Snorkeling vacation ideas

[MatthewScars]

In May/June i want to go on a week long snorkeling/scuba vacation.

I want to stay around the Cayman Island/Caribbean/SA/MX area with a budget of $1500 person.

Right now, my potentials are

San Pedro (Belize)
Jamaica
Bonaire
St Lucia (or surrounding islands)

Anyone been to these places or have any other suggestions? I'm looking for the place with the most diverse reef.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Out of the four you listed and diving in three of them(never went to Belize)....Bonaire offers the most incredible diving out of them. A bit of a hike but well worth it. There is also another spot that is closer that I loved. It was Eleuthera wich was incredible as well. Has a lot of diversity...the devils backbone, Plateus of coral reefs, this is where i did my first cut dive which was great.... The other great part about it was the fact that the majority of diving was done at very shallow depths allowing for great bottom time....:spin: With that being said I would rate Bonaire 1st followed by Eleuthera. Hope this helps buddy

Thane

 

[SIReefer]

Bonaire would be your best bet. Do a drive & dive. Lots of shore diving at your own pace. I just came back from St. Lucia, stayed at Sandals which has a first rate dive op but the reefs were pretty sparce. My whole vacation to St L. cost about $1500 PP on a direct flight w/JetBlue. I dove Roatan which is the same reef system as Belize. You get a good bang for your buck there, stayed at Fantasy Island). Never been to Jamaica so I can't comment but I've never seen Jamaica mentioned in any dive magazines or heard of anyone going there for the diving/snorkeling. Good Luck.

 

[cowfish]

Fanatasy Island was recently bought by another company and many have reported that it has gone downhill since.

Bonaire all the way. No boats needed. Grab your gear, walk down to the reef or go on a quick drive to a large number of locations and then swim, snorkel or dive until you can't no more! Just watch out for the skeeters. (Can you say DEET?) You have to keep an eye out for a deal on the flight though. I booked a flight last year for $375 round trip. A week before I purchased my ticket the same flight was over $1000.

 

[aznt1217]

Depends on what you want to see. I studied abroad in San Salvador Bahamas for about a month and a half or so. Small island but VASTLY different reef settings and different zones/species around.

It's also good to mention the island has been virtually untouched except for the Club Med there so it's real wild. You're going to want to Club Med it there and use one of their scooters to go around.

 

[Euroreefer]

I know its not on your list, but I recommend Key West. Its cheap, easy, and plenty of snorkeling/ dive spots..I was amazed at the diversity of life on the reefs there. Check out Islamorada, its about the 4th Key down, and had LOTS of fish and coral. You can also rent a hotel room on one of the docks so you can jump out of your room right into the ocean! lol:spin:

 

[MatthewScars]

Out of the four you listed and diving in three of them(never went to Belize)....Bonaire offers the most incredible diving out of them. A bit of a hike but well worth it. There is also another spot that is closer that I loved. It was Eleuthera wich was incredible as well. Has a lot of diversity...the devils backbone, Plateus of coral reefs, this is where i did my first cut dive which was great.... The other great part about it was the fact that the majority of diving was done at very shallow depths allowing for great bottom time....:spin: With that being said I would rate Bonaire 1st followed by Eleuthera. Hope this helps buddy

Thane

what hotel in bonaire did you stay?

 

[SIReefer]

Your right: Fantasy Island was bought by the Privilege Hotel chain. I stayed there a few times & it was hit or miss. The rooms are being remodeled & you can get in 4-5 dives a day. They now include liquor & beverages in their all inclusive. The last time I went they threw in free nitrox for the week. It is on their own private island so theres no worry about your gear & no problems w/the locals. With tax its about $800 AI. There are no nonstop flights from our area though.
Key Largo is nice if you want to stay in this country. Mile marker 100 is good. There are a lot of good package deals w/SeaDwellers & Ocean Divers. I went in August/Sept & the water was really rough. Once again no nonstop flights to the Keys. Usually you go into Miami and rent a car. For diving info: there is a Beneath the Sea diving expo this March in the Meadowlands expo center. I went last year & won free dives in GC. A lot of good info there as well as new gear.

 

[Imbarrie]

Eluthera is a great choice.

I love St John for the snorkeling and hiking and restaurants, but it could get pricey unless you have enough ppl to get a house.

Bonaire is great for diving and snorkeling, the restaurants are great but the island has that barren scrubby look. If you want a tropical island vibe I would go elsewhere.

 

[MatthewScars]

Seems so, you do Scuba training? I need to get my cert by june.

Eluthera is a great choice.

I love St John for the snorkeling and hiking and restaurants, but it could get pricey unless you have enough ppl to get a house.

Bonaire is great for diving and snorkeling, the restaurants are great but the island has that barren scrubby look. If you want a tropical island vibe I would go elsewhere.

 

[Imbarrie]

I thought you were going snorkeling.

I used to crew live aboard dive boats and teach in the Carib for a few years. I dont teach at all anymore.

My favorite places are far away from civilization. Less run off and less day boaters.

Where are you going to get certified? Are you doing the class and pool sessions here and the open water where its warm and blue?

 

[MatthewScars]

Yeah, im planning on doing the classroom/pool diving here then the open water part when im on vacation.

I thought you were going snorkeling.

I used to crew live aboard dive boats and teach in the Carib for a few years. I dont teach at all anymore.

My favorite places are far away from civilization. Less run off and less day boaters.

Where are you going to get certified? Are you doing the class and pool sessions here and the open water where its warm and blue?

 

[SIReefer]

Do your pool work here, get a referral and do your open water cert in the Islands. Beats the hell out of the quarry. Much easier, less stress and more fun.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

Yeah, im planning on doing the classroom/pool diving here then the open water part when im on vacation.

Get it all done now....Dont waste a day on vacation.... ) Besides after diving in the shinacock cannal with all of 3' visability you will appreciate where ever you go that much more....

 

[jaa1456]

I have been to all the islands you listed, some a few more times than others. My top 3 would be Grand Cayman, then Bonaire and Jamica third. Grand Cayman is expensive, I know they offer all inclusive just didn't stay in any. The snorkeling and scuba were out of this world. The reef was literally 10 feet from the beach and there were turtles and tons of fish everyday. Bonaire I spent one day scuba and I was sick the rest of the week but nice reef.(stayed in rented houses at both). Jamica I stayed at Breezes at Ocho Rio, Great all inclusive all scuba cets were free when I went there. The reef was nice and plentiful with fish and coral. Only place I saw octupus and huge dog face puffers. Jamica was 10 years ago at breezes and my last trip there 2 years ago in montego bay was no where as nice.

 

[Imbarrie]

I would not recommend Jamaica for diving or snorkelling.
Partying and just hanging out on a beach it is great.
I would also stay away form any dive that starts or ends with the word quarry. Cold dark and drab is not the way you want to start your dive experience.
I would Look in the back of dive magazines. They are always promoting package deals. Have you thought about Cozumel. They do a lot of diving there for a reason.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[MatthewScars]

They are always promoting package deals. Have you thought about Cozumel. They do a lot of diving there for a reason.

I went to Rivera Maya (south of Cozumel) last year. i did off shore snorkeling and a 'reef' tour. It sucked. All it was was some Lunar Wrasses and and 50 million long spine urchins, and sea fans. Maybe it was just a bad area.

Eleuthera and Bonaire are a bit pricey. and I cant even find decent flight to Bonaire thats not $1600 and 18 hours. I looked through July. hah

Eleuthera is looking better and better. thanks for the help.

 

[jaa1456]

Imbvarrie The montego bay side of Jamica does suck but not the Ocho Rios side. I have been to both sides and its like 2 totally different islands. Also Breezes is an adult only club.

 

[Imbarrie]

Let me be clear, I never said that diving Jamaica sucked.

When I was an instructor putting tours together with Royal Caribbean our SCUBA packages from Jamaica consistently had the worse ratings across the board. Staff, boats, visibility, aquatic life, reef health. We primarily used local operators on the Ocho Rios side.
I have also visited there on a regular basis. They are not recognized as viable dive locations the way other places are. And Im a guy who regularly dived the outer wall off the north coast of Haiti for a couple years. I like getting off the beaten path.
We also dived in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, St Thomas, St Marten, TOTO off Nassau, Key West among others. These areas had mixed to good reviews overall. And these are not world class dive sites.

I have a lot of experience taking people of all skill levels diving on cruise ships and on live aboards. After listening to what they say about Jam. I would not recommend diving there.

 

[SIReefer]

Oh Great. I'm hitting Jamaica in April. Going to Sandals in Ocho Rios. I know the diving is not great but Sandals is a good AI & one of the few that includes Scuba. I'm not expecting a lot in Jamaica but I just want to GET WET & going here gives me an excuse.