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Chester - 11 Aug 2004 16:18 GMT

Hi guys. I'm trying to coordinate an excursion for a bunch of people.
Some are certified divers, some want to get certified (so they'll do
the certification course at the destination) and some want to just do
a resort course and a couple of dives just to get a taste. I was
thinking of Bonaire or Belize. I'm opened to suggestions for location
and hotel. For Bonaire, I was thinking of the Divi Flamingo, but it's
been a while since I've been there and perhaps there are better hotels
out there. Is Belize a good match for the requirements I listed
(people's intentions). Since I've been to Bonaire, I know with the
Divi Flamingo at Bonaire, people can do the certification course,
resort course or the regular dives if they are certified.

Any other destinations?

TIA,
Chester

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chilly - 11 Aug 2004 19:19 GMT

> Hi guys. I'm trying to coordinate an excursion for a bunch of people.
> Some are certified divers, some want to get certified (so they'll do
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Divi Flamingo at Bonaire, people can do the certification course,
> resort course or the regular dives if they are certified.

You can have all that at San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize too. Plus it is
an excellent location for a larger group. No needs for car rentals and
such. It is very easy to get around to most any place in town, assuming you
stay in or just south of town instead of at a resort up north.

> Any other destinations?

Most any destination that has diving, will also offer certification and
resort courses.

If you want more info on San Pedro, just let me know what kinds of number of
people you are talking about and the composition of the group, and I should
easily be able to direct you to both acco and operator.

> TIA,
> Chester

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Dillon Pyron - 11 Aug 2004 22:04 GMT

>Hi guys. I'm trying to coordinate an excursion for a bunch of people.
> Some are certified divers, some want to get certified (so they'll do
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>TIA,
>Chester

Can't speak to the resorts, but I do have a suggestion. Those who are
thinking of doing the certification should do the classroom/pool work
at home and just do a referal for the open water dives. This will
save between two and three days at the resort and get them into actual
diving sooner. It will likely also be cheaper, although that's not a
guarantee.

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dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

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Rosalie B. - 12 Aug 2004 04:29 GMT

>Can't speak to the resorts, but I do have a suggestion. Those who are
>thinking of doing the certification should do the classroom/pool work
>at home and just do a referal for the open water dives. This will
>save between two and three days at the resort and get them into actual
>diving sooner. It will likely also be cheaper, although that's not a
>guarantee.

This is what everyone always recommends, but it isn't always the best
idea IMHO. I did it that way for sure - did the pool and classroom
work at home and then did the dives in the Virgin Islands. But that
didn't work for my husband. He did not think that he wanted to dive,
and he did a resort course the 2nd time we went to the VI and decided
that he liked it. But he did not have enough time off work to be able
to schedule the classroom/pool work at home. And he didn't/we don't
really 'do' resorts so he didn't have anything that he wanted to save
time there for. It wasn't until I could get him off where he couldn't
work on the house or the cars or something that he would take the time
to learn to dive.

I guess we always do things a little differently from most folks
though, so YMMV - it's just that while doing the classwork at home may
be the best for some, it isn't the best for anyone.

grandma Rosalie

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chilly - 12 Aug 2004 06:03 GMT

> Can't speak to the resorts, but I do have a suggestion. Those who are
> thinking of doing the certification should do the classroom/pool work
> at home and just do a referal for the open water dives. This will
> save between two and three days at the resort and get them into actual
> diving sooner.

Agreed. Who wants to study on vacation when they could be looking at the
little fishies?

It will likely also be cheaper, although that's not a

> guarantee.

Nope, it's most likely to be more expensive that way.

Cheaper is to get certified at home and then just dive once you get to your
vacation spot. A referral for OW is reasonably expensive in the scheme of
things.

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