Good first Dive vacation spot?

[bigrock]

The wife and I are getting ow certification here where we live in California and the check out dives are at Monterey bay. For our summer vacation we want to go somewhere we could do some easy first dives. Diving isn't all we will be doing though so we want a place that has large resorts and other activities to do. I have researched some and it looks like Cozumel might be a good place.
Anybody have any other recommendations?

 

[sasscuba]

Depends on how comfortable you are with 3 to 4 knot current in Cozumel. Some newbies don't do drift dives too well depends on how comfortable you are not being in control. I have been diving for 29 years and the best place for new divers is Bonaire, hands down. Shore diving done at your pace with little to no current. Not too many large resorts but definetly the best shore diving anywhere.

 

[sasscuba]

By the way been to Cozumel 10 times in my life and they definitely have the best drift diving there is.

 

[gysgt7486]

How about Puerto Rico

 

[sasscuba]

How about Puerto Rico

Some people like it but to me it is just ok, much better places to go in the caribbean.

 

[billdogg]

+1 to Bonaire - Been there several times and will go again whenever I can. It is also below the hurricane belt, so misses out on most of the bad stuff. Capt Don's and Buddys are 2 good choices

 

[bigrock]

Thanks for the advice.
Few questions about Bonaire.
I know there is a lot of shore diving there but do you still go out with a group and dive master or is all the diving done on your own? I would prefer our first dives to be with a local guide I would think?

Also it looks like more of apartment style hotels but the wife wants a big all inclusive resort. I don't see any big resorts on the island?

Any decent diving around Punta Cana?

 

[Balletomane]

I totally recommend Cozumel. I was there about three weeks ago. My first trip there was in 1990. Loved it then. Even better the second time around. Drift diving is the tits. Very relaxing. Deep dives are great for undrewater topography (tunnels, towers, swim-throughs). Shallower dives are great for fish/eels/sea horses, etc. Dive Paradise is the shop I've used both times. Wonderful service. WONDERFUL SERVICE!

 

[farlsincharge]

Belize hands down! They have a blue hole just Google it.

 

[sasscuba]

Belize hands down! They have a blue hole just Google it.

Most boring dive I have ever done. The Blue Hole looks cool from the sky but is a boring dive.

 

[sasscuba]

Thanks for the advice.
Few questions about Bonaire.
I know there is a lot of shore diving there but do you still go out with a group and dive master or is all the diving done on your own? I would prefer our first dives to be with a local guide I would think?

Also it looks like more of apartment style hotels but the wife wants a big all inclusive resort. I don't see any big resorts on the island?

Any decent diving around Punta Cana?

Dominican Republic is ok diving, not alot of marine life and so so reefs. You can do shore diving many ways on Bonaire but the most popular is to rent a truck. On Bonaire all trucks have dive racks in the back and you just load up your tanks and drive the shoreline and select a yellow marker stone for a dive site and enter the water. The past 4 times we have been to Bonaire we rented a condo at Sand Dollar Condominium and Resort. They have a dive site on premises and offer unlimited tanks for your shore dives. We used to do a bunch of all inclusive but there are many good restaurants on Bonaire and 2 very centrally located grocery stores. Most resorts have grills by the ocean to cook and full kitchens. I know some people like to not cook but the relaxing island of Bonaire and some burgers or chicken plus go out a few nights is easy. Bonaire was my first dive trip when I was 14 some 27 years ago and is one of my favorite places. I have been to Bonaire 12 times and every trip is better than the last.

 

[bigrock]

So do you own and bring your own gear? We will not have any gear except the basics(mask, snorkel, fins) so is it pretty simple to rent gear for the week in bonarie?

 

[denash24]

I highly recommend Maui....
I'm not a beginner but I don't see how it would not be super comfortable for a couple of beginners. BTW you will go out as a group and you always go out with your DB and let the dive master know that you're a beginner. Also other than diving Maui is paradise so you can't go wrong / treat yourself to Mama's Fish House.

 

[sasscuba]

So do you own and bring your own gear? We will not have any gear except the basics(mask, snorkel, fins) so is it pretty simple to rent gear for the week in bonarie?

Yes I have all my own gear but all Dive shops facilitys do rent gear.

I have stayed in this 1 bedroom and really liked it..http://www.vrbo.com/70012

Really like this dive shop which is on property..http://www.bonairediveandadventure.com/


Have also stayed at Buddy Dive Resort numerous times also very nice..http://www.buddydive.com/index.php/home


Hope this helps, any more questions just ask.

Scott.

 

[sasscuba]

I highly recommend Maui....
I'm not a beginner but I don't see how it would not be super comfortable for a couple of beginners. BTW you will go out as a group and you always go out with your DB and let the dive master know that you're a beginner. Also other than diving Maui is paradise so you can't go wrong / treat yourself to Mama's Fish House.

I also love Maui! More relaxed and not such a tourist destination like Honolulu.

 

[photobret]

I spent 5 weeks in Utila and highly recommend it both for beginner diving and for further dive education for very cheap. PM me if you want any tips.

 

[sasscuba]

I spent 5 weeks in Utila and highly recommend it both for beginner diving and for further dive education for very cheap. PM me if you want any tips.

Utila is definitely better than Roatan Honduras.

 

[deathy17]

what kind of depths do you have in utila?

 

[bigrock]

Well just to follow up with this thread, we decided on Cozumel! The wife likes the all inclusive resorts and it is fairly cheap there too. Thanks for all your recommendations.

Now what dive operators do you guys recommend on Cozumel? Were staying at the palace.
Thanks

 

[WarmWaterWuss]

You're going to love Cozumel. My favourite site is Palancar Gardens, lush coral everywhere. There is even some good shore diving.
Some of the dive sites start at 80 feet and often have current running, so let the Dive Op know you are a newbie. Maybe even start with a guided shore dive to get your weighting right. I like Aldora and Blue XT Sea. Have fun.
There is an entire section about Cozumel on Scubaboard.com.