18 replies to this topic

[bandit]

And any special considerations......

Bonaire -- cheap, easy (even for beginners), good reefs, good shore life, most bang for the buck, dive year around - no hurricanes.

Tobago -- laid back, best reefs I've seen, drift diving, world's largest brain coral (maybe) , mantas , sharks, turtle nesting. Not for the beginner IMHO -- currents can be high at times. ONLY dive between November and May - after that the rainy season kills the viz.

Cayman Brac/Little Cayman -- Bloody Bay Wall - nuf said , laid back, easy diving, a little more expensive. You can dive both from either island.

[jextract]

Without hesitation I'd say Kosrae, in Micronesia. The reefs and walls are incredible and there's FAR more fish than anywhere else I've been, including Fiji.
http://www.kosraevillage.com

I also love the kelp forests in the Channel Islands here in SoCal.

[sea nmf]

British Columbia because of the huge amount of life. I've snorkeled with wild dolphins, seen humpback and orca whales and eagles (from the boat), been buzzed by a stellar sea lion, and the walls are so covered with life you cannot put even one finger on the wall without harming something. The giant wolf eel swims out to meet divers in open water. I've hung with a huge school of black sea bass while doing a safety stop. Seen many enormous giant pacific octopus, numerous types of nudibranchs, and even, at 80', gorgonian coral!

I've been to Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, Cozemel, Hawaii, and Bonaire. Caribbean diving is easier and beautiful but nothing has beaten diving off the north tip of Vancouver Island for me!

Get a dry suit and go!

[bandit]

My first blue water trip, years ago to Roatan, I met a couple from BC. They said the same thing. However, the young lady was delighted to be able to get back on the boat without assistance (and without 35# of lead!). I'd like to dive there someday.

[kevininpo]

[quote name='sea nmf' date='Apr 21 2004, 04:10 PM']British Columbia because of the huge amount of life. I've snorkeled with wild dolphins, seen humpback and orca whales and eagles (from the boat), been buzzed by a stellar sea lion, and the walls are so covered with life you cannot put even one finger on the wall without harming something. The giant wolf eel swims out to meet divers in open water. I've hung with a huge school of black sea bass while doing a safety stop. Seen many enormous giant pacific octopus, numerous types of nudibranchs, and even, at 80', gorgonian coral!

I've been to Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, Cozemel, Hawaii, and Bonaire. Caribbean diving is easier and beautiful but nothing has beaten diving off the north tip of Vancouver Island for me!

Get a dry suit and go![/quote]
[QUOTE] Well, l have to say Vancouver lsland is all of what she said...but there is also the largest artificial reefs in the world up there! They have sunk a number of large decommisioned ships up there, and are going to sink a 737 this summer! All of the ships have been modified <holes cut> so it is impossible to get lost. Viz can be over 60 feet and it is so awesome to see these mammoth ships come into view on descent. l am somewhat partial to Puget Sound because of the walls, but this is every bit as good as tropical diving...maybe better. lt is cold, so go get a drysuit...lol
Kevin

[WreckWench]

l am somewhat partial to Puget Sound because of the walls, but this is every bit as good as tropical diving...maybe better. lt is cold, so go get a drysuit...lol
Kevin

Hi Kevin...I've had some interest in a PNW trip...can you tell me more? Temps...Best time to dive...worst time to dive it...shore or boat diving...you know all the scoop!! Thanks -ww

[kevininpo]

[quote name='WreckWench' date='Apr 21 2004, 06:57 PM'][quote name='kevininpo' date='Apr 21 2004, 06:51 PM'] l am somewhat partial to Puget Sound because of the walls, but this is every bit as good as tropical diving...maybe better. lt is cold, so go get a drysuit...lol
Kevin[/quote]
Hi Kevin...I've had some interest in a PNW trip...can you tell me more? Temps...Best time to dive...worst time to dive it...shore or boat diving...you know all the scoop!! Thanks -ww [/quote]
[QUOTE]check this out for vancouver island...if you like wrecks <gee, ya think?>this is way cool http://www.divingbc.com/ as far as puget sound goes, there as zillions of shore dives <l'm spoiled...l prefer the boat>thebioluminesence<sp> in the summer is great, viz is better in the winter, but we dive year around<in drysuits, of course> there are lots of great online resourses for dive sites and descriptions if you want to zero in on areas...lemme know if l can help further. Oh! Temps are about 48-56 in Puget Sound and get colder the farther north you go...Port Hardy on the north end of Vancouver lsland can be down to 34-36 in the winter, but lows 40's is norm for winter for most of the cool sites at the south end of the island, low/mid 50's in the summer. Lemme know if you want more!
Kevin

Edited by kevininpo, 21 April 2004 - 07:51 PM.

[kevininpo]

[quote name='kevininpo' date='Apr 21 2004, 07:41 PM'] [quote name='WreckWench' date='Apr 21 2004, 06:57 PM'] [quote name='kevininpo' date='Apr 21 2004, 06:51 PM'] l am somewhat partial to Puget Sound because of the walls, but this is every bit as good as tropical diving...maybe better. lt is cold, so go get a drysuit...lol
Kevin [/quote]
Hi Kevin...I've had some interest in a PNW trip...can you tell me more? Temps...Best time to dive...worst time to dive it...shore or boat diving...you know all the scoop!! Thanks -ww [/quote]
[QUOTE]check this out for vancouver island...if you like wrecks <gee, ya think?>this is way cool http://www.divingbc.com/ as far as puget sound goes, there as zillions of shore dives <l'm spoiled...l prefer the boat>thebioluminesence<sp> in the summer is great, viz is better in the winter, but we dive year around<in drysuits, of course> there are lots of great online resourses for dive sites and descriptions if you want to zero in on areas...lemme know if l can help further. Oh! Temps are about 48-56 in Puget Sound and get colder the farther north you go...Port Hardy on the north end of Vancouver lsland can be down to 34-36 in the winter, but lows 40's is norm for winter for most of the cool sites at the south end of the island, low/mid 50's in the summer. Lemme know if you want more!
Kevin [/quote]
[QUOTE]hers another link http://www.artificialreef.bc.ca/

[Marvel]

And any special considerations......

Bonaire -- cheap, easy (even for beginners), good reefs, good shore life, most bang for the buck, dive year around - no hurricanes.

Groan! You would have to list that first & say great things about it!!!

[bandit]

Bonaire -- cheap, easy (even for beginners), good reefs, good shore life, most bang for the buck, dive year around - no hurricanes. 

Groan! You would have to list that first & say great things about it!!! 

That's why I keep going back. We had a huge debate this year and priced trips from other islands to live aboard. Back to Bonaire for 2 weeks of paradise.

Edited by bandit, 22 April 2004 - 07:29 AM.

[Walter]

Well, I'm looking forward to revisiting Bonaire. I had a grand time there and I'm sure this time will be even better with such a fine group of people.

[Marvel]

Well, I'm looking forward to revisiting Bonaire. I had a grand time there and I'm sure this time will be even better with such a fine group of people.

And I'm looking forward to visiting for the first time! Do you think I'll get spoiled by the company I will be keeping???

[zendiver]

DUH.....well of course my dear. Who wouldn't be spoiled by hanging out with a bunch like us?

-ZD

[Coo's Toe]

l am somewhat partial to Puget Sound because of the walls, but this is every bit as good as tropical diving...maybe better. lt is cold, so go get a drysuit...lol
Kevin

Hi Kevin...I've had some interest in a PNW trip...can you tell me more? Temps...Best time to dive...worst time to dive it...shore or boat diving...you know all the scoop!! Thanks -ww

WW, Puget Sound and the San Juans has some awesome diving, but it gets even better up in Canada. You should really consider putting together a group trip on the Nautilus Explorer, a live-aboard vessel with an outstanding reputation for great diving, great eating, great times. The logistics of the trip would be a lot easier than trying to get a group caravaning around to do shore dives or day charters. A Single Divers trip to Port Hardy on board the Nautilus would be just the ticket!

[sea nmf]

I second that suggestion. Also, if you want to see pacific white sided dolphins (and perhaps snorkel with them) April or September is best. You really want to be using a dry suit, though. I can't stress that enough!