Recommend me a Caribbean vacation.
October 20, 2018 12:20 PM Subscribe
Where should I go for my first SCUBA dive?
So, I'm going to be open-water SCUBA certified soon, and I'd like to go on a dive trip soon after (total novice, here). I'm thinking maybe February-April sometime. Can the hive recommend a Caribbean island to visit? I'll be traveling with my girlfriend, and we like outdoorsy activities to go along with the SCUBA. For simplicity's sake, I've been focusing mainly on the USVI, Antigua, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten. Any recommendations from people who've traveled to those places recently (i.e., post- last year's hurricanes) would be very helpful in narrowing the choices down. And if there's an island or two not on the list that I just shouldn't pass up, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!
So, I'm going to be open-water SCUBA certified soon, and I'd like to go on a dive trip soon after (total novice, here). I'm thinking maybe February-April sometime. Can the hive recommend a Caribbean island to visit? I'll be traveling with my girlfriend, and we like outdoorsy activities to go along with the SCUBA. For simplicity's sake, I've been focusing mainly on the USVI, Antigua, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten. Any recommendations from people who've traveled to those places recently (i.e., post- last year's hurricanes) would be very helpful in narrowing the choices down. And if there's an island or two not on the list that I just shouldn't pass up, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!
Best answer: Bonaire! It's perfect for beginners, safety is first-rate, and there's lots of fun to be had topside as well. I'd recommend dive boats for the most part ... shore diving without a divemaster can be challenging for beginners. Have a great time, welcome to Bubbleland!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 5:38 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 5:38 PM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Cozumel is one of the top ten dive spots in the world because of the complete clarity of the water and variety of fish and corals. I dove there almost daily for three months and loved every single dive. Roatan / Utilla are also really nice, less clarity and fewer fish but still vibrant. Also there's whale sharks in August if you're willing to wait.
posted by ananci at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2018
posted by ananci at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2018
Best answer: An idea within the lower 48 for this summer -- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in Florida.
Rent a hotel room for a week on the odd side of El Mar (cheaper than the even side which is on the beach). Drive across the canal on the E. Commercial (FL-870) and enjoy Anglin Pier. Use one of the beach entrances between Pine and Palm avenues (they are free, which is a blessing in this area). Parking is at El Prado Park or other parking areas, and is at a premium, hence staying at one of the boutique hotels and walking to the beach.
Good restaurants, Publix Supermarket is on Pine Avenue, there is a scuba shop in the area if you don't want to drive to another for nitrox.
Shore diving. Three reefs. Bring a floating dive marker. Watch out for boats and jet-skis, driven by idiots.
My husband and I stay out there for over an hour or more at a time, at the 15-foot level or shallower watching the angelfish, parrotfish, porkfish, squirrelfish, doctorfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, porcupine fish, sergeant major, blue tang, high hats, bar jack, yellow snapper, and grunts. Lots of juvenile fish, yellow stingrays, goldentail moray eels, sometimes lobster and nurse sharks under the coral shelves. One time we saw a manta ray. We sometimes use our kayak.
Another option nearby -- Blue Heron Bridge, at Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach. It's a nice day trip north of LBTS.
Parking is good, diving during high tide is good, the shift in tide is a thing, so get the tide tables and hit it right. This park has a security presence.
We've seen schools of large angelfish, spadefish and other species around the pillars, plus southern and yellow stingrays, eels, barracuda, horseshoe crabs, and the occasional manatee.
We take our kayak to Peanut Island and enjoy that experience, too.
posted by TrishaU at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2018
Rent a hotel room for a week on the odd side of El Mar (cheaper than the even side which is on the beach). Drive across the canal on the E. Commercial (FL-870) and enjoy Anglin Pier. Use one of the beach entrances between Pine and Palm avenues (they are free, which is a blessing in this area). Parking is at El Prado Park or other parking areas, and is at a premium, hence staying at one of the boutique hotels and walking to the beach.
Good restaurants, Publix Supermarket is on Pine Avenue, there is a scuba shop in the area if you don't want to drive to another for nitrox.
Shore diving. Three reefs. Bring a floating dive marker. Watch out for boats and jet-skis, driven by idiots.
My husband and I stay out there for over an hour or more at a time, at the 15-foot level or shallower watching the angelfish, parrotfish, porkfish, squirrelfish, doctorfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, porcupine fish, sergeant major, blue tang, high hats, bar jack, yellow snapper, and grunts. Lots of juvenile fish, yellow stingrays, goldentail moray eels, sometimes lobster and nurse sharks under the coral shelves. One time we saw a manta ray. We sometimes use our kayak.
Another option nearby -- Blue Heron Bridge, at Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach. It's a nice day trip north of LBTS.
Parking is good, diving during high tide is good, the shift in tide is a thing, so get the tide tables and hit it right. This park has a security presence.
We've seen schools of large angelfish, spadefish and other species around the pillars, plus southern and yellow stingrays, eels, barracuda, horseshoe crabs, and the occasional manatee.
We take our kayak to Peanut Island and enjoy that experience, too.
posted by TrishaU at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2018
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posted by fshgrl at 12:39 PM on October 20, 2018