diverdowndh

I have dove Grand Cayman several times, Cozumel several times, Grand Turk, Belize a couple of times, even did some diving off Key West. If anyone wants/needs any feedback from the hotels or diving (or anything else) from my experiences, feel free to post and I'll give you the good, the bad, and the really good <grin>!
diverdowndh

Beej23@gmail.com

My family and I are planning a trip this summer and we debating between Belize, Caymans, Turks and Caicos and Dominica. My brother, my dad and I all dive and my mom snorkles. What do you reccomend for a well rounded vacation?

diverdowndh

I'll try to summarize my experiences:
Cozumel - dove there at least 7 times, LOVE the diving. Lots of night life, used to be a really cheap place to go too (not so cheap now though!). I think this is a really good choice although I haven't been down there in a few years, some things have changed I hear.
Grand Cayman - the best diving I've ever done. I love the corals and sponges and of course, lots and lots of sea life. The only downside (and it's a big one!) is that this is the most expensive place I've ever travelled to. The us dollar is only worth .8 of the cayman dollar, which means you lose 20 percent right off the bat. It is a beautiful island that is really well kept but take lots of cash! Trying to find a "bargain" place to stay is almost impossible.
Grand Turk - very good diving. All the dive sites (or more than you can dive anyway, there are more but why go further?) are a 5 minute boat ride from the hotel. Saw dolphins, a huge manta, lots and lots of sea life. The island, however, had only sparse accomodations. Don't get me wrong, the food that is there is really good, but you'll have to look for them <grin>. When we were down there last year, the very first cruise ship landed there. I have the feeling that the whole island is about to change with the coming of "the cruise ship swarm". It was a great time there.
Belize - dove there twice. first time was 3 or 4 years ago on Ambergris Caye. It was quaint, obviously trying to compete with their northern Mexico for tourism, but the sand streets were great. We were sold on the island having no cars at all, but when we got there there were taxis whizzing by every 5 minutes honking and splashing trying to make money. They had just allowed taxis, the roads were a mess. The diving was really good and the dining was really good. Second time (just a month ago) we went to Caye Caulker, little island that doesn't have any cars, just golf carts, bikes or your feet. It was really nice although I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I wanted to buy "smoke". I have no intention of spending the rest of my life in a 3rd world prison.... anyway, I was slightly disappointed in the diving. The reefs seem to be less colorful than I remembered, we didn't see the larger fish we saw there in the past. Also, things like barracuda are on the menus all over the place, and guess what? we never saw a barracuda while diving (always see them in the Caribbean). I personally think Belize needs to start regulating fishing or the diving will soon be degraded, imho it is already on its way.
Never been to Dominica although I hear it is a great place to dive, and very laid back. If you can't tell, my preference is not to go to a 5 star hotel with thousands of other divers/tourists with 5 star restaurants. I like the slower and less built up islands (cannot stand the sight of places like Cancun - I call it Las Vegas in Mexico!).
Does that help you? I can also give you the skinny on the places I've stayed, or the dive outfits that I've used. There are only a couple of instances where I would caution you about the dive outfits, almost every one I've ever used have been nothing short of great. One thing I will let you in on, do NOT use anything less than PADI 5 star, unless there isn't that service where you're going (and some islands, like Caye Caulker, do not have PADI 5 star qualifications). If you stay with 5 star, you will be treated very, very well and dive safely.
D

diverdowndh

I meant to also say, we took a water taxi up to Ambergris Caye while on Caye Caulker last month, and it had really, really changed. They had paved the streets and there were cars whizzing all over the place. We rented bikes but they do not have formal stop signs, etc. (or at least, any that the drivers pay any attention to!). It had really changed. We ate lunch in a restaurant that we had visited 3 years ago - it was like a really nice restaurant that you'd walk into in downtown Denver. 3 years ago it had a sand floor and much less "flashy". Personally, I liked Ambergris caye the way it was 3 years ago! We were just in shock at the change, I guess it is inevitable as we tourists flock down there, right?

Beej23@gmail.com

Thanks alot that was really helpful. Are family is also not into the glitzy five star resorts. I think it is now between caymans and dominica. Just focusing on the caymans what else can you say? Is the price enough to point us at dominica?

kburlison

My husband and I are planning a trip to the carribbean for our 10th anniversary next year. We were hoping to go back to Grand Cayman's Spanish Bay Reef Resort as we are both diver's and we also got married there. However, it looks as though they are closed until further notice. So now we are undecided as to whether we should return to Grand Cayman or go elsewhere. We would prefer to go to an "all-inclusive" dive resort so we have everything at our fingertips. Do you have any recommendations for the Cayman islands, Cozumel or Belize?

diverdowndh

I've only used an all-inclusive once, on Cozumel - The Hotel Cozumel. I would not recommend it to anyone. Buffet style food, and if you had the misfortune of being far back in line you may not get what you want (they ran out of all kinds of things by the time we got up there, very long lines and they did not keep dishes out, but when they ran out, they ran out). Also, the drinks were all free but they would give us drinks in dixie-cup sized glasses. I don't drink much but I could have one finished before I got back to my towel by the pool. I started ordering 2 drinks at a time but that meant carrying a bunch of drinks around all the time and the bartender seemed annoyed that we wanted 2 drinks every time.... keep in mind this was about 4 years ago, hopefully they've learned a few things by now!
On Grand Cayman we always just find someplace cheap (yeah, right, on Grand Cayman???) and dive with what used to be called Red Baron Divers, I think now they are called Deep Blue Divers (contact Nick or Patrick, these guys are awesome!).
Hope that helps....

roebear

I have plans to go to Cancun in September. I hope to dive as much as possible. Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated. I have never been there. I want to make sure I dive the best spots and with the best dive centers.

Thank you!!!