Recommendation for Hotels in Belize with "jump in" pier and dive lockers

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Sy - 12 Dec 2007 02:42 GMT

Was very spoiled by my recent experience at the Divi in Bonaire
regarding their dive operation with pier and lockers literally feet
from where you jump in.

Would appreciate any recommendations for a medium to large hotel (not
one of those little "boutique" places) which has this type of set-up on
or near Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Thanks in advance,

Sy

Reply to this Message

Greg Mossman - 12 Dec 2007 02:59 GMT

> Was very spoiled by my recent experience at the Divi in Bonaire
> regarding their dive operation with pier and lockers literally feet
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> one of those little "boutique" places) which has this type of set-up on
> or near Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Bonaire is well-known for shore diving. All the dive resorts on
Bonaire have some sort of operation with pier and lockers literally
feet from where you jump in.

Does Ambergris Caye even have shore diving? From what I remember,
it's gonna be a long swim to the cut in the reef to get out to the
dive sites. You might be able to find a dock where you can jump off
and swim in the ocean, but it sure ain't gonna be good diving.
Whether Ambergris Caye even has good diving is a matter of debate, but
if it does, it's probably just boat diving.

Of course I'll stand corrected if anyone corrects me.

Reply to this Message

Sy - 12 Dec 2007 11:42 GMT

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]

In article

Hi Greg,

Last time we "chatted" it was in the midst of a mutual ballbusting
harangue.

Let's be friends this time around. What do you think?

Sy

<297769be-0730-48d4-8631-9321ad88528e@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,

> > Was very spoiled by my recent experience at the Divi in Bonaire
> > regarding their dive operation with pier and lockers literally feet
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Of course I'll stand corrected if anyone corrects me.

Reply to this Message

Greg Mossman - 12 Dec 2007 16:16 GMT

> [[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
> the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Let's be friends this time around. What do you think?

Fine with me. I already gave you long responses to your two posts via
e-mail as I hadn't realized you posted them as well and I always check
my e-mail first in the morning before I hit rec.scuba.

Reply to this Message

Sy - 12 Dec 2007 11:46 GMT

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]

I know that there are hotels with what I'm looking for in Cozumel but
I've been there several times.

Actually I don't need "shore diving" per se. Just a pier at the hotel
to jump into.

Any other places in the Caribbbean, Central American, South America
region I might consider?

Thab

In article
<297769be-0730-48d4-8631-9321ad88528e@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,

Reply to this Message

George Cathcart - 12 Dec 2007 11:53 GMT

> [[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
> the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Thab

Roatan.

CocoView Resort, Fantasy Island Beach Resort and Anthony's Key all
have facilities that allow you to practically roll out of bed and into
the water or onto a boat. At CCV at least, you can do it 24/7.

gc

Reply to this Message

Sy - 12 Dec 2007 22:27 GMT

I was at Fantasy Island about 18 months ago and didn't care for it. A
recent article in Undercurrent gave the impression that the place was
falling apart.

I will check out the other 2.

Thanks,

Sy

In article
<843da634-925d-43d0-a99a-e1baf500238c@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,

> > [[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
> > the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> gc

Reply to this Message

Grumman-581 - 12 Dec 2007 22:30 GMT

> I was at Fantasy Island about 18 months ago and didn't care for it. A
> recent article in Undercurrent gave the impression that the place was
> falling apart.

Are Mr. Roarke and Tattoo still there?

Reply to this Message

Scott - 12 Dec 2007 22:53 GMT

> > I was at Fantasy Island about 18 months ago and didn't care for it. A
> > recent article in Undercurrent gave the impression that the place was
> > falling apart.
>
> Are Mr. Roarke and Tattoo still there?

"De FFlane, De FFlane!"

Reply to this Message

chilly - 13 Dec 2007 01:54 GMT

> I was at Fantasy Island about 18 months ago and didn't care for it. A
> recent article in Undercurrent gave the impression that the place was
> falling apart.

Apparently they've been doing a lot of upgrades, but for whatever reason, I
didn't like the place much in any event.

> I will check out the other 2.

While you are at it, check out Luna Beach Resort and Inn of Last Resort.

> Thanks,
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> >
> > gc

Reply to this Message

chilly - 12 Dec 2007 08:44 GMT

> Was very spoiled by my recent experience at the Divi in Bonaire
> regarding their dive operation with pier and lockers literally feet
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance,

Situation is quite different on Ambergris Caye, me thinks.

Most of the hotels there could be considered "boutique" places. The dive
shops store your gear and have it ready for you in the morning. No shore
diving.

Some of the hotels have a dive shop affiliated with them and immediately in
front. Some have a dive shop right out front though it may not be an
affiliate.

I can't compare it to Bonaire, because I haven't been there. I have been to
Belize so many times I've lost count. 3 times in past 12 months though, 6
in last two years, I think. 100's of days, all in all, over the past 9+
years. I can compare it to Roatan, Bequia, Cuba, Coz, Cook Islands and a
few places in SE Asia. I've had a couple of dives in St. Martin and the
Bahamas.

What is your definition of a medium hotel . . a large hotel?

Reply to this Message

Sy - 12 Dec 2007 12:09 GMT

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]

I guess what I "don't" mean is the type of hotel with under 15 rooms ,
mainly for honeymooners or such.

Would like a bigger place with those diving amenities I mentioned which
are piers to dive off of and nearby lockers to store my gear. Frankly
I don't care about whether they have "scuba dudes" to wash and store my
gear. I feel safer doing that myself.

B..t.w., any other destinations (besides Bonaire or Curacao) like Turks
& Caicos would be of interest to me also. I'd like to be no more tha.
6 hours flight time from Newark Airport.

How's Portobelo, Panama, or Margarita Island, Venezuela.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

Sy

> > Was very spoiled by my recent experience at the Divi in Bonaire
> > regarding their dive operation with pier and lockers literally feet
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> What is your definition of a medium hotel . . a large hotel?

Reply to this Message

chilly - 12 Dec 2007 16:25 GMT

> [[ This message was both posted and mailed: see
> the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]
>
> I guess what I "don't" mean is the type of hotel with under 15 rooms ,
> mainly for honeymooners or such.

There are a number of hotels with more than 15 rooms, though not many more
than 15. Most of them are not for honeymooners but for divers or those that
like to do tours and such. Many do not have a pool. Quite a few have
kitchenettes.

> Would like a bigger place with those diving amenities I mentioned which
> are piers to dive off of and nearby lockers to store my gear. Frankly
> I don't care about whether they have "scuba dudes" to wash and store my
> gear. I feel safer doing that myself.

While they generally have "scuba dudes", no one will stop you from washing
and caring for your own gear. I do it all the time. Though I always take
advantage of the drying racks and let them put my gear away into safe
storage (with security) every night.

There are lots of docks that you can go swim off of and/or have a little
snorkel under, but the reef is offshore and so all diving is boat diving,
and so is the best snorkelling.

On local dives there are lots of nursesharks, large groupers, morays, a
plethora of reef fish and critters, tongue and groove coral formations.
Often will encounter turtles and spotted eagle rays.

Day trips out to the Blue Hole, give you a unique dive experience along with
a couple of fantastic follow up dives.

Maybe you should look at a dedicated dive resort out at the Atolls, like
Turneffe.

> B..t.w., any other destinations (besides Bonaire or Curacao) like Turks
> & Caicos would be of interest to me also. I'd like to be no more tha.
> 6 hours flight time from Newark Airport.

Doesn't Newark have a direct flight to Belize? Maybe you have to be routed
through Houston.

I read somewhere that Newark started direct flights to Roatan (though if
they are still in effect, I dunno). You might very well find what you seek
in Roatan. I find Roatan fabulous for macro, love the formations,
nursesharks are very shy and groupers are smaller. I generally enjoy that
the reef is more shallow than at Belize and so safety stops are more
interesting to me.

> How's Portobelo, Panama, or Margarita Island, Venezuela.

Haven't been, but from all my research on Panama, I don't think you'll find
what you are looking for there.

> Any feedback will be appreciated.
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> >
> > What is your definition of a medium hotel . . a large hotel?

Reply to this Message

reee352@yahoo.com - 12 Dec 2007 14:40 GMT

> Would appreciate any recommendations for a medium to large hotel (not
> one of those little "boutique" places) which has this type of set-up on
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Sy

On Cay Caulker its still a short boat ride to the reef but they picked
us up and dropped us at the dock. They arranged it from the hotel.
Shallow but very live reef which was what we wanted. We had good viz.

http://www.barefootbeachbelize.com/ American repats. Nice folks.
They seem more into fishing but had no trouble making all our
arrangements.

Reee

Reply to this Message