End of Year Trip to Caribbean

Well my company has done it to me again. I'm still going to be in Baltimore through the end of the year, and that means I'll have off from Dec. 24th - Jan. 4th. I am looking to relocate to a warmer climate for the period and am in need of advice for Caribbean diving. In Dec. '04 I went with Blackbeard to Bimini and have to say that I was quite unimpressed. Some of that was from the poor quality of the operator, but also the dive sites didn't really do it for me. Maybe that's because I've done most of my diving in Asia, or maybe I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Anyway, I am looking to the wetpixel community to help me find a reason to want to dive in this area.

So if you can answer any of the following questions, please help me out:

• Are any islands/area better at this time of year (weather, curents, vis, wildlife)?
  
• Liveaboard or shore based?
  
• Is there anything in season (i.e. sharks, rays, spawning)?
  
• Any place that's better for a single diver?
  
• Location with a mix of macro and WA?
  

Maybe that's because I've done most of my diving in Asia, or maybe I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Anyway, I am looking to the wetpixel community to help me find a reason to want to dive in this area.

 

So if you can answer any of the following questions, please help me out:

 

• Are any islands/area better at this time of year (weather, curents, vis, wildlife)?
  
• Liveaboard or shore based?
  
• Is there anything in season (i.e. sharks, rays, spawning)?
  
• Any place that's better for a single diver?
  
• Location with a mix of macro and WA?
  

You are forever tainted for diving in Asia.

Bonaire and Curacao are great for single divers and great for that time of year, but minimal wide angle. A Belize live aboard might be OK, although not exceptional. There's the Explorer boat that does Statia and Saba. Good variety of macro and wide angle. Turks and Caicos gets you the best variety of macro and wide angle. Either live aboard would be better than land based (Aggressor or Explorer). T&C is further north like the Bahamas and FL, so it might get rougher and colder.

P.S. Go Lions. Must beat MSU.

scorpio_fish thanks for the info.

I've done some more research it looks like I'm may have to stick to a liveaboard. I haven't been able to find any shore based operations with availability and reasonable prices. I have no desire to spend a $300+/night for a room (not including diving) in fancy resort that all I'm going to do is sleep in. Are all the resorts in the Caribbean high-end? Are there no cheap places (i.e. a bed to crash in, and outlets for my charges)?

On the liveaboard side of things there are few with openings. Sun Dancer (Belize), Aggressor (Cayman, T&C, Utila), Nekton (Mona Is., St. Croix & USVI), Aqua Cat (Exuma). Anybody with thoughts or experiences on those?

I know you can get whale sharks in Belize and whales in T&C, but I don't think this is the right time of year for either. Any non-reef sharks would be nice, but I am basically looking to get the best I can at the last minute.

Everyone defines high end differently. It's not Indo or the Phillipines.

You can do Cozumel on the cheap. A friend used to have a travel plan for $100 per day including diving. It included the $25 per night hotel downtown and eating from Taco carts. If you aren't coming from the states, then Cuba is cheap. Xcalak can still be done on the cheap. Any place in the Caribbean that used to be British tends to be quite expensive (e.g. Belize, Cayman, BVI's)

Roatan is also a relative bargain if you can get there cheaply airfare wise. The more traditional resorts like Cocoview or Anthony's Key are reasonable. There are places on the West End that are even much cheaper. I'm just not into Roatan diving.

The Nekton boats are a relative bargain, but a little old and slow and the itineraries you listed aren't too exciting. The Aqua Cat is a nice boat, but I'd rather do T&C any day. The walls and sharks would let you do wide angle to your hearts content. The T&C Aggressor would be my first choice by far. Second choice would be the Utila Aggressor.

My 3rd choice would be Coz diving with a friend who has a boat going wherever we want to go.

May I suggest Dominica.

Try either Nature Island Dive and stay in a local B&B or Anchorage hotel. Currently offering good deals for a week. including b&B, a whale watch and diving for $999.

www.dominicawatersports.com.