14 replies to this topic

[drbill]

Well, since no one else has posted in the South America forum, I'll give it a try. One place I've been interested in diving in this region is San Andres. Although technically part of Columbia, it is actually located off the coast of Nicaragua. You can safely reach the island from San Jose, Costa Rica.

I've heard a number of reports saying how pristine this area is. I think it would be a great way to explore the Caribbean the way it used to be. And of course we could always add Costa Rica to the mix.

I have no specific plans yet for this trip. Would love to find a buddy who would be interested in exploring. Of course one who's also interested in cuddling during surface intervals would be awesome! Sorry, guys, I'm not equal opportunity on that one.

Other South American areas that interest me are the kelp forests of Chile, Fernando de Noronha in Brazil and Los Roques in Venezuela (when that region stabilizes).

Dr. Bill

[Diverlady]

I'd love to go diving San Andres (and have secretly been sending WW telepathic messages to encourage a trip there)! It's a haven for Canadians and Europeans. It seems that many Americans are reluctant to consider SA due to it being part of Colombia but as Dr. Bill pointed out, you can get there without actually going to mainland Colombia. SA is actually closer to Nicaragua than to Colombia.

The reefs are supposed to be similar to those in Cozumel but in the condition they were in 30yrs ago!

San Andres

Unfortunately, Dr. Bill prefers brunettes. :dltears: So my best chance of getting there will be SD!!

Diverlady

[SuperDave]

SD=Singledivers or Super Dave????

[Diverlady]

SD=Singledivers or Super Dave????

OKAY!!

You wanna go to SA??

Will VAScubaGirl get angry with me???

Diverlady

[WreckWench]

Hey all...yes DL has been sending me subliminal and not so sublimal messages about diving SA with SD (no not SuperDave but hopefully he'll come with us!!)

And it's working...now where did I put those cost estimates she sent me? Need to brush them off. -ww

[Diverlady]

Wooohooo!!!




my happy dance!! (Yes, it looks similar to my table dance, I'm working on it!!)

Diverlady

[WreckWench]

Ok so I can't find the cost estimates you sent me....care to email them to me again? Thanks girl!

[SuperDave]

I would love to go to SA, and she won't be angry with you. It would be really cool if she would be on the trip also. Well VA, wanna go?

Dave

[Diverlady]

I would love to go to SA, and she won't be angry with you. It would be really cool if she would be on the trip also. Well VA, wanna go?

Dave

Oh YES!! That would be VERY COOL if VA would go too!!

Diverlady

[Diverlady]

Some info about San Andres that will hopefully convince members of what a great location this is.

San Andres, Colombia

I've also procured some info on when is the best time of year to go.

If the diving is a priority I'd suggest sticking to late Feb( March is better)or Apr. The wave action around SAI is pretty heavy in Jan and Feb. There is virtually zero chance of getting to such spots as Cayo Bolivar for diving and diving the eastern walls can be tricky as well given heavy swells and strong currents. Hell even the boat trip around the northern point on the way to the west side reefs can smack you around real good when the winds and waves are kicking up as can be all to common in Jan and Feb.
We've been four times to SAI, solely for the diving and will be going back again next March. The later in the season,,,the better the dive conditions all around.

AND:

Weather wise, you may reconsder if planning early November. You would be just coming out of the rainy season then. Chances of rain are still fairly great that time of year. Feb- end of Apr. are almost guaranteed good weather, rip your face off hot sunshine months. Other than that, I don't recommend going the week of "Holy Week" (the week before Easter) if you're uncomfortable with a full island. Everybody's opinion may vary pending what your focus is on. A super fantstic selloff in Nov. or more of a moderate rate in the better weather. I'm not saying that it's going to be raining all the time, just that your chances of overcast days are much greater then, & being a diver I would think you would appreciate the bright sun.

Oh I hate this!! I want to go NOW!!!

Diverlady

[WreckWench]

Thank you girl...this is EXACTLY what I needed to know as we set the calendar for 2005 and the balance of 2004. k

[Diverlady]

Here's another juicy little tidbit.

What you should do is Email Luz Beltran at www.sanandresdivers.com. They are on the West Side of the island, have 3 boats, and may have a good dive/hotel package with the Sunrise, which is a very good hotel (also has the best disco in town - Blue Deep).


Diverlady

[WreckWench]

Hey gang...I moved the discussion on Grenada to the NA/Caribbean forum! Thanks.

[drbill]

Sorry I haven't contributed my info on San Andres yet. The past two weeks have been much too busy- TWO hard drive crashes in one week, the second the day after I installed it as the replacement boot drive. Hopefully I'll get the video editing computer back up and running to finish off the Belize and Honduras footage.

Dr. B.

[StuShark]

I dived a few time up in Salvador, Bahia in the Northeast of Brazil (1000km north of Sao Paulo)...visibility was not great but they do have some nice wrecks (if anyone is going thereI can dig out a couple of phone numbers of dive shops, although English is limited).....the best place in the state of Bahia is a marine national park called the Abrolhos...meant to be absolutey spectacular, but VERY hard to get to (O Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos).....as you mention, Fernando de Narohna and Joao Passoa are also meant to be v.cool with warm water and great visibility (unfortunately - or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I was based in Salvador for about 15 months but mainly stayed there and didn't travel around too much ....when you see pictures of Salvador / Bahia you will understand why !)

In Chile the water was really cold...had some friends who went to Juan Fernandez Island (Robinson Crusoe Island) a couple of years before I went to Chile (and said it wa amazing), but when I was there I could not find any dive places that were doing trips....so had to make do with beach,vineyards and skiing....