Family Scuba Diving
Locations
Some
of the world's best scuba diving destinations now offer family-friendly
resorts that combine scuba diving with the excitement of a family
vacation. The
most exotic dive sites in the world like Costa Rica, Fiji, and Thailand
have sites for beginners as well as the advanced or experienced diver.
You will find wonderful beginner diving in Jamaica, Curacao, Turks and
Caicos. Bahamas, and the Caymans. In the United States Florida, the
Florida Keys and Hawaii offer extensive dive areas and a variety of
Scuba Diving environments. Scuba Diving Magazine rated Islamorada
in the Florida Keys the number one dive site for beginners.
The truth
of the matter is that a
certified Scuba Diver, even a beginner, will find that the possibilities
of where you can dive and what you can see are endless.
Florida Keys
This is paradise for those living in the United States because is it
drive-to diving and snorkeling. You will find many dive sites available.
Hot spots to consider include Alligator Reef, known for being home to
the largest variety of fish species in the keys. Crystal River
Florida boasts the largest population of Manatee in the world and is the
only place where you can snorkel and dive with them.
Diving conditions include good visibility, water temperatures between
70F and 80F and terrific fish.
Resort to investigate:
Ocean Pointe Resort, Tavernier, Fla.
Tel: (800) 882-9464, (305) 853-3000, Fax: (305) 853-3007
Hawaii
It is a great location for those residing on the West coast of the
United States. Surrounded by the Pacific
Ocean and located over 2400 miles from the nearest continent, Hawaii has
unique marine animals, colorful corals and peculiar lava formations.
Hawaii's underwater terrain consists of five underwater habitats:
coral reefs, lava tubes, caves and caverns, sandy bottoms, drop-offs and
basalt boulders. The four most visited islands are Oahu, Maui, Kauai and
Hawaii, they each have their own unique characteristics and dive
locations. Their are plenty of operators for boat diving and it is
one of the easiest ways to experience Hawaii's underwater adventures.
Diving from the shoreline is dictated by ocean conditions and surf
height.
Diving conditions
include waters temperatures in the low 80Fs in summer and mid 70fs in
winter, excellent visibility and calm water.
Bonaire
This small island off the coast of Venezuela is considered by many scuba
professionals as one of the top destinations for diving in the world.
The reef which surround Bonaire's is a National Marine Park, which means
the waters are legally protected, therefore you will find the most
pristine reefs and diversity of exotic marine life in the world.
Every diver who has not dived
on Bonaire within the last calendar year must attend a diver orientation
dealing with Bonaire Marine Park regulations and information.
Shore diving is
extremely easy with 86 marked dive sites along the shore and there are
plenty of operator options for boat dives
offshore around Klein Bonaire.
The best time
dive in the Caribbean waters of Bonaire is between September and
December, since the sea is the calmest at that time.
Diving conditions include warm, calm water conditions that are excellent
for beginners. Advanced divers love the freedom of shore diving.
The year-round average air and water
temperature is 82 degrees.
Resort to
Investigate:
Plaza Resort, Bonaire.
Tel: (800) 766-6016, (781) 821-1012, Fax: (781) 821-1568.
Cayman Islands
The three islands of the Cayman group all share good diving.
Scuba diving in the Caymans
can be done by boat, or at many dive sites, directly from shore.
The number and diversity of the dive sites is amazing. Within the Cayman
Islands there are several hundred named and regularly visited dive
sites. A few of the many diving opportunities include wall dives,
cave dives, coral garden dives, reef dives, and wreck dives. There
are dive boats available for every skill level and service is first-rate
at all dive operations.
The peak tourist time
in the Caymans ranges from Mid-December through mid-April.
Diving conditions
include warm, crystal clear water, underwater visibility is well over
100 feet on all three islands and large concentration of colorful marine
life. The Cayman Islands enjoys a stable climate with temperatures that
vary only slightly throughout the year (70F - 80F).
Turks & Caicos
The islands of Turk's
and Caicos, which are located in the Caribbean hidden between Flortida
and Puerto Rico, are a divers' paradise.
These islands are surrounded by one
of the most extensive coral reef systems worldwide.
Untouched reefs, dunes
and drop-offs are awaiting under the water.
The three islands generally visited by divers are Grand Turk,
Salt Cay and Providenciales. The reef system here is 200 miles long and
about 65 miles wide. Wall diving starts fairly shallow so it good for
beginners. Boat
rides are longer on Providenciales, and shorter on Grand Turk. It
is best to plan your trip between April and July as the water gets
unbearably hot afterwards and dive tour prices increase when tourist
season hits peak in mid December to mid April.
Diving conditions include
excellent visibility (up to
150 feet), pristine reefs, abundant tropical fish and other marine life.
The average water temperature in the summer is 82F to 84F degrees; in
winter, expect temps between 74F and 78F degrees.
Resort to Investigate:
Morritt's Tortuga Club, Grand Cayman. Tel: (800) 447-0309,
(345) 947-7449, Fax: (345) 947-7669.
Belize
Belize situated in the heart of Central America, right under Mexico, and
next to Guatemala. The barrier reef, which is 185 miles long, offers you
an opportunity to dive on the largest living coral reef system in the
Northern hemisphere and second in size only to the Great Barrier reef in
Australia. Belize offers all ranges of diving - from shore diving in
shallow water,
to swimmming alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley,
to the Great Blue Hole. The
"Blue Hole " dive which is an underwater dormant volcano which has
collapsed inwardly creating a large cavern that is about 400 feet deep.
The barrier reefs offer excellent diving for beginners such as at Hol
Chan Marine Park.
Diving conditions include warm, clear
water and a brilliant variety of sea life. Saltwater temperature
varies between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
The country has an annual mean temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
Resort to
Investigate: Sunbreeze Hotel, San Pedro (Ambergris caye),
Belize.
Tel: (800) 688-019, (011) 501-26-2191, Fax: (011)
501-26-2346.
Mexico
Puerto
Vallarta, Cancun and Cozumel are the more famous spots for
scuba diving in Mexico
Cozumel which is located 12 miles from the tip of the
Yucatan Peninsula is known for the gorgeous reefs that
stretch along its coast. Diving in Cozumel reveal's an
underwater world with canyons, cliffs and unique marine life
and vegetation. Warm turquoise blue waters, gentle currents
and year round visibility make a great dive location. This
is a great place to experience scuba diving either as a
novice or as an experienced diver.
Water temps range from 75F to 85F winter to summer, but you
can count on visibility around 100 feet regardless of the
season. Though the current can be fast here, it's not
difficult to stay together as a family under water
Resort to
Investigate:
Reef Club
Isla Cozumel, Cozumel.
Tel: (800) 221-5333, (305) 599-2124, Fax: (305) 599-1946.
Presidente
Intercontinental,
Cozumel.
Tel: (011) 52-987-20322, Fax: (011) 52-937-21360.
Costa Club (formerly Fiesta
Inn),
Cozumel.
Tel: (877) 454-4355,
(011) 52-987-22900, Fax: (011) 52-987-22154.
Allegro Resort,
Cozumel.
Tel: (800) 858-2258, (011) 52-987-23443, Fax: (011)
52-987-24508.
Fiesta
Americana, Cozumel.
Tel: (011) 52-987-22622, Fax: (011) 52-987-22680.
Iberostar,
Cozumel.
Tel: (011) 52-987-29900, Fax: (011) 52-987-29909.
Cancun is another
thriving diving hotspot on the Yucatan.
Cancun provides you with the advantage of diving at the
second largest barrier reef in the world.
It
is a perfect diving destination with sites to suit all
interests and experience levels. It is a divers delight
because the warm. crystal clear, turquoise waters of Mexico
often exceed 200 feet of clear visibility
and
the
sea life
and coral formations are plentiful.
Puerto Vallarta is
also one of the more popular scuba destinations for divers
around the world.
The clear
and calm waters of Banderas Bay, the habitat of a varied and
mysterious marine life, make it one of Mexico's favorite
diving destinations.
You will find a variety of rock formations with canyons,
caverns and rocky arches, as well as a great variety of
multicolored fish and beautiful coral reefs.
Between December and April, Puerto Vallarta scuba diving
will likely offer views of humpback whales, as the mammals
migrate to the warms seas off the coast each winter.
In summer
and fall, the best seasons for diving, water visibility
ranges between 78 to 131 feet and temperatures fluctuate
between 80° and 87° F. During winter and spring, most
diving spots have an average visibility of 20 to 30 feet
near the surface and 40 to 60 feet at greater depths. The
average temperature during that time of year ranges between
66° to 73° F.
