Hello,
I have recently learned to SCUBA dive and have the
opportunity to make a 1 week trip to the Carribean in
October this year. Because I am from Australia and am not
familiar with that part of the world, could someone who
knows tell me some places and good diving spots in the
Carribean that would be suitable for a beginner who will not
be travelling with a dive buddy?
Thanks Sharon
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You could check out Grand Cayman. It has spectacular diving,
including the very easy spot called Stingray City where you
feed stingrays by hand. They're very playful and will swim
over and land on you; their skin feels unreal. People are
very friendy and you should have no problem meeting some.
The only possible downside to diving here would be that it's
a rather expensive island.
sharon,g'day...the virgins st john and st croix are
excellent places for diving..bonaire as well...have never
been,but been advised dominica is excellent..however,the
best is futher south in central america the cayes off
belize and then the bay islands off honduras..would be
happy to share info..feel free to email..diving in central
america is definitely cheaper than carib,as well..
There is some wonderful diving in this little known
destination. I used to live on Andros Island and dived
with a wonderful German couple (Mathias & Martina) who have
Andros Undersea Adventures. They are excellent guides for
a newly hatched scuba diver! There is a nice hotel
adjacent to their dive shop also. Visit Andros on our home
page at http://www.angelfire.com/az/theredds - go to the
BAHAMAS page. You'll be able to use our links to find out
the prices, etc. (and see some pictures).
Enjoy your scuba diving - wherever you blow your bubbles!
My husband & I, although not divers (but snorkellers), just
got back from a wonderful week spent in a relatively unknown
part of the Dominican Republic, called Las Terrenas, which
is in the province of Samana, and stayed at a nice hotel
called The Tropic Banana, which has attached to it an
excellent dive center run by a friendly French couple -
Lucett & Francois. The Tropical Diving Center (Ph: (809)
240-9619, Fax: (809) 240-6375, email:
divelasterrenas@bigfoot.com) runs dives daily, and Francois
is a dive master, with one of the goofy but helpful local
Dominicans on his way to becoming a dive master. Since we
don't dive, I can't attest for what the spots & guidance
were exactly like, but from our snorkelling experience I can
say that the fish & coral were quite beautiful and Francois
& Lucett were very helpful and professional. They also ran
daily lessons in the hotel's pool in the afternoons to true
beginners. But since you have some experience I'm sure
they'd be very good at assisting you in the sea. Their
prices are (using their equipment): For 1-4 dives; $35US per
dive. For 5-9 dives; $30 US per dive. If you need any
further information about the dive center, Las Terrenas, or
a bit about the Dominican Repuplic, feel free to contact me,
or you can check out some Dominican Republic web sites.
A couple of recommendations....
1. The Bahamas: I went there alone last year and dived off
Nassau (including a shark dive - which was okay)and Harbour
Island.
Harbour Island is lovely as a location and the diving was
good with some variety - plenty of sharks (including a
natural four shark feeding frenzy during which one of the
sharks had their dorsal fin ripped), rays, moray, some
caves, fairly interesting coral, blowholes and drifts. There
is a drift dive called the Current Cut which is supposed to
be amazing, but it is extremely difficult to get anyone to
take you there unless you have a full boat and the weather
is good.
I dived with Valentine's Dive Centre who were pretty good
and well priced (though do try and book in advance via their
web site).
2. Another option is Mexico on the Yucatan Penisula from
Playa del Carmen. This is more youthful / traveller
orientated, much cheaper, equally good diving - better
coral, more fish though fewer sharks / eels etc. Playa del
Carmen is dripping with dive shops so take your pick, we
dived with a few and they are much of a muchness.
On the whole Mexico is better value and you are far more
likely to meet people there than if you are on your own.
Don't worry about not having a buddy, you can either buddy
the dive master if there is only you on the trip but it is
likely that there will be other solo divers. Be aware, these
trips can go out as 'group dives' so you don't have a
specific buddy, if this does happen, I suggest that you nab
someone on the boat and suggest that you unofficially buddy
them.
PS The next time you go home to Aus., try stopping in
Sipadan, off Borneo. This is the best diving anywhere (and
that includes the Barrier Reef).
Have fun!
I just learnt to dive at the Action Sport Dive centre -
Cayo Largo, Cuba - run by very friendly Germans - Wolfgang
and Norbert. I am no expert, but they were very patient
with a total beginner and I got my Padi certificate there.
Also dived from Maria La Gorda in the far West of Cuba
which was fantastic.
Have dove all over the Caribbean & my top 3 are: 1) So
Caicos-nothing else there 2) Cayman Islands-not much else
there 3) Cozumel-a bit more there! Feel free to contact
me directly for more info!