Scuba divers??

[waverz]

So me and the ole' lady are tying the knot Feburary 24th and are going to be going on a tropical honeymoon somewhere. We are looking at Cozumel Mexico. It looks like an awesome place and sounds like its one of the best places in the world to scuba.

Heres the deal, ive never been scuba diving, i love swimming and the thought of scuba diving sounds awesome, fromw hat ive read it is better to get certified beforehand, i remember reading about Scuba Too offering a course in Cedar Falls are they still open?? I also remember someoen saying UNI offers a course, when is this??

 

[Paul B]

Although I am not in Iowa, it is better to get certified before you go or you will spend a lot of time on your vacation taking a class.
Also while Cozumel is a good place to dive it is not really the best, but it is probably the cheapest. Generally anyplace in or off Mexico will be the cheapest.
Have a good time on your honeymoon.
Paul

 

[Atticus]

I strongly recommend getting free dive certified before hand. You will be able to do what you want and you will enjoy it more.

 

[einsteins]

You should consider going to Grand Cayman Island...

My wife and I did the same as you, we wanted to go on a diving honeymoon. SO we took the classes locally and actually did our certification dive at a shop in Grand Cayman the first afternoon we were there.
If you are interested let me know and I'll hook you up with an awsome Dive shop there that is off the beaten path and is more local.
Also if you buy your air from that shop you can dive from shore behind their shop on Turtle reef which is an amazing 70 to 90 reef wall you can just swim out to. that reef was such good diving we saved the cost of dive boat trips and dove on Turtle reef twice a day all week long. Every day was different....nowhere else will you find 300 pound parrot fish.

let me know...

ein

 

[Paul B]

Einsteins is correct (IMO) the Caymans are better

 

[matt the fiddler]

there are some nice places in Hawaii and Flordia, but you have to dig for them. If you end up in the keys- I can tell you some nice places that are better than others. Hit the caymans if you can

 

[druce]

defintely worth getting certified before hand.

I have a book and video if you need more info on certification.

 

[VikeBron]

Anyone know of a good shop in Cozumel for my open water cert. Took all the classes and now just need the open water to finish. Going for 2 weeks in Nov.

 

[reefbuzz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8211395#post8211395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by einsteins
You should consider going to Grand Cayman Island... nowhere else will you find 300 pound parrot fish.

Come on? There is no such thing as a 300 lb. parrotfish.

If I were doing the dive honeymoon thing, I'd get certified and go to Bonaire, Netherland Antilles. Hands down the best and most convenient diving in the Caribbean. You wake up, eat breakfast, walk to 10 feet to the beach, pick up your equipment, and swim off the beach out to one of the nicest fringing reefs in the world. Or you could load up your rental and drive to one of a hundred dive spots on the island. It's very well organized and there is a dive map available; all dive are locatred right off the beach, which takes the hassle and cost out the equation. Plus it's among the top dive destinations in the Caribbean.

Also, Mexico is not cheap, especially Cozumel; down south around Playa del Carmen and Akumal maybe, but not Cancun and Cozumel. If you're looking to speak spanish and enjoy excellent diving and island vibes, head to Isla Verde in Puerto Rico, Roatan, Honduras, or the blue hole and atolls off Belize.

PM me with any questions. I work in the islands and have been certified since I was 13.

 

[tibbs2]

I got certified at The Dive C.L.U.B in Des Moines. I did my training dives and checkout dive at Big Blue in Mason City and I thought I received good training.

I would make sure your fiancee is ok with SCUBA before she spends the money on the course. Me and my wife began our SCUBA classes together but she could not complete the mask clearing and would not submerge beneath the cloudy water of Big Blue.

If you're looking for the best places in the world to dive I think New Guinea, Marshall Islands and Australia would be top picks. I've only been to the Okinawan Islands but I think the SPS and diversity of life there was amazing. The hotel was only 50 bucks a night for two beds and free breakfast. The expensive part though is getting there.

If you are going somewhere south you could think about going a bit further and go to Belize. I hear it is pretty nice.

 

[xroads]

First I would like to congratulate you on the engagement. Second I would recomend you check out the website for Sandals resorts. They are 100% inclusive including all the drinks you want as well as all the diving. The prices seem to be pretty decent to me.