A family dive trip... where to go??

[Dingus]

Hi everyone. I am new to this site but love these "kinds of places". What a way to share!

At the end of Aug. I will have two new divers in the family, a son 11 and a son 13. We want to go on a family dive trip in Dec. I've been on many adult trips with agressive schedules and dives, but I want something more family friendly, especially for new, young divers.

Any suggestions?

Dingus

[JimHar99]

You can't go wrong with Bonaire. Plenty of easy shore diving and you can go at your own pace.

[crosseyed95]

Can you give some specifics like:

What part of the country do you live in?

How much do you have to spent? (this is a big one for me since I ain't rich and all my vacations have a max dollar amount)

How much time do you have for vacation?

Do you have ideas that you are leaning towards? Nice beaches with lots of diving or less diving with more topside things?

[scubarobin]

Originally Posted by Dingus

Hi everyone. I am new to this site but love these "kinds of places". What a way to share!

At the end of Aug. I will have two new divers in the family, a son 11 and a son 13. We want to go on a family dive trip in Dec. I've been on many adult trips with agressive schedules and dives, but I want something more family friendly, especially for new, young divers.

Any suggestions?

Dingus

since you are talking about school-aged kids, I am guessing you are asking about a xmas break trip - good luck!!! Prices are very high and many destinations are booked solid already.
you could go to south Florida or Keys, but being Dec, weather may cancel dives. Same thing goes for Cozumel.
yes, Bonaire would be good but once again you are talking about "HIGH" season and $$$$$$.

For kids that age, new to diving, I would definitely try to look at places that specialize in Junior divers and see if they have any space available for your dates. Neither kids is supposed to go below 60' so you are going to be affecting other people on the dive boat, too. Plus many dive destinations just don't have many dives to those depths.
Key Largo would be the first place I would start.

[pir8]

Grand Cayman usually works pretty well

[sravin1]

i think cozumel is a bit less expensive and you can find all inclusive packages. try applevacations.com

[awb]

Northern coast of Costa Rica, lots of family things to do and no hurry. You give up vis. there but you can dive with large sea life. Surfing, 3 kinds of beaches, canopy tours, volcano's, thermal springs. And great food in the local shops. Go for at least a week.

[Dingus]

Just got back into town and on the computer. Need to answer some of your questions.
1. We live in OK. 2. We were thinking the trip might be in Dec. but not locked in. 3. Wanting to keep the total cost for all five of us, down to about $3000 -3500.

We will explore Grand Cayman, Costa Rica and Bonaire. Haven't been to any of those destinations yet. Any recommendations of "outfitters" and/or dive shops in those locations?

Been to Cozumel many times. Use to stay at the Galapago Inn. Is it still a good deal or are there better hotel/dive shop combinations, considering I'll be taking more of the family and new divers?

Dingus

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by Dingus

Just got back into town and on the computer. Need to answer some of your questions.
1. We live in OK. 2. We were thinking the trip might be in Dec. but not locked in. 3. Wanting to keep the total cost for all five of us, down to about $3000 -3500.

We will explore Grand Cayman, Costa Rica and Bonaire. Haven't been to any of those destinations yet. Any recommendations of "outfitters" and/or dive shops in those locations?

Been to Cozumel many times. Use to stay at the Galapago Inn. Is it still a good deal or are there better hotel/dive shop combinations, considering I'll be taking more of the family and new divers?

Dingus

I think your challenge in your price range is finding airfare for 5 under that price range. Its been costing me $6-700 pp to the Caribbean lately. So I would start with where can you get most inexpensively from your home airport and go from there.

[scubarobin]

Originally Posted by Dingus

Just got back into town and on the computer. Need to answer some of your questions.
1. We live in OK. 2. We were thinking the trip might be in Dec. but not locked in. 3. Wanting to keep the total cost for all five of us, down to about $3000 -3500.

We will explore Grand Cayman, Costa Rica and Bonaire. Haven't been to any of those destinations yet. Any recommendations of "outfitters" and/or dive shops in those locations?

Been to Cozumel many times. Use to stay at the Galapago Inn. Is it still a good deal or are there better hotel/dive shop combinations, considering I'll be taking more of the family and new divers?

Dingus

total cost of hotel, food, diving, and airfare From OK for 5 people...under $3500? I can't think of any place you can do that. If you are talking about everything except airfare you will still be pushing it.

Cozumel still might be the cheapest and the Scuba Club (formerly Galapagos) might be a great value. Go to: Cozumel Scuba Diving at Scuba Club Cozumel Dive Resort and Scuba Cozumel Dive Shop and check it out. Best deals are probably through Caradonna or BayAdventures.

Grand Cayman would be more expensive. Diving would be perfect for the new divers who are juniors.

Costa Rica has okay diving but not for 2 junior divers. From friends who have been there, I wouldn't recommend it for the kids at all. Our LDS had a group (all adults) go there a yr ago and most of the divers said it was rougher conditions and less vis than they like. They did enjoy the topside day at the jungle, zip lines and volcano tour.