Most dive shops and agencies offer refresher courses.  If there's dive
training in your area, there's probably a dive shot that will do one for
you.  A refresher isn't a bad idea.  On the other hand, you don't actually
have to do anything if you can still find your NAUI card.  Once certified,
always certified.  It's still good, even though it's made of paper and does
not have your picture on it.  I assume that's what yours looks like since
that's what mine is.  I have several since, but the original is still as
valid as ever.  By the way, I'm about a month from 60, but the other way.  I
turned 60 in March.  It didn't hurt . . . well, not much anyway.

I don't know the answer to this for sure, but I think there are courses for
younger divers.  I think 12 may be the minimum age.  Someone that knows
better than I do should pipe up any time now.

You've already got it.  If your card is like mine, it reads "SCUBA."  Other
than that, the beginner course is most often called Open Water.  That may or
may not apply to all agencies, but any of them will know what you're talking
about.  The majors in entry level training are PADI, SSI, NAUI and YMCA.
YMCA isn't as popular as they used to be, but I think they still offer
certification training.  For your purposes, one's about as good as the
others.

Aren't we all.  In pure dollars and cents terms, the Keys are probably the
best bang for the buck, but only because you can drive there.  If you opt
for the Keys, consider Looe Key, particularly if your son can't get
certified before you go.  It's a shallow area suitable both for divers and
snorkelers, one of the best of its kind in the state.

"The Bahamas" covers a lot of territory.  There's a bunch of them.  I've
done some very nice diving in the Bahamas, but I did not find the dive
masters particularly helpful.  I'm sure there are exceptions, but for the
most part, I think Bahamas diving is better for those that feel comfortable
more or less on their own.  After a refresher course, that might include
you.  I'd stay away from New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island).  The
diving's not that great and the prices are high.  Freeport is one of my
least favorite places in the world, so I'd stay away from there too.  Bimini
has some nice diving, as does Andros.  The rest of what I've done in the
Bahamas has been a bit harder to get to, more suitable to live aboard diving
than a land based family vacation.  There's probably more nice places.  I'll
leave it to those that know them to make recommendations.

I've never been to Belize.

Grand Cayman is one of my favorite dive destinations.  The boat diving is
excellent and the shore diving is even better and range from novice level to
very  advanced.  It's not cheap, but if I thought it was going to be my last
dive trip ever, I'd certainly consider Grand Cayman.  I also like Cayman
Brac and little Cayman, but I didn't enjoy the shore diving in either as
much as I did on Grand Cayman and, while you say night life is not
important, that's not the same as "none" which is what the smaller Cayman
islands have.

Just like all the rest of us old timers.

Lee

My first dive in 1967, they strapped the tanks on me, said "Don't hold
your breath", and had me do a back roll off the boat.  After that,  I
took a SCUBA course with a dive shop in Key West called the Diver's
Den.  It wasn't with any kind of national certification.

I loved it, but I felt it was too expensive to take money out of the
family budget (by then I had 3 children) for something that was just
for me, even though my husband was willing for me to do it.  So I
didn't dive again until my husband wanted to buy a sailboat.   I said
I would consider doing that if I could dive.  So in 1996, I took a
local Open Water PADI course (in late November), and did my checkout
dives in January 1997 from a sailboat in the Virgin Islands.  At that
time, I was 57 years old.  

I would advise a refresher course, which usually doesn't cost as much
as a full course if they are running one anyway.

I think the lower age limit is 12, and my son-in-law (who was
certified when he was about 14) didn't want his son to do scuba until
he was 14.  Or maybe they've raised the age limit.  Or maybe he just
wants his son to do as he did.  The kid is 13 now (will be 14 in a
month) and is already 6'2"

As Lee said - you have the certification.  I'd advise a refresher
course just so that you can get up to speed with the newer equipment,
and so that you will have some practice for safety sake..

I have been diving in Florida, Belize, the Bahamas, Cozumel and the
Virgin Islands.  I have been snorkeling in Costa Rica, Barbados,
Aruba, Grand Cayman, and would like to have gone in Bermuda but the
water was always too cold when we were there.  Which brings up the
point - if you go in the summer, you need to be aware of the hurricane
season.  If you go in the winter, the water will be colder the farther
north you get.

I would say the cheapest, best place to go if it has recovered from
the hurricanes is Cozumel.  Lots of competent dive masters and a lot
of reef to see.   It is drift diving.  I don't speak much Spanish, but
I can get along there OK.  I don't do the night life thing either,
although we did go out to dinner at night.

In Belize the dive sites off the outer cays are very close and there
is a lot of reef, but I found it fairly colorless compared to the
Virgin Islands. It is also expensive to get there.

Virgin Islands are expensive to be there (hotels etc).  I don't care
for diving in the Keys in the winter as it is too cold - the same for
the Bahamas.  English is the language in all those places.

If you can splurge one time, go to Bonaire.  It is the best by far for
diving.  It also has diving for every level of diver.  The atmosphere on the
island is laid back.  Quality of dive shops is high and dive masters are
competent. Another one of the plusses of Bonaire is that you can choose to
boat dive with a group or go on your own for a shore dive.  There are about
80 marked shore dives all around the island.  Bonaire's bread and butter is
diving.  The whole island is pretty much set up for it.  I don't think there
is any wild night life on the island.  It's pretty calm, and quite safe.
Bonaire is governed by the Dutch, so you will hear Dutch, English, and the
local Papiamento dialect.  The sea life is spectacular and abundant.  Many
people go there just for the snorkeling.  It will be a trip both you and
your son will never forget.  Start saving now.  I think you will find it
worth it.    Jane

With PADI the minimum age is 10 years old for the junior certifications.

You might be OK on one of the sister islands, as long as you and all
your luggage can make it there, but Grand Cayman is a bit "over the
hill" for diving, its best spots long tarnished by cruise ships,
overdevelopment, hurricanes, you name it.  Plus, it's ultra-
expensive.  You can try to save by doing a meal plan at a dedicated
resort like Cobalt Coast, but you can do that in many other places in
the Caribbean with better diving for less money.  Whoever suggested
Grand Cayman to you doesn't know what he's talking about.

Roatan is the popular "best bang for the buck" island, but I don't
care for it much.  YMMV.  Certainly it's a good deal.  Cozumel has
better diving, IMO, but it may be overwhelming for new divers as the
currents can be tricky and depths hard to gauge in the clear water.
Personally, I prefer Bonaire, as it's easy to stretch a dollar there.
Not only is the exchange rate still somewhat favorable, making dining
out cheaper than in the states, but most of the lodgings come with
complete kitchens so you can make your own meals.  Diving is similar:
you can pay a very decent price for dive master-led boat dives or you
can literally dive for free by shore diving with one of the ubiquitous
unlimited air or nitrox packages.

You also might want to consider a liveaboard, particularly Nekton
since they cover the Bahamas and Belize itineraries you mention.  If
you price it out, they are very competitive with land-based
operations, especially when you consider the amount of bottom time you
can get in.  Plus they have a special for new divers where you can not
only get your certification referral dives for free, but they
reimburse your training costs up to $150.  What a deal.

[Default] Thus spake ISBN10 <jpa457@gmail.com>:

"Yes" ... But.

It isn't what I'd call a useful cert.  Depth limits, specific budy
requirements, and not everyone likes them.  I really don't want to
teach someone that young for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, my
shop doesn't, either.

A plain open water and some demonstrable experience.  Given your
hiatus, I second everyone in getting a refresher.  Things have changed
a tad bit.

Hmm, I think the Keys might hit the spot.

OK, ISBN10, to summarize, you're certified, but get a refresher.  We've
got dive computers, BCDs instead of horse collars, and lot of other new
new equipment.

I was going to recommend Belize (Ambergris Caye), but its a real small
island  so your son is likely to be bored.  Much the same applies to the
Keys...Key West is interesting, but my kids complained about the smoking
at Jimmy Buffet's.   The other keys are more laid back.

I'd suggest West Palm Beach.  I've had some great dives around Memorial
Day there.  The commute to the dive site is longer than Belize's 10
minutes, but 20 minutes gives you time to gear up (and bigger boats).
There's a lot to see when you aren't diving...There's an interesting an
butterfly garden and  baseball in Miami, but you haven't said what time
of year you're going or where you're coming from.

I only wanted to answer the destination part - so I clipped the rest.
Lee and Rosalie answered your other questions thoroughly enough.

My first choice would be Cozumel due to the ease of getting there and
the bang for your buck.  Some of the diving there can be advanced but
most dive operators tend to dive the experience of the divers.  My first
ocean dives were Cancun and Cozumel.  The drift diving in Cozumel can be
a lot of fun - but I have also experienced currents pulling me out into
the channel and down the wall.

Never been to Bonaire, I've done Belize - it was okay, Grand Cayman was
very good - only boats for me there - never any shore diving.  St Thomas
and St Maarten were okay but I did those two from a cruise ship.

Given your information the Keys maybe your best options - Key Largo is
decent, I really like Islamorada (the only two I have done in the Keys)

Roatan.  Beautiful island.  So inexpensive I feel like the money fairy is
putting cash back in my jeans every night.

The dive ops are mostly staffed by young ex-pats, so language is not a
problem.

The beach at West Bay is one of the most beautiful I have seen in the world,
though one doesn't have to stay at West Bay to enjoy it as it is an easy and
inexpensive water taxi ride from West End Village.  Dive sites are 5-20
minutes off shore.

There's ziplines, a dolphin park, an iguana sanctuary and a few other
adventures available for the youngster.

How quiet it will be, will be determined by where you chose to stay.

I love it in West End, but your family may enjoy staying at one of the
dedicated dive resorts like Anthony's Key (has the dolphin park) or Fantasy
Island.  I don't recommend Cocoview or Bay Islands Beach Resort in this
instance.