the UK (so I don't know if some places cost less to fly to). Without including diving and air costs we have about a $500-$700 accomodation budget per person; but probably can't afford to spend too far over $1000 each for the accomodation plus diving.
One of the divers wants to do lots of courses and dives, the rest of us are happy just diving wherever there are fish, but we did have an excellent time doing our advanced last year with the superb instructors at Southpoint Divers and so we all would be interested in specialities as long as the instructors came highly recommended.
So, the divers want to dive somewhere special and the others want a "nice holiday" - where could you recommend, and if possible a specific resort and/or dive centre?
So far, I've not even managed to select a location, let alone a resort and I'm getting bewildered by it all!
Quick summary of what I think I've found the most likely options from the forum:
Cozumel - ace diving, inc. drifts and cave; relatively cheap and cheerful but some serious concerns about the drift diving currents being difficult and too many tourists, bad DM's and crap resorts - would need a recommended nice place to be.
Bonaire - everyone seems to LOVE diving at bonaire and there is plenty of shore diving available so the eager diver would be happy. But will it provide enough entertainment for those who are not divers and it is too expensive for our budget - will the diver who wants variety/speciality dives be content??
Caymans - lots of varied and interesting diving but a little beyond our budget??
Belize - Biggest barrier reef in US, same reef system as coz (?) but without the current and tourist issues. CAN YOU SHORE DIVE HERE? Atolls supposed to be amongst best diving in the world and Ambergris Cave recommended for access to town/mayan ruins/mainland etc.
Because of the different people's situations etc. I am also confused as to whether I should be looking at inclusive dive packages or not. I guess that if there is 'unlimited shore diving' available then its probably a good idea.
Any help would be much, much appreciated. I appreciate that people can only offer an opinion, but if you can make a recommendation or even just help to steer me on my course, I would greatly, greatly appreciate the help!
So many thanks in advance to those who reply,
Kindest regards and happy diving
Becky
=-)