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XP any scuba divers? help with vacation planning (NWR)

NotATotalBettyNotATotalBetty member
Fifth Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its Name Dropper
in Honeymoon Discussions
(Cross posted on the NEY board)

So I'm planning a vacation for me and my boyfriend with the main goal of getting certified to scuba dive!  I've never been before, he's done some discovery dives prior in the pool and sea in Playa del Carmen.

We're trying to figure out the best place to go for novice scuba divers that also has a decent combination of on shore activities too.  My BF prefers AI, I can go either way.  We also want it to be relatively easy access from New York, nonstop flights preferred.  No defined budget, 7-8 nights.

The best bets so far seem to be Belize, Turks & Caicos, and Cozumel.  I'm a little concerned that for T&C we won't have enough to do when we aren't diving, and for Cozumel it'll be overwhelmed by cruise daytrippers.

Any scuba experts (or Caribbean travel aficionados) that can weigh in on this?  Would love feedback!
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Re: XP any scuba divers? help with vacation planning (NWR)

  • anssettanssett member
    100 Comments 5 Love Its First Anniversary
    Don't rule out Colombia. It has a sketchy reputation but some amazing diving. It's super warm, has good visibility, and is considered 'very easy' for diving. I live in Seattle and am getting certified here (where it's considered 'very hard' diving, then I will also dive on trips in the future). Places like Santa Marta offer lots of diving and other stuff. The tiny island San Andres also has amazing diving.

    Galapagos Islands in Ecuador is a top diving spot. 

    Neither of those are non-stop destinations but you may decide it's worth it. The Blue Hole in Belize is considered one of the must-see destinations and might fit your requirements.


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  • jemmini6jemmini6 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    If you want to get OW certified, I highly recommend you do the class/pool portion of your certification at a local dive shop and then just do your checkout dives on vacation (if you use a PADI shop for the class, any PADI center can do your checkout dives).  The class portion, while obviously necessary, is sort of boring and is not what I'd want to spend my vacation doing. 

    As for locations, I haven't done much diving in the Caribbean other than Roatan, which we just went to in September and it was AMAZING.  The water was absolutely perfect, spectacular reefs with super fun swim throughs, lots of sea life, even a few wrecks (although we didn't get a chance to do any of these dives).  There were quite a few land activities that were fun too.  I don't know that there are any major AIs there (ie, no Sandals), but I believe quite a few of the resorts offered a meal package.

    Other than that, I've heard the diving is great in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Bonaire (mostly shore dives), and even the Bahamas.  Cozumel and Roatan are on the MesoAmerican Reef system, which is the second largest reef in the world (Great Barrier Reef being #1), but I'd be willing to bet that you'd get some good dives in most of the Caribbean, just look into currents/visibility, etc for the time of year you are going.


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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    500 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper

    I posted on your other post - but just realized I forgot Bonaire (sp?) -- we did boat dives in the protected water park section and it was gorgeous. Not sure if they let you go there if you are beginner (we had to do some buoyancy "tests" before we went in to the good spots although I guess the strictness would be determined by whatever dive shop you got).

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  • CrystaH11CrystaH11 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 25 Love Its First Answer
    The Florida Keys are also great for beginning divers. There are tons of reefs within the depth that is allowed for beginners, the water is clear and warm all year around. The night life and day time activites are also great. And even better, you can have a great vacation for less than flying out of country :)

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