Good places to scuba dive?

[Mani]

Just got my scuba certification (yay) and my buddies and I are thinking of planning a trip somewhere in North America. Right now we are thinking Cozumel, but nothing's decided yet. Anyone have any suggestions for good places that wouldn't be too expensive to travel to?

 

[Electric Amish]

Under water.

 

[Gyrene]

Cayman Islands = The Best place to SCUBA dive in NA, period. 80-100 ft visibility, great wrecks, amazing sea life.

 

[blackdogdeek]

if you do a cruise you can usually hit 3 or 4 good scuba destinations in the caribbean. other suggestions would be curacao, the cayman islands, aruba, the virgin islands, costa rica, galapagos.

 

[Aquaman]

Turks & Caicos (but $$$)
Belize (second biggest reefs in the world)
British Columbia (cold but supposed to be some top notch diving spots)
Cozumel is good.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Nyical]

Any place in the South Pacific, lots of wrecks of ships, planes ect ect

 

[spidey07]

I've been to a lot of the carribean places. And by far the best diving was in Cayman Islands.

Can't even explain how awesome the diving is there.

Also cozumel is pretty good as well.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I've been to a lot of the carribean places. And by far the best diving was in Cayman Islands.

Can't even explain how awesome the diving is there.

Also cozumel is pretty good as well.

Have you ever been to the Turks & Caicos? I've heard they have awesome wall dives.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: dtyn
Cayman Islands = The Best place to SCUBA dive in NA, period. 80-100 ft visibility, great wrecks, amazing sea life.

heh, it was more like 350 feet when I was there. 🙂

 

[cyclistca]

Bath tub or kitchen sink.

 

[slycat]

maui

 

[Scarpozzi]

Go to the sewer and try to find the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: dtyn Cayman Islands = The Best place to SCUBA dive in NA, period. 80-100 ft visibility, great wrecks, amazing sea life.

heh, it was more like 350 feet when I was there. 🙂

I meant straight down, sorry. It got too dark to see without a light past 100ft. Looking out to the sides was pretty much like you weren't even in water.

 

[spidey07]

dtyn,

🙂

When we went you could literally see some 350 feet down the wall. It was unreal. Straight down.
Even at 100 feet everything was crystal clear. simply amazing. I think I've been spoiled because every where I go I think "still not as good as caymans"

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: dtyn
Cayman Islands = The Best place to SCUBA dive in NA, period. 80-100 ft visibility, great wrecks, amazing sea life.

I'll second that. Aboslute best place in the North America.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: spidey07
dtyn,

🙂

When we went you could literally see some 350 feet down the wall. It was unreal. Straight down.
Even at 100 feet everything was crystal clear. simply amazing. I think I've been spoiled because every where I go I think "still not as good as caymans"

I agree, Spidey. I've been to a lot of different sites in the Caribbean, and Hawaii. The Caymans blow them all out of the water. The water visibility, the marine life, the wrecks, and the wall. Best diving in the hemisphere.

 

[MaxDepth]

Congrats! Now go get wet!


Where do ya live, Mani? Sometimes the best places to dive are just outside your door.

Cozumel is great, especially since there are dive packages that include airfare and hotel. Plus it is drift diving. The boat drives out to a spot, you jump in, and then the boat follows your bubbles! You really don't have to kick at all (unless you spot something neat and you want to go back to it). Just let the current take you...

I live in North Carolina, which is refered to as the graveyard of the Atlantic. Most wrecks on any coast, inlcuding Florida. Plus there some wrecks that have yet to be discovered.


But you just got your certification so nothing too strenous or deep yet. Depending on where you want to go or what you want to do, you might think of taking another class such as deep or wreck.


BTW, which organization did you get your c-card?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Under water.

werd!

lol

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: spidey07
dtyn, 🙂 When we went you could literally see some 350 feet down the wall. It was unreal. Straight down. Even at 100 feet everything was crystal clear. simply amazing. I think I've been spoiled because every where I go I think "still not as good as caymans"

Bah! You suck. I'm gonna have to take some vacation time, now, and go back, just so I can experience that. Look at all the money you are costing me now. Damn you! 😉

 

[Mani]

Thanks for the suggestions dtyn, spidey, blackdog, aquaman, nyical, slycat and hoober. Looks like there's plenty of places to choose from and the Caymans sound sweet...just need to go price some trips.

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Congrats! Now go get wet!

Where do ya live, Mani? Sometimes the best places to dive are just outside your door.

Cozumel is great, especially since there are dive packages that include airfare and hotel. Plus it is drift diving. The boat drives out to a spot, you jump in, and then the boat follows your bubbles! You really don't have to kick at all (unless you spot something neat and you want to go back to it). Just let the current take you...

I live in North Carolina, which is refered to as the graveyard of the Atlantic. Most wrecks on any coast, inlcuding Florida. Plus there some wrecks that have yet to be discovered.

But you just got your certification so nothing too strenous or deep yet. Depending on where you want to go or what you want to do, you might think of taking another class such as deep or wreck.

BTW, which organization did you get your c-card?

Thanks. I got my cert from SSI. Yep, we were thinking Cozumel because of all the nifty all-inclusive packages out there but the Caymans are really sounding good from the recommendations here. I personally live in Austin, TX and all we have for diving nearby is Lake Travis which pretty much sucks as it's murky and uninteresting.

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: Mani
Thanks. I got my cert from SSI. Yep, we were thinking Cozumel because of all the nifty all-inclusive packages out there but the Caymans are really sounding good from the recommendations here. I personally live in Austin, TX and all we have for diving nearby is Lake Travis which pretty much sucks as it's murky and uninteresting.

Didja get your cert from Tom's Scuba? I know that place.
Yuck. I've been down there. (actually I'm looking to move down there as soon as I or my friends find me a job there) Nothing like diving though a blanket of algae, huh? :frown:

You could go down to the coast, it isn't that far away. But most Texans can fly to the islands and parts of central and south america cheaper than us farther up north.

If the local shops don't have any trips that you like (or can afford), then this is a good place to start: Rodale's.

Just remember, even if you got your certification from one place, it doesn't mean you cannot visit the other places for trips or equipment (I know saying this makes me a heretic).


For my 2 cents: Belize is the secret destination that not everybody knows about and is my favorite. You might think about that. And yes I've been to the Cayman, DR (Dominican Republic), and the rest.

Oh, wait. If you don't get seasick, would you consider a live aboard? Live on a boat all week and dive as much as you want. You get shore leave a couple of days, if you want. This boat was the last one I was on. Wasn't expensive as the ones in the Pacific, great meals, onboard waterplant (hot showers and constant fresh water supply), and your last night is spent in South Beach (Miami).

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth

Originally posted by: Mani
Thanks. I got my cert from SSI. Yep, we were thinking Cozumel because of all the nifty all-inclusive packages out there but the Caymans are really sounding good from the recommendations here. I personally live in Austin, TX and all we have for diving nearby is Lake Travis which pretty much sucks as it's murky and uninteresting.

Didja get your cert from Tom's Scuba? I know that place.

Yep! Great dive shop.

Yuck. I've been down there. (actually I'm looking to move down there as soon as I or my friends find me a job there) Nothing like diving though a blanket of algae, huh? :frown:

You could go down to the coast, it isn't that far away. But most Texans can fly to the islands and parts of central and south america cheaper than us farther up north.

Yep, we were thinking about it but don't know of any particularly good dive sites on the coast. Any that stand out in your mind?

If the local shops don't have any trips that you like (or can afford), then this is a good place to start: Rodale's.

Thanks for the link...we'll definitely check it out.

Just remember, even if you got your certification from one place, it doesn't mean you cannot visit the other places for trips or equipment (I know saying this makes me a heretic).

I agree! I haven't bought my equipment yet but I'm debating because I like Tom's and want to support it but Leisurepro has incredible prices. I've also heard people tell me that manufacturers won't warranty equipment bought online, etc. but I don't know if I believe it entirely. Any advice to offer here?

For my 2 cents: Belize is the secret destination that not everybody knows about and is my favorite. You might think about that. And yes I've been to the Cayman, DR (Dominican Republic), and the rest.

Oh, wait. If you don't get seasick, would you consider a live aboard? Live on a boat all week and dive as much as you want. You get shore leave a couple of days, if you want. This boat was the last one I was on. Wasn't expensive as the ones in the Pacific, great meals, onboard waterplant (hot showers and constant fresh water supply), and your last night is spent in South Beach (Miami).

Wow, that sounds awesome! I'm definitely going to show this to my buddies...now I just need to finagle the vacation days out of my boss. 🙂

Thanks for the help!