The Beach based dive op/resort is 5-12 miles from the local city-town center. You will need a $ 5 -15 taxi or water taxi ride each way to go out on the town on some nights for drinks/dinner and nightlife. Within walking distance of the beach resort you may have 1 or 2 three or four star restaurants that you may have dinner at for a change from the resort bar/grill and restaurant. Although on the beach, the beach itself is course sand or coral with sea grass offering very limited snorkeling.
The Marina based dive-op resort is in- city. The resort hotel maybe as short as a 3 minute walk from your room door to the dive boats to as much as a 10 minute walk to the other side of the marina. Within 5-15 minute walk you have a range of price point bars, restaurants and nightlife and shopping. Snorkeling is not allowed in the marina due to heavy boat traffic.
So here’s a few photos with notes of beach and marina based dive operators/resorts. The notes contain mostly factually information but I’ve taken literary license on some points. I have dived all these op/resorts. If you recognize the dive op/resort post your guess and I will atta boy-girl with the correct answer.
Please Vote and post any thoughts that you may have. This informal survey may help in possible future trips. The photos are just representations of different type land based dive ops/resorts. Thanks for your replies‘.
Beach based op/resort. 1-36’V-hull boat and 3-20’ skiffs w/ outboards. Dive shack, gear locker, rinse tank on pier. Behind this scene resort pool bar/restaurant and bathrooms Lounge chairs and tiki shade huts, raked beach w/ vendors selling goods walking by. Snorkeling allowed to pier length, sea grass bottom. Rooms 1 minute walk to boats. Within 5 minute walk 4 star restaurant, 12 minute water-taxi to town-city center.
Marina based op/resort. 2- 28’ V-hull boats, 2- 36’ catamaran boats. Right of this scene large pool, lockers, bathrooms, dive shop and bar-grill. Brown roof 3rd floor of hotel. Elevator, Jacuzzi, 2 pools, 1 restaurants. 3 minute walk from your room door to boats. 10 minute walk to casino and ocean beach. Behind this scene a large public area with many price point bars, restaurants and clothing stores. No snorkeling in marina.
Beach based op/resort. 1-36’ V-hull boat, 1 24’ V-hull boat. Behind scene large pool, dive office, gear lockers, bar- restaurant, 3 floor hotel. 3 minute walk room door to boats. 10 minute walk to 4 star restaurant. 20 minute taxi to city center with many price point bars, restaurants and shopping. Snorkeling w/ iron shore and sand bottom.
Marina based op/resort. 1-36’ V hull boat, 1-24’ V-hull boat, 1- 20’ SRI boat. Behind this scene moderate 2-3 star restaurant open 7a-11pm, restrooms, gear locker, and dive office. Hotel 5 minute walk other side of marina. Casino and bar - restaurants 10 minute from hotel. No close by beaches. Shuttle service possible to beach.
Edited by scubaski, 05 May 2009 - 06:27 PM.