Honeymoon Dive Destinations

My wife and I got married about a year ago and are planning a belated Honeymoon in July. We have been diving for about a year and have only ever dived in the UAE and Oman (where we are living up the expat life).

Originally we were set on going to the Maldives, but four groups of friends have been there in the last six months and say it isn't a patch on what it was. It used to be expensive but amazing, but now its expensive and not much better than Oman, is this true?

Other possibilities we have considered so far are: Pemba, Egypt, Seyschelles or great barrier reef (although it seems a shame to travel all the way to Australia for just two weeks).

Basically, it is our honeymoon so we are willing to spend that bit more if necessary to get a once in a life time diving holiday where we can be assured of lots of sealife and photo opportunities, reliable diving and I suppose it should be a bit reomantic as well.

As there seem to be some very well travelled divers in the wetpixel community we thought we'd put to you: Where would you recommend?

July is not a good time for diving in Seychelles, or the majority of Indian Ocean. Your best options are to go east to Borneo or Sulawesi for value for money. A trip on Peter Hughes Komodo Dancer is also good.

I'd suggest Tahiti and her sister islands. . . it's alot of $, but the service is top rate. . it's very much geared towards honeymooners. . . . try to squeeze in a side-trip to Rangiroa bec. the best diving is there. . the drift dive thru the passes are packed with big pelagics and the sensation is absolutely unforgetabble (!)

Hi Katfish,

This depends on what part of the world you're coming from and how far you're willing to travel. Fiji is fantastic for honeymooners, but the diving is so-so unless you get on a live-aboard. The resorts there are amazing and some are very romantic.

I agree completely with Cybergoldfish about the Komodo Dancer too. I was there in November and was very impressed. Be sure to spend a couple days in Bali. Hotels are super cheap now as they are really hurting for business, so you can negotiate. You could get a very romantic bungalow in Ubud for a song.

I also met a lot of honeymooners at the Hotel Santika in Manado. The diving around Bunaken is some of the best I've seen in the world. Hotel is 4* and the dive center there is PADI 5*. For something different you can also do trips from there up to Bangka and to Lembeh or charter their live-aboard for a couple of days to really get into remote territory.

Do you need a photographer? I'm cheap!

Bonnie

I guess nobody would go for Maldives, pemba or egypt ;^P

Hadn't thought of Fiji, I'll have a look in to it.

Sorry, don't need a photographer, don't think the wife would appreciate it.

Any other suggestions

Egypt is great in July - VERY hot but if you choose a live aboard you get a nice sea breeze. You could always do a romantic cruise down the nile too, combined with a weeks diving.

As Bob (Cybergoldfish) has said the majority of central Indian Ocean is at its low point for diving. Maldives is in the indian Ocean.

Sorry, don't need a photographer, don't think the wife would appreciate it.

If he were as damned handsom as me she would!!!

SWWW: Is spot on, I think Egypt is a great place for a multi-point honeymoon. The Red Sea on a Live aboard, then a trip down the Nile on one of those floating palaces to take in the extraordinary sites of ancient Egypt. Very good value for money too.

If you contact Yassin at Diving World UK he can tie the whole thing together for you.

email>>>

I recommend the Royal Emperor as it has a large double bedroom forward of the lounge.

Cayman Islands was great for our honeymoon, and the diving would be good too I suppose...

The Big Island, Hawaii, we spent our 20th anniversary. We stayed 3 days at a B&B that I would highly recommend (my favorite place that I have ever stayed). It's on 40 acres and backs up to a 15000 acre ranch, sits at 1100 feet elevation, with a 180 panoramic view. It has an infinity pool that has the appearance of spilling into the Pacific Ocean. There are black, green, and combinations of colored sand beaches as well as Volcano National Park that makes a great day trip. The only thing I would do different is that I would stay a week at Clem's Horizon Guest House instead of just 3 days.

Top it off with a week on the Kona Aggressor II, which cruises all the way down to South Point. We never saw another diver or dive boat until the last dives when we returned to sites near Kona.

I got op water certified on grand cayman on my first honeymoon. That marriage lasted 6 months.

My second honeymoon, was in palau, yap and Truk Lagoon. That marriage is going on 10 years now.

I am heading to Papau New guinea for a liveaboard in June but I dont plan on bringing a new wife.

Based on that logic, I would recommend Palau.

A year later my wife and I did do a live aboard in the red sea in July and it was fantastic. I dont think I would travel to that part of the world now.

"I got op water certified on grand cayman on my first honeymoon. That marriage lasted 6 months"

Thanks for the warning Jack r, that is Cayman Islands crossed of the list for sure!!!

To keep you all informed we have now set on three option:

Maldives - The wife is still interested but the high price and low season for the Indian ocean is against it

Egypt - No problem with the part of the world (I live in the middle east) but Egypt does sounds a lot of hassel. Might do southern red sea next year though

Fiji - Sounds fantastic, although minor concerns about the warnings lonely planet are giving about political unrest. Mind you, at the moment where in the world isn't there unrest.

I am favouring Fiji, so who can recommed good source of info and possible dive operators in Fiji?

Maldives - High prices??

Drop me an email when you want to go and I'll organise this for you - Best times to dive Maldives are Oct thro' April. Optimum Feb/March. I'll get you a good price on Live aboard or Islands.

Flights by Emirates are not too bad and it only takes 3.5 hrs from Abu Dabi or Dubai.

There are several Maldives articles in the dive destinations forum.

Hello,

I spent 2 weeks in Fiji this past June. Would highly recommend it for a honeymoon. We stayed 5 nights at the Maravu Plantation Resort on Taveuni (they have a good website). Very romantic place. We were the only ones not on our honeymoon. The grounds were beautiful and the accomadations are all very private stand-alone bures. We stayed in a "honeymoon bure" which had a private outdoor courtyard complete with outdoor shower (very cool!!!). The meals were all inclusive and outstanding. Incredible buffet in morning with omlettes made to order. Gourmet lunch and dinner picked from a menu presented each morning at breakfast. Horseback riding through gorgeous hills also included in price as well as sea kayaks. Great optional excursions hiking to waterfalls, etc. Fijian people also the nicest I've met anywhere. Even locals walking through local town and villages. We didn't dive on this part of the trip, but Swiss Fiji Divers was directly across the street. Seemed like nice people, saw nice boats.

The next week stayed on the Fiji Aggressor (now Tahiti Aggressor). Again, the best service and people I've experieced diving. I know the Aggressor has the other boat there now with some of the same crew which were on the "original" Fiji Aggressor.

I wouldn't worry about the civil unrest. Not apparent at all when we were there. A good freind of mine honeymooned there the actual week of the coup a few years ago and he saw no sign of it. He said the plane over was empty!!

Probably our best trip. I can send you digital pictures of resort, etc. if you wish or E-mail me with specific questions.

I don't think you can go wrong with Fiji.

John