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Matt Cushing - 21 Jan 2005 19:14 GMT

Hey there,

I discovered scuba diving while I was on vacation in aruba - I got a
deal on a package that I probably couldn't get again. I'm looking for
places to go diving that aren't going to cost me a mortgage payment or
two just to go.

Any suggestions? I live in NJ, and I am looking for places people have
been. I just got an open water dive course paid for as a birthday
present and I would hate to do it and then wait several years to dive again.

Thx,
M@

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Greg Mossman - 21 Jan 2005 19:38 GMT

> I discovered scuba diving while I was on vacation in aruba - I got a deal
> on a package that I probably couldn't get again. I'm looking for places
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> been. I just got an open water dive course paid for as a birthday present
> and I would hate to do it and then wait several years to dive again.

Aren't you fortunate that you live in New Jersey. Just head east. Ask your
instructor (assuming you're taking your open water dive course locally) for
more information. It might be colder and darker water but at least they
throw in free lobster. I had a lobster in Cozumel that cost me $40.

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Matt Cushing - 21 Jan 2005 19:55 GMT

> Aren't you fortunate that you live in New Jersey. Just head east. Ask your
> instructor (assuming you're taking your open water dive course locally) for
> more information. It might be colder and darker water but at least they
> throw in free lobster. I had a lobster in Cozumel that cost me $40.

I had heard that most of the sites on the east coast weren't worth
bothering with because the visibility is so crummy. I went reef diving
in Aruba and it was crystal. I think I spoiled myself:)

M@

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Cpt. Dale Bennett - 21 Jan 2005 21:58 GMT

>> Aren't you fortunate that you live in New Jersey. Just head east. Ask
>> your instructor (assuming you're taking your open water dive course
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> M@

Usually you will find that those who denigrate local diving are the ones who
do no local diving. I hear the same things about Great Lakes diving here in
the Chicago area, "I wouldn't dive in Lake Michigan. It's cold and there is
no vis." When you question further you find the speaker has never done a
local dive since his open water training dives in some mud hole quarry. The
truth is something quite different. Yes, it's cold but that is solved by
wearing the proper clothing. No, there is good vis - usually on the order
of 30 to 40 feet. While that might not be as good as Grand Cayman, it is
good enough. And you will not find the quality of shipwrecks we have here
in G.C. Find an instructor who actually dives regularly in the local area
for fun. Not one who just teaches classes.

Safe diving,
Captain Dale

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Dan Bracuk - 22 Jan 2005 03:59 GMT

"Cpt. Dale Bennett" <captndale@comcast.net> pounded away at his
keyboard resulting in:

:Usually you will find that those who denigrate local diving are the ones who
:do no local diving. I hear the same things about Great Lakes diving here in
:the Chicago area, "I wouldn't dive in Lake Michigan. It's cold and there is
:no vis." When you question further you find the speaker has never done a
:local dive since his open water training dives in some mud hole quarry. The
:truth is something quite different.

The truth is that what is fun for one person is not necessarily fun
for another. We all decide what we like and don't like.

I've done lots of cold dark water diving. It's ok. However, in my
current circumstances, it ain't worth the time or effort.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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Cpt. Dale Bennett - 22 Jan 2005 17:33 GMT

We all decide what we like and don't like.

> I've done lots of cold dark water diving. It's ok. However, in my
> current circumstances, it ain't worth the time or effort.

I agree, we should all make the decision of what we like and don't like for
ourselves. That was my point. Don't take the word of someone who dosen't
do the dives. Check it out for yourself. When my daughter was little,
confronted with a new food on her plate, she would ask, "Do I like this?" I
would always encourage her to try it and find out. As adults, we should
have all learned this lesson.

Good diving,
Captain Dale

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Chuck Chatham - 22 Jan 2005 03:03 GMT

Here is a neat spot. Cheap with good diving and inexpensive
accommodations. Also try places on Roatan. You can find rooms for $6 -
$120 on the Honduras Islands and per dive costs can vary from $30 to $10
(or less for beach dives)
http://www.3routes.com/scuba/ca/hon/1685funstuff.html

Cozumel is also great with airfare usually less than most other
Caribbean locations. Accommodations can be as little as $300 per month
and dive packages are typical at $50 - $65 for two tank dives. I use
Dive with Martin and stay at Alicia's B&B, but there are many other good
ones as well.

> Hey there,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thx,
> M@

Reply to this Message

Dan Bracuk - 22 Jan 2005 03:56 GMT

Matt Cushing <matt@cushingonline.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:

:I discovered scuba diving while I was on vacation in aruba - I got a
:deal on a package that I probably couldn't get again. I'm looking for
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
:been. I just got an open water dive course paid for as a birthday
:present and I would hate to do it and then wait several years to dive again.

First of all, about the price. Diving is expensive, you just have to
determine if it is worth it.

Regarding destinations, Cozumel, Looe Key, and the Cayman Islands are
all very nice. Looe Key might be driveable depending on your
schedule. There are lots of travel websites that will show you
prices and itineraries from your closest airport.

If you want to read about places I have been since I first subscribed
to rec.scuba and rec.scuba locations, they are
here.http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Trips/.

If you want to read other people's reports, go here,
http://www.google.ca/advanced_group_search?hl=en, and look for posts
in either rec.scuba or rec.scuba locations where the subject line
contains the words trip report. If you are searching rec.scuba, read
the original reports and ignore the rest of the thread, it will
probably be about stuff other than scuba.

Good luck on your course. Do what the teacher tells you.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

Reply to this Message

chilly - 22 Jan 2005 05:58 GMT

(snip)> If you want to read other people's reports, go here,

> http://www.google.ca/advanced_group_search?hl=en, and look for posts
> in either rec.scuba or rec.scuba locations where the subject line
> contains the words trip report. If you are searching rec.scuba, read
> the original reports and ignore the rest of the thread, it will
> probably be about stuff other than scuba.

Good advice. I will add that you should also do your searches for the name
of the places that you are interested in. Lots of people don't title their
trip reports with "Trip Report". When doing searches, search once in
subject for the place name and once in the body. This will garner you lots
and lots of info, but unfortunately, will also bring you to a number of
posts that are just asking questions. In any event, someone is bound to
have answered those questions in followup posts.

(snip)

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Lee Bell - 22 Jan 2005 14:14 GMT

> Any suggestions? I live in NJ, and I am looking for places people have
> been. I just got an open water dive course paid for as a birthday present
> and I would hate to do it and then wait several years to dive again.

West Palm Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Miami, Florida
the Florida Keys

Cheap airfares between the NE and S. Florida are common. Watch where you
stay and where you eat, drink and party, and you can get away for a
reasonable price. When you tire of all that S. Florida has to offer, in
say, 20 years or so, there's the Bahamas.

Lee

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