62 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

I'll look up the others later.

Ross

[running_diver]

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross

Hey Ross can you do some checking to see what the scoop is on them? They are new to me and being in Utila right now I won't be able to look at new destinations for awhile.

Madeira:

Getting there. It appears the only direct flights are from Europe. It's apparently only a few hours from London. It looks like last years prices for shore diving + room were about $175/day pp do.

The important stuff. It looks like standard Atlantic rock reef diving with the chance of a few Palagics. The groupers are particularly large. Water temperature varies from around 68 to 77 being warmest around August. It looks like the visibility is about 50'. Much of the diving is shore diving. There is some boat diving and even two wrecks. Diving is only available on one of the wrecks when conditions are just right. The other was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. Youtube has several videos of dives
and there are some good photos
http://www.madeiradi...tml/photos.html.

Ross

[diverb0b]

As for
the st lawrence river trip contact me directly and I ll help with the trip bookings etc

Edited by diverb0b, 10 March 2008 - 04:14 AM.

[WreckWench]

As forthe st lawrence river trip contact me directly and I ll help with the trip bookings etc

Thanks! We've used several operators in the St Lawrence! PM the ops you like the best! kamala

[WreckWench]

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross

Hey Ross can you do some checking to see what the scoop is on them? They are new to me and being in Utila right now I won't be able to look at new destinations for awhile.

Madeira:

Getting there. It appears the only direct flights are from Europe. It's apparently only a few hours from London. It looks like last years prices for shore diving + room were about $175/day pp do.

The important stuff. It looks like standard Atlantic rock reef diving with the chance of a few Palagics. The groupers are particularly large. Water temperature varies from around 68 to 77 being warmest around August. It looks like the visibility is about 50'. Much of the diving is shore diving. There is some boat diving and even two wrecks. Diving is only available on one of the wrecks when conditions are just right. The other was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. Youtube has several videos of dives
and there are some good photos
http://www.madeiradi...tml/photos.html.

Ross

[drbill]

I'm thinking a weeklong run out hosted by Dr. Bill would be a hoot!

Hee! Hee! Domestic trips are good. California has always been one that we've wanted to do....

Hmmm... SingleDivers does Catalina. My reputation here would be shot. When do y'all arrive?

[running_diver]

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross

Hey Ross can you do some checking to see what the scoop is on them? They are new to me and being in Utila right now I won't be able to look at new destinations for awhile.

Azores:
Getting there: I don't think there are any regularly scheduled flights from the US, so that means airfare might be a bit high. I did find mention of charters from the us though. I couldn't find published prices for the hotels or diving, but I didn't look too hard.

The important part. The water temperature varies from the low 60s to the high 60s depending on time of year. The best time to go there is between June and September. The descriptions of the dives sound like standard Atlantic rock reef diving. There are some palegics. Whale watching is another popular thing there, so there is a reasonable chance of seeing whales. There are also lower temperature critters like nudibranchs there. Some pictures:
http://www.aug.edu/~...Azores-2002.htm
http://www.azoresvil....com/diving.htm
http://diveazores.blogspot.com/

Ross

[diverb0b]

I will send you the list of the best operators on the st lawrence in a few days

[Sassi]

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross


Azores:
Getting there: I don't think there are any regularly scheduled flights from the US, so that means airfare might be a bit high. I did find mention of charters from the us though. I couldn't find published prices for the hotels or diving, but I didn't look too hard.

The important part. The water temperature varies from the low 60s to the high 60s depending on time of year. The best time to go there is between June and September. The descriptions of the dives sound like standard Atlantic rock reef diving. There are some palegics. Whale watching is another popular thing there, so there is a reasonable chance of seeing whales. There are also lower temperature critters like nudibranchs there. Some pictures:
http://www.aug.edu/~...Azores-2002.htm
http://www.azoresvil....com/diving.htm
http://diveazores.blogspot.com/

Ross

I could help with the Azores - thats where I learned to dive. There are regular scheduled flights to the islands without having to go through Lisbon first; you would use Sata - here is the link http://www.sata.pt/EUA/en/Home/1. I think there are more flights in the summer months, or at least there used to be. There is also Tap and they used to have a direct flight to Sao Miguel, their web site is a little slow right now so I can't check (Continental was the partner airline).

There is a lot of diversity between the islands and its possible to take the ferry between islands if you wanted to try to dive more than one. I dove off of Terceira and Pico. Pico is the best place to see whales. Sao Miguel is the largest island. Flores is the smallest (and tho' beautiful - very very small)

It is not really known as a dive destination so there would take coordination, but I loved it!

Edited by Sassi, 11 March 2008 - 06:18 PM.

[grayfins]

Kamala,
I saw that suggestions for the Indian Ocean have been made. I suggest you look into Seychelles or Mauritius for 2009 or 2010.
I have been to both places for a brief period and I know they are both lovely. However, I did not dive when I was there. I will try to do more research, especially about Seychelles.
Bill aka grayfins

[WreckWench]

Kamala,
I saw that suggestions for the Indian Ocean have been made. I suggest you look into Seychelles or Mauritius for 2009 or 2010.
I have been to both places for a brief period and I know they are both lovely. However, I did not dive when I was there. I will try to do more research, especially about Seychelles.
Bill aka grayfins

Thank you! That would be cool!

[WreckWench]

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross

Just to throw out some ideas, how about one of Cape Verde, Madeira, or the Azores. I spotted them on a map and thought the diving might be interesting.

Ross


Azores:
Getting there: I don't think there are any regularly scheduled flights from the US, so that means airfare might be a bit high. I did find mention of charters from the us though. I couldn't find published prices for the hotels or diving, but I didn't look too hard.

The important part. The water temperature varies from the low 60s to the high 60s depending on time of year. The best time to go there is between June and September. The descriptions of the dives sound like standard Atlantic rock reef diving. There are some palegics. Whale watching is another popular thing there, so there is a reasonable chance of seeing whales. There are also lower temperature critters like nudibranchs there. Some pictures:
http://www.aug.edu/~...Azores-2002.htm
http://www.azoresvil....com/diving.htm
http://diveazores.blogspot.com/

Ross

I could help with the Azores - thats where I learned to dive. There are regular scheduled flights to the islands without having to go through Lisbon first; you would use Sata - here is the link http://www.sata.pt/EUA/en/Home/1. I think there are more flights in the summer months, or at least there used to be. There is also Tap and they used to have a direct flight to Sao Miguel, their web site is a little slow right now so I can't check (Continental was the partner airline).

There is a lot of diversity between the islands and its possible to take the ferry between islands if you wanted to try to dive more than one. I dove off of Terceira and Pico. Pico is the best place to see whales. Sao Miguel is the largest island. Flores is the smallest (and tho' beautiful - very very small)

It is not really known as a dive destination so there would take coordination, but I loved it!

Thank you for the update! It helps to have some real world perspective!

[WreckWench]

I will send you the list of the best operators on the st lawrence in a few days

Thank you! Please send them to me via pm or to kamala@singledivers.com

[WreckWench]

I'm thinking a weeklong run out hosted by Dr. Bill would be a hoot!

Hee! Hee! Domestic trips are good. California has always been one that we've wanted to do....

Hmmm... SingleDivers does Catalina. My reputation here would be shot. When do y'all arrive?

Is tomorrow too soon???

Seriously...this could be really

But I think we'd IMPROVE your reputation...at least that's our story and we're sticking to it!!

[SeaSeeker]

At some point I want to make a trip out to Hawaii. I was thinking of Maui, which looks to have some decent dive ops for day trips. I know there are some liveaboard options, like the Kona Agressor too if that is a preference over a land based trip.

I, too, am interested in a trip to Hawaii. My first dive instructor spoke of Kaua'i as one if his favorite places to dive. He mentioned "lying on the bottom and listening to the whale song" - which sounds pretty amazing to me. There was an article about diving Hawaii in "Diver" magazine Nov 2007 that increased my interest even more. Maui and nearby Lana'i would be a first choice for me. Molikini Islet and the Cathedrals sound very cool. For whales, December to April is the time to go, apparently. Depending on timing around the possible Red Sea / Egypt trip in 2009, I'd be really interested in Hawaii.