Best Carribean diving?

[tbg0519]

OK, I've finally decided to cash in some of my flyer miles and hotel points and take a vacation. Just out of curiosity, where would you go in the Caribbean to vacation dive? My buddy of course says Bonaire, but that's pretty far to go for me. (from NC). Suggestions?

[chinacat46]

Little Cayman - Bloody Bay Wall

[tc_rain]

I like Coz but I haven't gotten around that much.

[Damselfish]

What airlines and hotels do you have points to use? It will make a big difference in what destinations you can even do like that. A lot of the better dive destinations are short on chain hotels and not all airlines fly to them.

How far are you willing to go? If Bonaire is too far, it eliminates still more places. (Bonaire is not really that much further than lots of places, and there's a good chance connections will have a bigger impact on your travel time then actual flight time anyway, so it's not that simple.)

[tbg0519]

Most of my miles are with Delta, but I have enough for a carribean trip on almost all of the US carriers. Hotel wise, I have tons w/ Marriott and Hilton. Delta's going to offer a direct from Atlanta to Bonaire soon, so that will change things too.

[diversteve]

There's a nice Marriott on Curacao. Same diving as Bonaire, they're on the same reef (literally). Much easier to get to via Miami.

No hotels on Bonaire so your points wouldn't work. Hilton is building a new resort on Bonaire by 2010 so that and the Delta Atlanta flight might be a good trip later.

There's also both a Courtyard by Marriott and a better Marriot Grand resort on Grand Cayman. Cayman's pricey but if air/hotel could be on points that's where I'd go. Clearest water of the 3 I've listed.

[DiveSooner]

Bonaire or Little Cayman... my2cts

[cutter77]

....In my experience...I would choose a liveaboard wherever you decide to go.

But, I go to dive, dive, dive. We usually get there a day ahead and often stay a day after the divetrip to "see the sights".

[Defman]

If you've got the free miles, why not use them on somewhere far away???? I'm using mine for Bonaire. I only have about 2 years worth of Scuba Diving mag laying around, but for at least the last two years Bonaire is pretty much tops for Caribbean diving in the Reader Ratings.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see the hotel part... I would agree that Curacao ought to offer diving similar to Bonaire *and* offer hotels to use your points.

[Rockinmd]

LIttle Cayman and Bloody bay wall. one great thing is that the resorts are so close to dive sites it is easy 20 min boat ride.

Belize is also nice and easy to get to from NC - direct from Charlotte. Also has some very interesting land based activities if you get water logged.