I've pretty much scratched Cozumel off my list (unless I can get a
free ticket / hotel).  I went to CZM in October and the taxi fare from
the southern hotel district to town was $15.00 each way.  The diving
was $50-60 for a two tank boat dive which is usually follow the leader
(dive master) type diving.  The current was usually ripping pretty
good so it was hard to stop and look at something.  The cruise ship
industry has driven up the prices in Cozumel so it is no longer the
cheap dive paradise that it once was.

For a divers paradise, I'd suggest Bonaire.  AA has flights via San
Juan - but check their schedule as the flights don't operate every
day.  I usually stay at Buddy's Dive Resort.  I like the package that
they offer - you get a room w/ a kitchen, a truck, a drive thru air
station where you just load up your tanks and drop off your used tanks
and you can rinse your gear off at the air fill station, and Buddy's
has a great house reef.  The house reef runs from the Sand Dollar
resort just south of  Buddy's to Captain Don's resort which is north
of Buddy's .  Great for night diving.  Jump off the dock, swim out
less than 50 yards and you're at the dive site.  School masters and
tarpon will accompany you during your night dives using your light to
find their dinner.  Other dive sites on the island are marked by
yellow painted rocks that have the dive site names painted on them.
At many dive sites you can back your truck up to the waters edge,
lower the tail gate and gear up, swim out about 50 yards and you are
at the dive site.  Very easy diving.  And Bonaire has the greatest
diversity of fish of most any other Caribbean island.

<crossposting-snipped>

Cozumel... East coast when the wind is out of the east... Beach dive from
the rocks... It will be a memorable experience for you...

I really don't think you want to go to the Bay Islands. What worries me
is your reference to Cozumel. The Bays are to Cozumel what Yuma is to
Las Vegas.

The bays are primitive with no tall resort hotels, no whate sandy
beaches full of cabanas (well, there is West Bay but you'll be eaten by
sand fleas) and the dive operations are primarily all-inclusive and
folks don't venture off the property.

Oh, they are mellow but in a rustic sort of way.

I love the Bays and own property there, so I know what I'm saying.

But if you are determined, I think the best place for you to consider is
Fantasy Island. It isn't my favorite but offers air conditioned rooms,
sitdown dining and unlimited diving in a Holiday Inn type accomodation.
Second choice with be Anthony's Key Resort - nice rooms with a slightly
more tropical flair but the diving is limited to three boat trips a day.
One caveat to Anthony's - the dining room is on a hillside and requites
going up about 75 steps to get there. If you don't do steps or have bad
knees, then don't go to AKR.

Some folks may suggest Cocoview and it is my favorite. But it is also
called Scuba Camp for a reason and I just don't think that is what you
want.

Still my gut tells me that you will be happier elsewhere. I would
suggest Bonaire, Little Cayman (untouched by the storms last year) or
even Grand Cayman (yes, it was damaged but by Febuary most of the places
will be back tonormal and I expect GREAT deals as they work to bring
tourists back).

Ron T.
Second Bight
Roatan

Roatan is a good place for serenity, sun, and scuba, but is not much
for beaches or stores.  There are some of both, but not necessarily
close to the resorts.  I went to Anthony's Key last February and had a
great trip.  They really took very good care of us at the resort, but
there really is no beach to speak of.  All rooms have sundecks and
hammocks.  I recommend it.  Roatan is considerably more serene than
Cozumel and the diving is very good with some good variety.  We saw
just about everything from whale sharks to sea horses.  Roatan's great
as long as you are not expecting it to be Grand Cayman (and thank God
it's not).

As someone else suggested, Little Cayman would be good too.  There is a
beach at the resorts, but hardly any stores.  It is very laid-back.
Nothing to do except dive, eat, sleep, have a couple of beers, and do
it all over again.  Oh, yeah, if you're into bonefishing, they do that
on Little Cayman too.

Sounds like Bonaire might fit your needs, but it's hard to get a direct
flight there from anywhere.  Don't know what it would take to get there
from Dallas.  We are going to Bonaire this February from Michigan and
it will take us three hops unless we take a charter to Aruba and then
an island-hopper to Bonaire.