Best tropical dive location for retirement?

Hello all! Winter time and my thin blood always gets me thinking about a warm weather local I can retire and dive year around so I thought I would attempt to get some ideas from you Wetpixel viewers.

My ideal tropical local would have no stinking high-rises or city life hustle and bustle, plenty of wide angle photography opportunities, foreign land ownership and business friendly, reliable internet service, friendly petite tan women and a good local brew

Maybe you live there or have recently visited....I'd like your opinion.

Thanks!

Mike

Hello all! Winter time and my thin blood always gets me thinking about a warm weather local I can retire and dive year around so I thought I would attempt to get some ideas from you Wetpixel viewers.

 

My ideal tropical local would have no stinking high-rises or city life hustle and bustle, plenty of wide angle photography opportunities, foreign land ownership and business friendly, reliable internet service, friendly petite tan women and a good local brew

 

Maybe you live there or have recently visited....I'd like your opinion.

 

Thanks!

 

Mike

For sure you are thinking about sunny Cairns, Australia.

Even in the worst season there is a lot going on

Sounds like Philippines (Cebu would be my choice), or Thailand (Koh Samui or Krabi).

Foreign land ownership is going to be an issue in both places. But Thailand does have a retirement Visa scheme in place which offers more benefits regarding business/land for foreigners. Can't speak as much to the Philippines on that issue.

Cheers!

The "Condominium Act" of the Philippines does allow foreign ownership "Foreign nationals may buy condominiums units in Philippine condos (shares in condominium corporations) as long as not more than 40% of the units in a project are acquired by foreigners"

So just shop around! ;-)

Stu

Hello all! Winter time and my thin blood always gets me thinking about a warm weather local I can retire and dive year around so I thought I would attempt to get some ideas from you Wetpixel viewers.

 

My ideal tropical local would have no stinking high-rises or city life hustle and bustle, plenty of wide angle photography opportunities, foreign land ownership and business friendly, reliable internet service, friendly petite tan women and a good local brew

 

Maybe you live there or have recently visited....I'd like your opinion.

 

Thanks!

 

Mike

I would have voted for Belize, but I just checked on hotel prices in San Pedro and it looks like there might be more hustle and bustle than I like (dozens of hotels in the $300+ a night range).

If you have the money to get a place on Little Cayman, that would be my idea of paradise. You would just need to get a a good satellite internet connection.

Never been there, but I hear great things about beach diving in Bonaire. That would be a pre-requisite for my retirement, nice cheap good diving

Thank you all for your replies!

Which of these areas would provide the best WIDE ANGLE (Sharks, rays, whales, turtles, etc.) opportunities ?

I've been to Bonaire, Little Cayman, and Belize and they're all good options, but in my opinion lacking abundant encounters with the above mentioned critters.

I'll have to research Cairns, Philippines, and Thailand....never been to either so any more info. would be helpful.

Thanks!

Mike

It is hard to beat Hawaii for sharks and turtles. It is also a Humpback and Grey migration route. Manta dives off the big island are always a hit. The con is it isn't cheap and the shore diving is limited unless you're into kayaks.

I have a non-diving cousin who retired a few years ago and now lives in Thailand. He is quite pleased with living there and has written me about the many benefits of retiring there, especially the excellent health care that is less expensive than in the U.S. I should add that he's a retired schoolteacher from Florida and he's doing quite well living on that pension.

It sounds so good that he has almost convinced me to retire there.

Ellen

Great topic. Sure does give one a lot to think about. Although there are limited wide angle opportunities (but lots of macro) the most beautiful place I've visited so far has to be Lembeh. The mountains are breath-taking and the diving is awesome. Can you live at a resort?

I just got back from Bonaire and I definitely would not retire there. Everywhere you look there are new condo developments. It looks like freaking suburbia. Plus we didn't see any sharks, one eagle ray and a couple of turtles.

Mike,

South-East Asia has really great tropical diving. Indonesia including Bunaken and Lembeh Straits near Manado, Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Philippines, Thailand and Sipadan in Malaysia you cant go wrong. I would skip the Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef is just too far off shore for easy day dives.

Elmer

I figure you could get a bit tired with just about anywhere in the world given enough spare time. So - we're starting to plan for long term blue water yacht cruising.

This is an old thread, but am looking for any new info.

Thanks so much