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Thread: Favorite scuba destinations?

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    Default Favorite scuba destinations?

    Scuba divers, where have you been? Where would you like to go?



    Been there:

    Bonaire
    Grand Cayman
    Cozumel
    Key Largo

    Want to go there:

    Hawaii (Kona, on a live-aboard)
    Red Sea
    Key West (snorkeled there, never scuba)
    Roatan

    *It's snowing out, my house is cold and I'm broke. I can still dream, right?

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    not scuba but snokeling in jamaica, cayman island and cozumel. Most beautiful blue water I've ever seen.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    EL, I've never been to Jamaica. Did you like it? I'd go back to Grand Cayman in a heartbeat.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    The snorkeling in Turks and Caicos was incredible, and the diving is spose to be even better. Great Barrier reef in Australia was also pretty amazing snorkeling.

    I've only dived once and kinda prefer snorkeling.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    I like both. But if you want to take smooth underwater video of critters, scuba is the way to go.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    didn't go places for the scuba diving.
    spain, dominican rep, bahamas.

    Most common answer I've heard for best place is red sea and indonesia.
    Last edited by gatre; 01-12-2011 at 11:12 AM.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Yes, I neglected to put Indonesia on my "Want to go" list. I'm told that once one gets there (airfare isn't cheap), the daily expenses are pretty reasonable. Anybody know?
    While I've usually gone to dive resorts, at least twice I've just lived for a week or more in the location, hauling my gear to the boat in the mornings. Schlepping gear is a pain, tho. I prefer storing it on the boat or in secure locker right near the boat.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Quote Originally Posted by penandink1019 View Post
    EL, I've never been to Jamaica. Did you like it? I'd go back to Grand Cayman in a heartbeat.
    i loved jamaica. the beach and the water is so beautiful. i can't wait to go back.

    just don't go to the open air markets that sell souvenirs. the vendors want you spend money at their little stall and if decide you don't want anything they won't take no for an answer.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    If I ever go to the Bahamas again it will be too soon!

    I haven't been there, but my scuba instructor does multiple trips around the world per year & lived in Papua New Guinea for a few years. From everything I've read, & his opinions, one of the top places to scuba is Fiji. The other top one was a place I'd never heard of.
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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    scuba= Similan Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand. Awesome!
    snorkel= Koa Tao Island, James Bond Island, Gulf of Thailand, ditto

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    My most amazing scuba trip was to an island called Saba, in the Caribbean. Middle of nowhere...dormant volcanic island. Had to fly there in this rickety plane and land on a postage stamp of a runway. I distinctly remember a woman carried a chicken onboard in a cage.

    Two dives. On the first, I bottomed at 100 feet by accident...put my hand in the sandy bottom...and it was warm (the volcano was dormant but the heat radiating up from inside the earth still was present). On the second dive, saw a 9-10 foot mako checking us out at about 60 feet. THe divemaster signalled to follow her toward it, and we started swimming over its way...and BAM...it disappeared FAST.

    On the island, did a hike up the "10000 Stairs" to this misty area that was just incredible. Visited the home of a some local rich guy (our guide stopped by to see him to say hi), and he invited us in for a late lunch. The view was over almost the whole island...

    I mean, this was just a perfect trip.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Wow. Shush. Don't talk about it. Sounds like a good secret. I'm putting it on my list. Thanks.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Scuba- Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman. I've heard both the British and American Virgin Islands are also excellent.

    Haven't snorkeled since I was a kid.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    'my front yard' !!!


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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Ha, I was about to say, the place Melonie lives is one of the best in the world for scuba (I figured it out but won't say for your privacy)

    OP said Roatan, absolutely! I have a Honduras trip in the works.

    Haven't done much diving but a lot of snorkeling, and that must change. The Red Sea was incredible, even just snorkeling. I almost stepped on one of those deadly lion fish! So cool, I have pics but they aren't scanned, looks like this:
    http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/lionfish.jpg

    Alas, as much as I love to travel to great dive places, I always end up partying too much and never get around to doing a dive.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Roatan came up just today at lunch, in fact. My dive instructor--the guy who trained me in two of three certifications--just opened up his own shop. In fact, we sketched out a deal whereby I'll help him with some tech/marketing services in exchange for training/trips. If anybody local is interested in group trips, shoot me a PM. More the merrier!
    Last edited by penandink1019; 01-13-2011 at 08:09 PM.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    'my front yard' !!!

    Still scaring the fish with your self contained flotation devices ? Lol.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    ^^^ there are many fish down here that are LOTS bigger than my 'floatation devices' LOL !!!

    But yes my 'unusual buoyancy distribution' can be a problem ... especially if I want to point my head down to go deeper !


    PS Roatan is amazing ... and not only for diving !!! In fact, it's a routine 'stop' for lots of guys who also park their yachts in my 'new' neck of the woods !!! The island is now starting to get some serious 'development' ... and promises to be the 'next' Costa Rica or Panama where upscale ex-pats are concerned !!! Really bad location for severe weather, though !!!

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    You'd all be mad to miss The Great Barrier Reef in Qld Australia, Its one of the seven wonders and has achieved Heritage listing. I lived on as island in the whitsundays for a couple of years. There are two strip clubs in Cairns which is another gateway town to the reef. Working holiday?
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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    I've always wondered about Australia, both for the diving and the people. LOVE that accent. It's expensive to get there, right? Fortunately, there are a whole bunch of nearby locations to check first.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    More on new local scuba shop I'm helping start-up its marketing. We specifically want to get more women involved (there's a significant drop-off among women when it comes to advanced certifications; why is that?). One of our plans: Within the next month record HD video of an underwater pool party. If you're already a diver and live in Chicago, send me a message. The shop will provide the gear for free.
    Last edited by penandink1019; 01-21-2011 at 02:05 PM.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post


    PS Roatan is amazing ... and not only for diving !!! In fact, it's a routine 'stop' for lots of guys who also park their yachts in my 'new' neck of the woods !!! The island is now starting to get some serious 'development' ... and promises to be the 'next' Costa Rica or Panama where upscale ex-pats are concerned !!! Really bad location for severe weather, though !!!
    Looks like I'm headed to Roatan in June! Sweet!

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    While on the topic of scuba, the shop and marketing, here's a random tech question: Has anybody had experience putting an attached Webcam underwater? I mean, sealing the thing in a housing (and the sealing the USB ports) so it could be used in, say, a swimming pool? So far, all I've found are some pretty expensive variations of this idea for fishermen and people who want to watch the inhabitants of their Koi ponds in situ.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Quote Originally Posted by penandink1019 View Post
    I've always wondered about Australia, both for the diving and the people. LOVE that accent. It's expensive to get there, right? Fortunately, there are a whole bunch of nearby locations to check first.
    The flight can be expensive, but if you look constantly you will see some good deals over a period of time.

    IMO, if you're gonna go to Australia, you really need to make a 'big' trip out of it. Big in the sense of time and cost.

    I feel like I'm not being clear... my point is I can hop on a plane and spend 5 days in Europe any time. A enjoyable trip to Australia is not like that.

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    Default Re: Favorite scuba destinations?

    Quote Originally Posted by jester214 View Post
    IMO, if you're gonna go to Australia, you really need to make a 'big' trip out of it. Big in the sense of time and cost.
    I'd live in Australia, given a chance. Love the accent, for starters. And the language is kinda like English, right?

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