Anyone know of any good (and cheap) places to book dive trips??

[jaxjags64109]

This may sound complicated but with a little research this is both affordable and an adventure that includes some very good diving. Fly into Cancun, MX. generally decent round trip flights can be had. Take the bus to Chetumal MX. and use Belize Transfers to travel into Belize and in Corozal, BZ catch a flight out to Ambergris Caye (San Pedro). During the off season (late August through November) you can find 4 local dives (single tanks) for $100 ($25 per dive/tank) and nice rooms with kitchenettes (try the Blue Tang Inn) for about $45 per night. Of course you just reverse this to get home. My wife and I did this trip last September 2008 and spent less than $2000 including all expenses for two people (travel, food, lodging, diving,... everything). This trip was the best vacation I have ever taken, and it makes for a great story to tell your friends because it is an adventure.

[Chilkie]

Scubarobin...I was planning on buying a small ski/fish boat to keep down at a beach place my parents own in Carillon Beach, FL (near Panama City). Really, it originally had nothing to do with diving. The fact that I just got certified to dive is a nice plus if it can be used for that at all, but really we just want to use it to fish, ski and tube a bit when we go down there. Now that I am certified I'll keep it in mind a bit as I would proably need a little better ladder/access off the rear of the boat for me and a dive buddy if it ever gets used for that, but for the most part when I dive it will be when I travel somewhere. Of course,I guess now I ought to check out the forum for boat buying tips as well.
As for the trip I'm trying to work out being able to go on the Cocoview sojourn if timing and my work schedule allow. Hopefully I'll know in a week or so.

[Tully Mars]

Originally Posted by jaxjags64109

This may sound complicated but with a little research this is both affordable and an adventure that includes some very good diving. Fly into Cancun, MX. generally decent round trip flights can be had. Take the bus to Chetumal MX. and use Belize Transfers to travel into Belize and in Corozal, BZ catch a flight out to Ambergris Caye (San Pedro). During the off season (late August through November) you can find 4 local dives (single tanks) for $100 ($25 per dive/tank) and nice rooms with kitchenettes (try the Blue Tang Inn) for about $45 per night. Of course you just reverse this to get home. My wife and I did this trip last September 2008 and spent less than $2000 including all expenses for two people (travel, food, lodging, diving,... everything). This trip was the best vacation I have ever taken, and it makes for a great story to tell your friends because it is an adventure.

Wow you took a bus in Mexico? Any chickens on it? Anyone try to rob or kill you?


*Sorry I live here, I get these questions a lot.*

Seriously ADO or Uno bus? Do you remember the cost? right now I think it's about $25, give or take depend on the peso rates.

[Chilkie]

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

Wow you took a bus in Mexico? Any chickens on it? Anyone try to rob or kill you?


*Sorry I live here, I get these questions a lot.*

Seriously ADO or Uno bus? Do you remember the cost? right now I think it's about $25, give or take depend on the peso rates.

^^Off topic here but I took a bus from Nanjing City to Shanghai in China last year. There actuallly was some livestock on it I believe. Whooo boy...that was a bus ride that felt far longer than it actually was.

[Tully Mars]

Originally Posted by Chilkie

Off topic here but I took a bus from Nanjing City to Shanghai in China last year. There actuallly was some livestock on it I believe. Whooo boy...that was a bus ride that felt far longer than it actually was.

I've taken a lot of buses in many places. I took a really bad one In Kenya Mombasa that I think tops the list. There was one in Indonesia that comes in a close second. Several years ago I did in fact take the chicken bus in Puerto Vallarta . But that was years ago. Now the buses here look more like this...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/...ea5c2c.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/...2cf16a.jpg?v=0

They're cheap, clean and safe.

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by Chilkie

Thanks all. Are there any particularly good places to look to book a trip for a single traveler? Most things I have looked at are all based upon double occupancy.

yeah..

SingleDivers.com -- Your Premiere Scuba Diving Resource for Singles & Buddyless Divers!

They arrange trips for the buddyless diver. They arrange both a same sex roomate and dive buddy based upon rooming and diver profiles to get you the most compatible combo possible.

I'm going to Belize with them next week. Trip was $678 + air and dinners.

[Chilkie]

Originally Posted by shawnwill36

the flower gardens a good deal. about 500 bucks for 7 dives, food and a place to sleep. its a live aboard. anyway we are planning one at the end of july. let me know if anyone wants more info

If you can PM me some info. on the July trip I'd really appreciate it. I'd also like to know if you have any other dates available as well. Thanks!

[Travelnsj]

I have heard good things about the flower gardens. Just if you are seasick prone can be a rough ride. I like Cozumel as well as anywhere else I have dove in the Carribean. I have been on a few trips with SingleDivers...I would strongly suggest to avoid them there are many better options out there.

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

I have heard good things about the flower gardens. Just if you are seasick prone can be a rough ride. I like Cozumel as well as anywhere else I have dove in the Carribean. I have been on a few trips with SingleDivers...I would strongly suggest to avoid them there are many better options out there.

I have been using them for regularly the last three years and other than a hurricane forcing cancellation of one trip I have had very good success with them.

Just this year I did a one week trip to Belize for $599+air($400) that included everything but 5 dinners.

Doing a similar trip with them in October for $599+air. It will mark my 8th trip over this time for trips from North Carolina to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by georoc01

I have been using them for regularly the last three years and other than a hurricane forcing cancellation of one trip I have had very good success with them.

Just this year I did a one week trip to Belize for $599+air($400) that included everything but 5 dinners.

Doing a similar trip with them in October for $599+air. It will mark my 8th trip over this time for trips from North Carolina to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

You must be getting paid to promote the web site…LOL….I can tell you people who have been left at airports, people standing in streets as their hotels were not confirmed, lawsuits threatened to get refunds…etc etc.... there are people who are on this board and other boards who have had it with the game playing and lack of execution….This is not the board or forum to promote that business.