Where's a girl to go?

Desperately seeking advice, words of wisdom and creative ideas re: a good spot/operator for a liveaboard dive trip Mid Feb - Mid March time frame. Someplace warm (80 ish degree water temp). Any words of wisdom out there for a solo diver?

Requirements:

10-15 days (could do back-to-back trips if necessary)

Water 80ish degrees

Liveaboard (resort based trips, as a solo female, are kind of uncomfortable - whereas boat trips are perfect)

Mid Feb - Mid March 2011 time frame

Ideal (ok, I can dream can't I.... Photo pro on board - or someone who can help / teach / guide). Not required but ideal!

I thought the Philippines was the place (Tubbataha sounds great) but the Atlantis live aboard is under booked (not enough people to make the trip when I am available to go) and Siren is full.

Any ideas out there re: a warm water live aboard during that time period???

Thank you in advance for sharing your wisdom and experience!

What about

- Isla del Coco and/or Malpelo, Galapagos may be below 80° with departure from Costa Rica

- Isla Coiba and Malpelo with departure from Panama

Isla del Coco and Malpelo are under the 10 best dive spots, but prepare for a fat bill, sometimes strong currents

but more big marine life than you may imagine.

Isla Coiba is very cool to dive as well and the small islands on the outside must be great.

http://www.underseahunter.com/

http://www.aggressor.com/subpage10.php

http://www.dancerfleet.com/cocos-schedule.php

Coiba Dive Expeditions

Chris

Well, it's much easier if you tell us what kind of diving you want besides water temps. Wide angle, macro, big fish, mantas etc?

When I can't decide where to go, I always default to Indonesia

For boats with photo pros, try the Damai. Our own Mike Vieitch is now the cruise director on the Damai. They are going on a nice itinerary in Feb. You may also wish to check what Bob Jones and Maureen Shimlock @ Seavisions are doing. There are plenty of "photo pros" running trips nowadays I'm sure you could find a trip going somewhere warm. But if you want specific destinations, you'll have to give more details.

What about

- Isla del Coco and/or Malpelo, Galapagos may be below 80° with departure from Costa Rica

- Isla Coiba and Malpelo with departure from Panama

Isla del Coco and Malpelo are under the 10 best dive spots, but prepare for a fat bill, sometimes strong currents

but more big marine life than you may imagine.

I'm going on this trip in mid-March: http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=1703

It'll be my second trip to Cocos with these NGOs, and you can participate in the shark & turtle tagging if you are interested. We do all the normal Cocos dives so you don't miss out on anything. Plus we will be on what I think is the best Cocos liveaboard - the Argo.

-Gina

I'm with Drew - my default is Indonesia. I recently did a trip on the Damai with Mr. Veitch and if you can get on that boat you will not be disappointed!

Phil

Similan Islands out of Phuket.

Only 5 days tho generally.

Dear Drew, Gina, Phil, Chris, csky and Scubaseven. I'm delighted to hear your creative ideas. How nice of you to share your words of wisdom with me. It makes a big difference !

I've been diving for 20years and never even heard of the turtle tagging, Isla Coiba or Damai I'll check them all out! Great suggestions.

Please keep the ideas coming!!!! Sharing tips, of this nature, across the globe is absolutely spectacular! (I'm in San Diego)

I think it was Drew that asked me to be more specific about what kind of diving I wanted, other than warm (80 degrees). Good question... I am a sucker for schools of fish and pretty stuff(corals, Anemones, etc) I like the weird stuff too (muck). Although I love shark action - I'd rather see "pretty". (maybe it's a chick thing)???? I love diving in PNG, Fiji, Indonesia, Burma. Cocos is a definite rush - but not really "pretty". Hope that helps.

Please keep the ideas coming! I really appreciate it!

Dear Drew, Gina, Phil, Chris, csky and Scubaseven. I'm delighted to hear your creative ideas. How nice of you to share your words of wisdom with me. It makes a big difference !

 

I've been diving for 20years and never even heard of the turtle tagging, Isla Coiba or Damai I'll check them all out! Great suggestions.

 

Please keep the ideas coming!!!! Sharing tips, of this nature, across the globe is absolutely spectacular! (I'm in San Diego)

 

I think it was Drew that asked me to be more specific about what kind of diving I wanted, other than warm (80 degrees). Good question... I am a sucker for schools of fish and pretty stuff(corals, Anemones, etc) I like the weird stuff too (muck). Although I love shark action - I'd rather see "pretty". (maybe it's a chick thing)???? I love diving in PNG, Fiji, Indonesia, Burma. Cocos is a definite rush - but not really "pretty". Hope that helps.

 

Please keep the ideas coming! I really appreciate it!

If "pretty" is your thing, then maybe a Red Sea liveaboard? We've booked two weeks in Fiji the end of March. It combines pretty stuff and sharks.