Scuba Diving in Cozumel

The main reason we went to Cozumel was for scuba diving. Four of us are scuba divers and I had never dove in Mexico. Cozumel is one of the best places to dive in the Caribbean, and it’s a quick two-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Austin.

We did 3 days and 8 dives with Dive with Martin. Our resort has its own dive company, but we opted for a smaller company that offered semi-private boats. The semi-private boat limit is 6 people but we typically had 4 people max. Our resort’s boat had 8+ divers. For an additional fee, the company picked us up from our resort’s pier, so we didn’t have to take a taxi to the marina every day. The company also had free gear rental.

The diving was good! We saw typical Caribbean creatures like lobster, green moray eels, nurse sharks, green turtles, loggerhead turtles, yellow stingrays, and starfish. We were excited to see toadfish and my favorite, multiple nudibranchs!

Here’s a quick breakdown of our fees:

• 2-tank dives: $112
• Marine park fee: $7 daily
• Wetsuit rental: $10 daily
• Hotel dock fee: $3.50 daily

Cenote Diving

One bucket list thing for the trip was visiting and diving a cenote. We took the ferry to Playa del Carmen and the company – Xpu Ha Divers – drove us south to the cenotes. We paid for a cenote upgrade and visited Eden and Chikin-Ha. Typically, the dive company will give their recommendations.

Our dive guide shared that divers typically don’t enjoy their first cenote dives, which was the experience for me. It was enjoyable at times, like seeing the light rays, but at other times, it was uncomfortable and scary. Imagine diving in a dark tunnel! At this point, it was a one-and-done diving experience, but I’m glad we got to do it!

If you’re looking to dive a cenote, here are some additional ones to try:

• Dos Ojos
• Calavera Cenote
• Taj Mahal
• The Pit
• Chichen Itza
• Angelita
• Dream Gate

Whale Shark Tour

Another excursion we did was a whale shark tour. Again we took the ferry to Playa del Carmen and took a shuttle north (1 hour) to Cancun. Then we took a boat about 45 minutes out, past Isla Mujeres. There was a large radius where the whale sharks, about 20-30 feet long, were feeding. There were many boats out there but 2 snorkelers and 1 guide per boat were allowed in the water at a time.

While the experience is slightly chaotic – whale sharks don’t stay still and you have to move fast – but for a few seconds, the experience is magical. The whale sharks were so majestic! I’m not sure if I’ll ever see a whale shark while diving (hopefully one day!), so this somewhat manufactured experience was cool.

Resort Life

This was my first experience at Iberostar, a global hotel chain. We picked this all-inclusive resort because it was ideal for divers and had amenities, like a beachfront and a large pool, for non-divers. For us divers, we usually did a 2-tank morning trip from 7:45 – 11 am. Then we checked in when we returned for lunch, beach time, pool drinks, and games organized by the hotel.

The resort provides free daily use of snorkel gear, catamarans, and other water sports equipment for an hour (though there are additional fees like a Marine Park Fee). The pier is a great place to snorkel and see creatures.

Downtown Cozumel was about a 20-minute cab ride and some of us ventured out for souvenir shopping. Our cenote and whale shark excursions started and ended with being downtown, so we used that trip to shop. Otherwise, we spent all of our time at the resort.

The resort hosts different games and shows every night to entertain guests. The shows are music-themed with performers, and they also host a silent disco night and karaoke night. Alberto’s is the only restaurant/bar in walking distance from the resort and it can be accessed by the beachfront. They sometimes have live music.

Iberostar Cozumel was a spacious resort with multiple dining options, so I didn’t get tired of it. There was variety and I could typically find something tasty on the buffet or menu. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet options, and also three specialty dinner options (first come, first serve) offering Mexican, Asian, and barbecue cuisine. There’s also a grill by the pool that serves burgers, hot dogs, and fries all afternoon, so you can typically find food anywhere in the daytime. 

Don’t forget the bars. The one in the main lobby is open all day (where to get coffee in the morning too) while the beachfront bar and pool bar are open mid-morning. The specialty restaurants also have their own bars.

All in all, we enjoyed the property and offerings and would visit other properties by the brand.

Things to Bring to a Beach Resort

We were making this list throughout the week, so I thought I’d share for your next trip (and leave a reminder for myself).

• Towel clips – These are for clipping your towel to your beach chair so it doesn’t blow away
• Reusable cup – There are refillable water stations, so this is great for staying hydrated
• $1 bills – While it’s all-inclusive, tipping bartenders and servers is nice
• Activated charcoal pills – Sickness prevention if you’ll be drinking or for minor stomach issues
• Stomach medicine – If you get sick when you travel, you’ll want this
• Motion sickness medicine – Bring this if you’ll be on a boat
• Bug spray – Heavy rain in Mexico brought TERRIBLE mosquitos during our trip, so we used this multiple times a day. Buying a spray can here will set you back about $17
• Tote bag – For carrying all your things from your room to the pool/beach
• Playing cards – Always good to have to cure boredom

Beach resort trip with friends – I highly recommend it! I’m so glad we got to make these memories.

P.S. See more diving trips here.

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While you’re planning your Dominica trip, use this guide to give you knowledge about diving in Dominica.

Dominica Diving Quick Tips

Plan ahead because of availability. Book your dives before your trip and plan around cruise ship days. I recommend diving when cruise ships are in port so that you can do land activities on days they’re not there.

When to Dive in Dominica

You can dive in Dominica year-round! Hurricanes are expected from June through October and this is also the rainy season. Dry season is from February through April, which will be the busiest time for tourists. 

Best Dominica Dive Shops

In researching dive shop options, I found three: 

• Nature Island Dive (Soufriere)
• Dive Dominica (Roseau)
• Cabrits Dive Center (Portsmouth)

We went with Nature Island Dive because we also wanted to stay at Jungle Bay Resort, which is closer to the dive shop. We did three days of diving with them and it was excellent. They had professional and attentive guides, quality gear, fun places to dive, and a genuine enthusiasm for diving. The dive shop is 10-15 minutes from most dive shops, so we took surface intervals at the shop and the boat rides were quick. I would visit them again and recommend them.

Where to Dive in Dominica

There are two main areas to dive on the island – Scotts Head Marine Reserve (south) and Cabrits National Park Marine Section (north). There are more dive sites in the south. I leaned more towards the south because Scotts Head Pinnacle is one of the most popular dive sites in Dominica. The reefs – coral and creature life – were vibrant!

Champagne Beach is frequently listed as a scuba diving site but it’s not necessary and would be a waste of a dive. It is a shallow area without a lot of fish life, but keep a lookout for a school of squid!

Where to Stay in Dominica to Dive

With limited dive shop options, where they are located helps you narrow down where you stay. Nature Island Dive is partnered with Jungle Bay Resort in Soufriere and Dive Dominica is on-site at Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, both towards the southern part of the island. This makes access easier if you stay in one of those hotels. Jungle Bay Resort has a shuttle to the dive shop. Cabrits Dive Center is located in Portsmouth, which is in Northern Dominica.

How Much is Diving in Dominica

Diving is fairly affordable in Dominica, costing less than $50 per dive (without tip and equipment rental). The following rates are what were published in January 2023.

Pricing for a package of 6 dives:

• Nature Island Dive: $300
• Dive Dominica: $290
• Cabrits Dive Center: $285

Pricing for daily full set equipment rental:

• Nature Island Dive: $25
• Dive Dominica: $45
• Cabrits Dive Center: $23

What You’ll See Diving in Dominica

Life is vibrant in Dominica! I was amazed by the colorful and varied coral. Volcanoes have created interesting underwater topography and we enjoyed many swim-throughs.

As for new creatures I saw, I was excited to see a lettuce leaf nudibranch and a crab. Some other happy sightings were a seahorse, octopus, and scorpionfish.

I’m so glad we got to dive in Dominica!

P.S. Want to see more posts about diving? Click here!

P.P.S. If you want to see more about Dominica, see the posts here.

The post What to Know About Scuba Diving in Dominica – Adventure Island appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

The biodiversity – above water and underwater – is incredible, so there was no shortage of life to marvel at during our dives. Spoiler alert – tiger sharks were the highlight of our trip, especially since we had already dove with manta rays in Indonesia. But manta rays are incredible creatures and I was also excited to spot some nudibranchs too!

Keep reading for more about our Big Island diving experience and all the tips to plan your trip!

Big Island Diving Quick Tips

• Visit the dive shop the day before your first dive to get your gear in order.
• Map out places to get a quick lunch if you are diving all day.
• Make time to get breakfast, find the marina, and do a final bathroom break to be on time.
• There are high elevation places around the island, so plan your vacation to avoid these the day after diving.
• Factor in the cost of renting a car. You’ll need it to get around the Big Island.
• Don’t forget reef safe sunscreen!

When to Dive in Hawaii

Diving is enjoyed year-round in Hawaii. The average water temperature is 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. We dove in September, one of the warmest months, and wore 5mm wetsuits. Humpback whales are likely from December to March.

Plan your diving around activities above water too. If you’re planning to summit Mauna Kea, keep in mind the moon cycle for the best views. Because of elevation, you should not visit Mauna Kea or the north part of the island near Waimea within 24 hours after diving.

Where to Stay on the Big Island to Dive

Most if not all boats leave from the Honokohau Marina, which is about 10 minutes from the center of Kailua-Kona on the West side of the island. Stay in this area for ease of access. We rented a condo on Ali’i Drive, one of the main streets, which was very convenient. There are a handful of hotels, but also plenty of cost-effective vacation/condo rentals that include a parking spot. There are no diving-focused resorts on the Big Island.

Best Hawaii Big Island Dive Shops

We dove with Big Island Divers for three days and had a great time. They use multiple boats and usually have enough divers for two groups of six. The groups will be divided by your experience. The guides are knowledgeable and eager to find sea life to share. The equipment was fairly new when we were there. I had a brand new wetsuit and BCD one day.

Other dive shops I considered were:

• Kona Honu Divers
• Jack’s Diving Locker
• Kona Ocean Adventures

How Much is Diving in Hawaii

Diving, like most things in Hawaii, is not cheap. A two-tank dive will cost about $179 – 300, depending on if they are local, advanced, or long-range dives. The manta night dive is $149 – 200 and you can book one or two dives. Gear rental will be $40-50 per day.

If you go on the manta night dive and no manta rays show up, the dive company will likely invite you back for free (based on availability).

(If you’re looking for a more cost-effective dive trip, consider Thailand, Egypt, or Bonaire.)

Best Dive Sites on the Big Island

If you’re diving with a company, they know which sites to visit based on the audience and conditions, but they’ll take recommendations.

Manta Night Dive – Of course, I have to mention this one. This is THE dive people come for and it makes many “best dives in the world” lists. Dive companies bring huge lights to place on the seafloor while divers sit in a big circle, like a campfire. You sit for about 45 minutes while manta rays swoop above the lights to feed. Don’t miss Frank, the eel that stays in the middle light. This dive happens at dusk, so it is a night dive. Dive instructors are experts at this dive and make sure you don’t get lost back to the boat.

Crescendo – This was one of our favorite dives in Hawaii because we saw three huge tiger sharks!

Pipe Dreams – I loved this dive because we saw so much life. There is a huge broken pipe here and coral has built upon it.

Blackwater Dive – One dive we didn’t do is the blackwater dive. This is a night dive tethered to a line connected to the dive boat. You can expect to see wildlife you typically don’t see in the daytime, like jellyfish and other translucent creatures.

What You’ll See Diving in Hawaii

If you want a small glimpse of what it’s like diving Big Island, check out this livestream! Sealife enthusiasts will keep you informed in the comments.

Here are some of the noteworthy things I saw diving in Hawaii: manta ray, tiger shark, frogfish, leaf/paper fish, harlequin shrimp, scrambled egg nudibranch, milkfish, eel, urchin, octopus, and dartfish. 

Those may be my highlights, but you’ll also see an abundance of fish!

Conclusion

I’m so glad we were able to experience diving in Hawaii! This was my first time diving in the U.S. after getting certified in Austin. I can see why it’s one of the best places in the U.S., though traveling there is a long journey. If you have the chance to dive in Hawaii, take it!

P.S. See more diving adventures here.

The post Diving with Manta Rays in Hawaii + Big Island Dive Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

If you are a diver and want an incredible diving experience, you have to visit Indonesia! With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s biodiversity is out of this world. Thousands of wildlife, from gigantic manta rays to the smallest slugs, are waiting for you!

On-Board Our Indonesia Liveaboard – Moana

Diving in Indonesia and our Moana Liveaboard were highlights of our trip! We knew a liveaboard would be the best option for diving in Indonesia, and we picked Komodo Island because of the proximity (shorter and less expensive flight) from Bali. The last criteria in choosing our boat were the quality of the boat and the presence of sails. (We later found out that most of the time, sails are simply for show, and the classification and/or tax break boats can get if they have sails. That’s why you’ll see boats with unusable sails just for show.)

We spent five nights on Moana. The boat is in prime condition, and they maintain and upgrade the ship every year for two months. We spent most of our time on the front, open-air deck where we ate, napped, relaxed, and did our dive briefings. The backside is where we stored our dive equipment and got in and out of our dive boats. Our boat had five cabins underneath the deck with room for 10 guests.

The 12-person dive team and boat crew were excellent! They do everything from driving the boats to cooking and serving our meals. We were divided into three dive teams, so we were well taken care of underwater. On a liveaboard, it is all about diving! There are usually four opportunities to dive in a day, usually around 7 am, 10 am, 3 pm, and 6 pm. Our dive group was led by Rudi, who made sure I didn’t get pushed away from the current (thank goodness) and always pointed out the little creatures!

The guests on our boat were from the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Romania. The funny thing about our group was that there were three people named Will! Here’s our group photo with the crew.

After our dives, we usually change out of our swimsuits and have breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner, respectively. The food was great! For breakfast, the crew set out a buffet while lunch and dinner were plated meals. The chef goes to training every year, so not only is the food delicious, but he also serves Indonesian and international cuisine to give guests and the crew a variety. 

When we weren’t diving or sleeping, we took naps, swam, read, or filled in our dive logs. It’s always fun looking through the fish identification books and talking to other guests about what they saw on the last dive. What we see underwater typically differs since fish don’t usually stay still, so it’s always a joy and bummer when we talk about what we saw and missed. Our conversations are a lot of “did you see that” and “what was that one fish.”

What You’ll See Diving in Indonesia

The wildlife list is incredibly vast in Indonesia. Be ready for over 3,000 types! For big species, look for manta rays, mola mola, and sharks. For small species, nudibranchs are my favorite! I also saw jellyfish, cuttlefish, longhorn cowfish, mantis shrimp, and so many types of starfish, including a chocolate chip starfish. Several dives had thousands of fish swimming around us, and it truly felt like we were in an aquarium.

On several dives, we saw what we greatly anticipated seeing – manta rays! We estimate the largest one was about 12 feet! They swim against the current and stay in one spot so that their food comes to them. Because it’s usually in high current, we had to hook onto hard coral and rocks to keep from drifting away. This made it some of the toughest diving we’ve done because it takes a lot of energy to swim against the current. But watching these huge creatures was amazing!

We also saw some of the tiniest wildlife – pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. I’ve seen a few nudibranchs before this, but that number shot up with every dive. These sea slugs come in all different colors and were fun to spot. We had a hard time photographing them without a macro lens. They’re usually half the length of your palm.

Pygmy seahorses are also hard to find because they’re about the size of a fingernail, but they are typically on sea fans. Look at a sea fan and try to spot an irregularity, and it’s likely a camouflaged pygmy seahorse. It’s hard to spot below (especially hard to photograph without a macro lens), but it’s the light white spot in the middle third and lower half of the photograph.

Day Excursion – Komodo National Park 

We also saw some unique wildlife above water. If you’re diving around Komodo National Park, you’ll likely make a visit to Komodo Island or Rinca Island to see the komodo dragons in the wild! We took a short walk to see these giant lizards. Can you believe males get up to nine feet and 200 lbs? Yes, they are poisonous! We walked around the park in a straight line with a ranger in the front and back. We also saw a water buffalo in the far distance!

If you’re in Komodo National Park, Padar Island is a popular spot to stop for the views and beaches.

Indonesia Diving Guide: Where and When to Dive in Indonesia

Have I convinced you that Indonesia is one of the best places to dive in the world? If you want more options, here is a guide to diving in Indonesia.

When to Dive in Indonesia

You can dive year-round in Indonesia, but visibility varies. The rainy season is November to March and the dry season is April to October. The season also varies depending on what part of Indonesia you are diving. The water is about 26-30 degrees Celsius year-round, so a 5mm wetsuit is recommended. It was the thickest wetsuit we’ve ever worn and annoying to get on and off but it was very necessary!

How Much is Diving in Indonesia

We dove with two reputable companies in Indonesia. Our five-day liveaboard was about $2,000 USD per person plus equipment rental costs. Compared to our other liveaboard experiences in Thailand and Egypt, Indonesia was more expensive. Our day dives on Nusa Penida were about $45 USD per dive per person, including equipment rental. This price is close to the average.

Where to Dive in Indonesia

Some areas and liveaboards are not recommended for beginner divers. Currents can change quickly, and some dives are in the current. These currents are no joke, and sticks and hooks are needed to keep from being swept away.

It’s best to dive Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat by liveaboard because of the distance from shore. Although liveaboards are a pricier option, you get many dives into your trip. If you want a less expensive option, look for a dive resort in these areas. The downside is you’re limited by how far a dive site is located, meaning you may need to do fewer dives, and you’ll spend more time on a fast boat to get there.

In addition to Komodo, we also dove three times in Nusa Penida with Blue Corner Dive. Although we saw manta rays, we did not enjoy the experience because it was bad visibility, there were way too many people, and we didn’t really like the dive guides. But I’ve heard plenty of accounts where the diving in Nusa Penida is fantastic. This is the place to see mola molas.

Below are the details and recommendations for each area.

• Raja Ampat near Papua (Eastern Indonesia)
  • Best by liveaboard and they are usually 5-14 nights
  • Diving typically October through April
  • Beware strong currents
  • Liveaboards depart from the port of Sorong
• Komodo National Park of Flores (South Central Indonesia)
  • Best by liveaboard and they are usually 6-12 nights
  • Diving typically April through November
  • Beware strong currents
  • Liveaboards depart from the port of Labuan Bajo
• Sulawesi (North Central Indonesia)
  • Most popular diving areas on this island include Manado/Bunaken Marine Park in the North and the Wakatobi Islands in the South
  • More expensive to dive here but more secluded and undiscovered
  • Known for its muck diving (macro) in the Lembeh Strait
  • Diving season is typically March through December
  • Most people fly into Manado for Northern Sulawesi or Wangi-Wangi for Southern Sulawesi
• Pulau Weh near Sumatra (Western Indonesia)
  • Great for an island getaway
  • One hour boat from Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra
  • Called an “untouched gem”Dry season is May through September
  • Known for its smaller creatures
• Banda Sea
  • Budget-friendlier liveaboard option
  • The area is known for hammerhead and thresher sharks
  • Liveaboards depart from Ambon
• Bali (South Central Indonesia)
  • Most popular because of accessibility
  • One of the most famous wreck dives: USS Liberty in Tulamben, Northeast Bali  
  • Nusa Penida is an island about 30 minutes by boat with a few dive sites known for manta rays and mola molas
  • The main airport is Denpasar and some dive ports are Tulamben, Sanur, and Padang Bai
• Gili Islands on Lombok  (South Central Indonesia)
  • The next most popular dive area (more touristy) because of closeness to Bali

Other Liveaboard and Resort Recommendations

Here are some other options I considered before I book my trip. I usually use the PADI Travel website and Liveaboard.com to do my initial search. Then I look at cost, timing, and online reviews to make my final decision.

• Siren Fleet
• Mermaid
• Uber Scuba
• Raja Ampat Dive Resort
• Biodiversity Resort
• Emperor (we dove with them in Egypt and loved it)

Conclusion

I look back on diving in Indonesia with the best memories! I hope I go back to Indonesia one day because there are so many areas to dive. Does anyone want to join me?

P.S. Want to read more posts about Indonesia?

• Eating and Drinking in Indonesia
• Best Things to Do in Indonesia
• Indonesia Travel Guide & Itinerary

The post Diving Komodo National Park by Liveaboard + Indonesia Diving Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Four years ago in 2015, in an indoor pool in Austin, I scuba dived for the first time. It was part of my open water certification class and a few days later, I dove in the “wild” at Lake Austin.

Nearly a year later in 2016, I got my advanced open water certification, again diving in Lake Austin. A few months later, I jumped into the Andaman Sea in Thailand and the rest is history! I was hooked.

We’ve taken almost every vacation opportunity to go diving in the last few years and we ended up in seven different places. Four of those trips were in the Caribbean. All of those trips included dive resorts, liveaboards, and multiple days of two-plus dives a day.

100 Dives

In Indonesia this year, I logged my 100th dive! That was 100 scary, exciting, and enriching dives in four years. In my 100 dives, I’ve seen hundreds of types of wildlife, from fish to coral. My favorites are the small, colorful nudibranchs (sea slugs). Yet, holding onto a rope and watching a manta ray twice your size is a breath-taking experience.

I wrote about how I started diving and some diving stories in this post, so I’ll keep the recap short!

Thailand will always be special to me because it was my first time in the ocean and my first liveaboard. We saw some incredible topography. It was tough as a newbie, and I can’t wait to go back one day and see it from a new perspective.

In Roatan, we stayed at a dive resort and dove four times a day. Two of those daily dives were self-led dives back to the resort shore. This trip was my first experience in the Caribbean, so all the wildlife, including pufferfish, eels, and squirrelfish, I saw was new to me.

In Belize, we dove deep – 130 feet at the Blue Hole. While it wasn’t the most exciting dive, diving in Belize was fun. I loved all the eagle rays. We stayed at a dive resort and loved exploring Belize above the water and celebrating my birthday.

In the Cayman Islands, I hit 50 dives and really felt like I wasn’t a beginner diver anymore. We dove the famous USS Kittiwake wreck and loved all the turtles, sharks, and squids.

In Egypt, we were on a liveaboard for seven days and saw so many sharks! Diving the USS Thistlegorm, a WW2 cargo ship was incredible. Of course, this trip was also special because we got engaged on our liveaboard.

In Bonaire, we enjoyed the ease of planning our own diving schedule and loved diving with friends. I also got to rent a fancy camera and try it out for a day.

I loved our Indonesia liveaboard because the diving was so memorable. From 12-ft manta rays to pygmy seahorses and every nudibranch in between, this trip reiterated that Asia’s wealth of wildlife makes it a top place to dive.

It has been a joy to learn and grow in this hobby. It’s given me an appreciation for the little things, a love of the ocean, and a sense of confidence and ambition. Living in the center of Texas, diving is usually a daydream, but at least twice a year, I’ve gotten the opportunity to blow some bubbles.

Diving Suggestions

If I could, I would charter a boat and invite all of you to come experience diving with me! As you know from my stories, it takes patience and courage to dive, but with practice, diving is a rewarding activity. I hope if you get the chance, you take it! Here are 10 reasons why you should dive on your next trip.

It’s hard to pick a favorite place or trip because they are so different and special in unique ways. From experience, if you want to begin diving, try Roatan, Belize, or the Cayman Islands. I’ve also heard Mexico is good for beginners. Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have incredible diving, but the currents suggest it is better for advanced divers and for us in the U.S., the trip there can be a headache.

For me, I’d love to dive in new places. Malaysia, the Philippines, the Maldives, and Galapagos are big trips I want to take one day. Closer to home, I want to dive in the Bahamas, Mexico, and Hawaii.

Where would you want to scuba dive?

P.S. See more scuba diving posts here!

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Will and I talk diving with our friends Dan and Abby a lot, and since Abby’s friend rents out a house on Bonaire, it gave us the opportunity to plan a trip to take advantage of an affordable place to stay. We had a great time!

With 86 shore dive sites around the island, you can easily rent gear, drive to a dive site, and jump in! Read on for more information about diving in Bonaire.

Bonaire Diving Quick Tips

• Bring reef-safe sunscreen, which does not have oxybenzone and octinoxate. Bonaire has banned sunscreens that are not reef-safe. Sunscreen for babies is usually reef-safe and more affordable or check out Stream2Sea.
• You’ll want fins with booties since many of the dive sites have rocky shores.
• Bonaire diving is for all levels of experience. We dove a maximum of 90 feet and on most dives, we stayed around 60 feet. The only dives I would have liked to go deeper are Invisibles and Hilma Hooker.
• If you’re doing your own shore dives, you’ll need to rent a truck. We used AB Car Rental and it’s the go-to on the island. You’ll see their white trucks everywhere. (Buddy Dive also rents out white trucks as part of their packages.) We were instructed to never lock our car doors. Leave valuables in your car at your own risk. I had my phone hidden in the car so that I could take photos and it ended up being ok.
• You’ll need to pay a $45 USD marine park fee to dive. You can get this tag at a dive shop when you rent equipment. It’s valid for one year. If you happen to lose your tag, be sure to have your receipt handy.

Where to Stay in Bonaire

Most visitors stay near downtown Kralendijk for easier access to dive shops and dive sites. We rented a house in Tera Kora (closer to the airport) and it was a bit more affordable because our food costs were flexible. The house was in a local neighborhood but we never felt unsafe and it was a quick drive to the grocery store and dive shops. You can look for house rentals on Vrbo.

If you’d rather have your accommodations and dive shop in the same place, here are some options. If you will be shore diving on your own, be sure your package includes room, dive, and car rental.

• Buddy Dive Resort
• Stay & Dive
• Divi Dive
• Wannadive
• Captain Don’s Habitat
• Dive Friends, the dive shop we used, has locations at Courtyard Marriott and Delfins Beach Resort if you want to stay in a hotel yet be close to a dive shop.

Best Bonaire Dive Shops

We used Dive Friends for our equipment rental and air/nitrox. The process was easy and the staff was friendly and helpful. We got dive site tips from them and even learned how to change an o-ring. They have seven convenient locations on the island, and we visited whichever location was closest to get new tanks. They have a limit of two tanks per person, so we were at one of their shops at least once a day. I think we ended up going to all of them! While we hung up all our gear at the house every day, we stopped by Dive Friends to rinse our gear before we went home. I also liked that Dive Friends has water coolers to refill your water bottles when you’re picking up tanks.

Most of the dive shop options are listed above since they are also dive resorts and I’d also add AB Dive to the dive shop list.

Planning Your Bonaire Dives

Our friend Dan was the master dive planner for our trip. We got two books that helped us immensely. Since there are so many dive sites, we looked for recommendations on the internet and also talked to people at the dive shop. We then used these books to help us find the dive site, plan our dive, and know what to look for. The Reef Smart Guide Bonaire book gave dive maps and a recommended dive route, which was helpful to visualize the dive. The Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy book was good for locating the dive site and getting in the water. If I had to pick one, I would get the Reef Smart Guide.

Locating the dive sites is fairly easy. Be sure to grab a dive site map from your car rental or dive shop. On the side of the road, look for the yellow rocks with the dive site name.

Since we were allowed two tanks per person, we planned on grabbing new tanks before we went north or south for two more dives. It’s efficient to plan out your dives this way so you’re not wasting time, energy, and gas!

Another way to save time is to pack your lunch. We had a few days of sandwiches and chips in between dives. Freeze water bottles and put them in a cooler bag with the sandwiches. Freezing your water will also keep give you cold water throughout the day as it melts. We also refilled our water bottles at Dive Friends as we picked up new tanks. Don’t forget snacks! I recommend stroopwafels.

Doing three dives a day, we were usually in the water by 8-9 a.m., 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 2-3 p.m. Starting early made it seem like we were beating the crowds. If you have the energy, I think it’s possible to do four dives a day if you start early or if you want to do a night dive.

Best Dive Sites in Bonaire

We did 16 dives in Bonaire and were amazed by the vibrant reef. You’ll see colorful coral, many different species of fish, and hardly any other divers. Some of the dive sites are very similar. It is the same reef after all, but you never know what you’ll see. A few of the sites you’ll have an aquarium effect where you feel like you’re surrounded by fish.

These were my top five dive sites in Bonaire:

1. Something Special

We dove this site early on in our week and spotted a large variety of species. It was an easy entry, had plenty to see, and an altogether solid experience.

2. Salt Pier

The reef has built up along the pier’s structure, so it adds a little variety to the dive. You’ll encounter schools of fish and lots of variety. We spotted a sea turtle, barracudas, and flounder, among many others. Being the most popular dive site on Bonaire, this one can get a little busy.

3. 1000 Steps

Yes, the steps are terrible, especially after your dive, but thankfully, it will only feel like there are 1,000 of them instead of actually being 1,000 of them. If you can conquer the steps, you’ll be rewarded with diving an incredible reef.

4. Karpata

Along with a vibrant reef, the typography of Karpata makes this dive interesting. The reef wall curves in and out. You’ll see similar wildlife as in 1000 Steps.

5. Turtle City

We did this boat dive on the east side of the island and it lived up to its name. I lost count but our dive guide spotted 42 sea turtles on our dive! We also saw a pair of spotted eagle rays, which are always a highlight for me. I thought it was a great dive to do at least once to see the number of turtles in one place.

Close behind, here are the other notable dives we did:

• Oil Slick Leap: You’ll take a giant, high stride into this dive site, but that’s all part of the adventure of it.
• Hilma Hooker: Want to mix it up? Visit the Hilma Hooker wreck. You’ll see a big, hollow cargo ship with many tarpons around it. Because this is one of the deeper dives on Bonaire, many do this one as the first of the day. Get there early to avoid the crowd.
• Invisibles: Divers love this site because of the double reef. I didn’t love this site because it’s huge and we took it very fast. But it was cool to see and I might have liked it better if we visited only one part of the reef. You could dive this twice and visit different parts. We were at this site again at night to see the ostracods (more on that below) and seeing a squid on our way out was a highlight of my trip.
• Jeff Davis Memorial: Recommended by the dive shop folks, we dove this site up north. Similar to 1000 Steps and Karpata, its abundance of species makes it noteworthy.

Here are some other top/recommended dives we didn’t do:

• Punt Vierkant
• The Lake
• Alice in Wonderland
• Angel City
• Andrea 1 & 2
• Bari Reef

Should I Do a Boat Dive in Bonaire?

Many divers only do shore dives because of the cost and schedule flexibility. However, there are rocks and rolling waves to navigate on the entry and exit, which might be hard for some to do. If you’re not comfortable with shore diving, boat diving may be easier for you to get in and out of the water. Divers also do boat dives to locations not accessible by land, such as the east coast or the nearby island of Klein.

We did a two-tank boat dive with Bonaire East Coast Diving, specifically for Turtle City. While it was a life list type of experience to see so many turtles on one dive and a top five dive for my Bonaire trip, it was a checked box and not something I need to do again in Bonaire. The waves are very intense on the east side and I should have taken sea sickness medicine! You are able to see sea turtles on the west side but not as many in one place.

What Sea Life to See in Bonaire

With over 350 fish species and 57 types of coral, you’ll love discovering something new!

First, you’ll see many of the Caribbean fishes you may be familiar with, such as parrotfish, snapper, triggerfish, barracuda, green moray eel, spotted moray eel, trumpetfish, squirrelfish, angelfish, porcupinefish, and filefish.

The bigger things you’ll see are southern stingrays, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, and nurse sharks. While Bonaire has hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles, the most common is the green turtle.

Unique sightings are the peacock flounder, scorpionfish, honeycomb cowfish, and sand diver lizardfish.

For small things, look out for flamingo tongue (sea snail), Pedersen cleaner shrimp, and arrow crabs.

Rarer are the frogfish, flying gurnard, and seahorse. We only saw a frogfish, but we were very excited about the sighting.

Don’t Miss the Ostracods

Ostracods are small crustaceans that glow to attract a mate. The best time to see them is five days after a full moon. Pick a spot at the edge of the reef and do not turn on any lights. The show should start 20 minutes after sunset, so make sure you’re in place before it gets too dark. It’s good to find a sandy spot and sit on your knees. For the dive site, pick one south of Salt Pier or north of Oil Slick Leap. You don’t want to be near Salt Pier because it will be too bright. Also, think about the ease of entering and exiting in the dark.

We picked Invisibles because of its easy entry. The water temperature was warmer than I thought it would be at night. Our last day was only two days after the full moon, so the glow was weak, but we did see it! The ostracods would light up in dots from bottom to top in a wavy line. I can only imagine how much brighter it would be five days after the full moon and I hope to see it one day! We waited for a while, until we got cold, and then swam in, which was an adventure in itself. There were millions of small silver fish following our lights and it looked a little terrifying to have to swim forward through them.

Bonaire dive shops do guided ostracod dives if you’re nervous about doing it on your own. The shops can also give you more information about where to go and how the dive should go.

Conclusion

It’s easy to see why people have dubbed Bonaire a “diver’s paradise.” There are so many dive sites in a close distance and I liked the ease and flexibility of getting into the water. We dove on our own schedule, enjoyed relaxed diving, and reveled in island life. If you get the chance to experience it, don’t miss it!

P.S. Did you see this post about everything we ate and drank in Bonaire? So much good stuff!

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Diving the Red Sea was the whole reason for our Egypt trip! As we were trying to decide where to go on vacation, diving was a big factor. Why not go to one of the best dive destinations in the world? Our trip with Emperor Divers was incredible and it raised the bar for our future liveaboard trips!

That ‘Eat, Sleep, Dive’ Liveaboard Life

With our positive liveaboard experience in Thailand and our desire to visit some of the more remote places in the Red Sea, we decided going on a liveaboard would be the best option. For example, Brothers Islands is one of the best dive sites in the Red Sea and only accessible by liveaboard. It’s located 150 km or about an eight-hour boat ride from the port of Hurghada.

Our typical day looked like this: dive, breakfast, nap, dive, lunch, nap, dive, dinner, sleep. While I took full advantage of nap time, many people also read and hung out. Whenever we heard the bell ring, it was calling us for a dive briefing or a meal.

We had 18 opportunities to dive in those seven days, with two dives being night dives. It’s a bit tedious putting on and taking off a full wetsuit and all the gear multiple times a day, but the crew is very helpful and the opportunity to dive is worth it!

Emperor Echo of the Red Sea

Emperor Divers has definitely set the bar for future liveaboards because the cabins (or at least our room) were so luxurious! Spacious twin beds, our own bathroom and shower, and a window. There were one or two days where it was hard to sleep because the boat was rocking so hard but otherwise, I was nice and cozy. (Our Thailand liveaboard had bunk beds for two and two bathroom-shower combos for 20 people.)

And the food! We ate so well on the boat! Three chefs cranked out three hearty meals plus snacks every day. There were a few Western dishes but the majority were Egyptian. I ate fava bean falafels or something with fava beans every day. The buffets had a great variety, many times there was hot soup, and there was always a dessert spread.

In addition to the three chefs, there were two dive instructors, a captain, and a crew to help with meals, dive equipment, and other tasks. They were full of smiles and happy to help with every task, from putting on your wetsuit to taking your plate after a meal.

Diving was excellent! The instructors focused on giving us the best experience possible. Since there were 26 of us, we prepared and jumped off in two groups. We rented full gear except for our mask. We also rented a computer as it was required for each diver to have one. They provided free nitrox, which was nice.

Emperor Divers also has liveaboards in Indonesia and Maldives, and I’ll definitely be looking at their boats whenever we visit those destinations.

Best Dive Sites in the Red Sea

I recommend a liveaboard to see the many dive sites in Egypt. Otherwise, you’ll likely be based in one city (or two, if you hop) and have a limitation of a three-hour boat ride to the farthest dive site. Our liveaboard took the “Famous Five” route and it hit a variety of wrecks and reefs. Here are some of the sites we dove and ones I considered when planning our trip.

S.S. Thistlegorm was a British cargo ship on its way from Glasgow, Ireland to the Allies in Alexandria, Egypt when it was sunk in the Gulf of Suez by the Germans in World War 2. It was discovered by Jacques Cousteau in the fifties and gained recognition as a dive location in the nineties. It’s noted as one of the best wreck dive sites in the world.

Rosalie Moller is a wreck lying at about 30-50 meters down. The ship, also located in the Gulf of Suez, was bombed and sunk two days after the Thistlegorm. Because the ship sits so deep, you’ll only spend a few minutes exploring it before needing to ascend, but it was a very interesting dive.

Only accessible by liveaboard, Brothers Islands (Big and Little Brother) are known for its shark sightings. We saw plenty of oceanic white tips and a hammerhead, and it’s also known for threshers. Off of Big Brother, where the lighthouse is, you’ll find the Numidia wreck and Aida II wreck. They are covered in coral and a beautiful spot to dive. You’ll also find strong currents here so be ready.

Abu Nuhas Wrecks is a site with four wrecks – Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M.

Ras Mohammed National Park is a protected park, so you’ll find rich corals here. Shark and Yolanda Reef is a fun dive with a lot of life and the Yolanda wreck of 1980. You’ll see a bunch of toilets, sinks, and wallpaper from the wreck!

Elphinstone Reef is known for its drift dives and walls.

Daedalus Reef is part of the Marine Park Islands National Park. It’s known for its walls and drop-offs.

Favorite Underwater Sights

Our list of things seen is long! We got a good look at several octopuses, which were at the top of my list. We also spotted a hammerhead shark and tons of oceanic white tip sharks. Colorful nudibranchs and a starfish were also high on my list.

Thistlegorm was incredible! If you remember, we had dove one wreck previously, Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. I didn’t enjoy that experience, so I wasn’t looking forward to Thistlegorm. I was wrong! Seeing the old motorcycles, trucks, boots, and other cargo still on the ship was hauntingly beautiful. Also, Thistlegorm didn’t feel as claustrophobic as Kittiwake even though it involved some tight spaces as well.

Info About Diving the Red Sea

There is diving in Egypt year-round but the best time to go is from July to December. September, October, and November are high season. We dove in October and wore full 5mm wetsuits.

Divers come to Egypt because it has everything from wrecks, reefs, walls, and large and small life. Most of all, the health of the reefs and clarity of the water ensures fantastic diving all around.

We picked Emperor Divers because the date, price, and location lined up with when we wanted to visit. I used the PADI travel website to compare dates, prices, and routes. You can also search on Liveaboard.com.

The one negative thing about our liveaboard trip was that a few dives at Brothers Islands were a little chaotic. With 15 liveaboards tied up, many divers in the water, and strong currents, it’s the setting for a lot of traffic underwater. Surprisingly, the curious oceanic white tip sharks seemed to be more drawn to the commotion, so we saw plenty of them!

If you’re looking stay on land instead of a liveaboard, here are some places to check out:

• Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort (Sharm El Sheikh)
• Dahab Divers Lodge (Dahab)
• Euro Divers Grand Hotel Hurghada (Hurghada)

Liveaboards depart from Hurghada, Marsa Alam/Marsa Ghalib, Sharm El Sheikh, and Safaga, depending on the route. Most are seven days, though there is one that is three days. If you want to do a liveaboard, consider planning a year out to secure your spot.

Conclusion

Everyone on the boat was gloomy on the last day because we weren’t ready to leave. We had spent seven days diving and hanging out with new friends. It was a memorable experience. This liveaboard trip will always be special to us since it’s where we got engaged but it was also a bucket list trip to dive the Red Sea. I hope we make it back here one day to experience it again!

Want more Egypt? Check out the posts here!

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I always thought scuba diving was going to be a one-time, check it off the life list kind of thing. Fifty plus dives later, here I am, getting ready to go live on a boat for a week and dive in my sixth country. Eat, sleep, dive. That’s the life, right? It wasn’t always that way, and in fact, at many points I dreaded diving. Keep reading for all the details!

How I Got into Scuba Diving

Divers joke that in a relationship, it’s one person who loves it and his/her significant other goes along with it. I wouldn’t say I hated it, but diving made me incredibly scared and uncomfortable at the beginning.

When I met Boyfriend, he had recently done a Discover Scuba excursion during a cruise trip. Those beginner-focused dives are not deep and they show you the basics before you jump in. He loved the experience and wanted to do more of it. We ended up taking an open water scuba diving course together for fun (or so I thought). It involved four classroom and pool classes and two days at the lake.

I’m not very comfortable in the water. I loathe treading water, I wear contacts so seeing underwater without eye protection isn’t possible, and I had some slightly traumatic, near drowning experiences when I tried to surf. I struggled through those diving classes because of all of that and my first experiences diving in open water didn’t come without some trauma.

Getting Lost During My First Open Water Dives

Our first open water dives were in murky Lake Austin. Two days at the lake doing a few dives were a part of our certification. That lake was the stuff of nightmares. We had to follow a rope that was tied to the bottom of the lake because you couldn’t see two feet in front of you until about 20-30 feet down. Even then, the visibility was poor because of all the lake stuff being disturbed and clouding the water.

We were paired up with two students to one dive instructor. I temporarily lost a fin and then lost my dive buddy and instructor. I was found by another group who found my dive buddy. We never found our dive instructor until we met back on the surface. All of this was happening in darkness and cloudy lake water. Talk about a little trauma.

Advanced Open Water Dives and Shooting to the Surface

After getting open water certified, Boyfriend went on a week-long liveaboard trip, which is around 20 dives, in the Bahamas and when he returned, he had immensely improved his diving AND spontaneously taken the opportunity to get his advanced open water certification. A few months later, I took my advanced open water classes.

For my advanced training, I was back at murky Lake Austin, somehow forgetting how traumatizing it was the first time and was determined to get through the classes. Remember, I still hadn’t dived anywhere other than this lake! In the first lake dive, I was supposed to dive alone in a square, guided by a compass and followed by an instructor. My instructor lost me and I somehow ended up more than 20 feet away under a boat dock. I hit my head on the dock when I popped up on the surface, clearly in the wrong place.

The next day, my buoyancy compensator (the vest divers wear to control buoyancy) shot me up to the surface from about 60 feet below after I didn’t drop air fast enough. If you’re familiar with diving, you know this is very bad! A three-minute safety stop happens at 15 feet at the end of every dive to offload the built-up gas bubbles during diving and prevent decompression sickness. Think of it like opening a soda. Thankfully, I was fine!

Diving in the Ocean for the First Time

At this point, I didn’t really like diving, but I couldn’t go all the way to Thailand, one of the most beautiful places to dive and NOT dive! I didn’t really have a choice; we had already booked a three-day liveaboard before we arrived.

Then I jumped into the ocean in Thailand and saw a glimpse of what diving was really like. The clarity seemed to go on forever. Thailand’s typography underwater is so unique, I can see why it is one of the best places to dive. Diving in the ocean was eye-opening and thrilling to what adventures diving could bring.

Those first ocean dives in Thailand were also a bit of a wreck. If I ever saw my dive guide again, I’d turn and walk the other way or I would walk up to him and apologize for being a terrible diver. I ran into things, mostly the sandy bottom, and I swam too close to other people. I was constantly moving my legs and breathing too fast. Before every dive those three days, I would have to calm mini panic attacks. I was inexperienced and traumatized from my lake dives.

But aside from the struggle of figuring out how to dive properly, my eyes opened to the amazing beauty and opportunity diving gave me to discover the underwater world.

Drunk Diving

A year later, we dove the Blue Hole in Belize – down to 130 feet – and I got nitrogen narcosis! It’s harmless, mostly made me feel drunk, and it went away as I ascended. Diving Blue Hole is not that exciting, as many divers note, but it’s cool to see the humongous stalactites. Did you know the Blue Hole was created by a collapsed cave and rising sea level? We also saw many favorite wildlife in Belize.

50 Dives

The other day I couldn’t help but spout out all the troubles I’ve had from diving while trying to convince someone she should get certified. Diving takes a lot out of you mentally, emotionally, and physically. It takes a lot of calming anxiety, being present, trusting your knowledge, and being fearless.

I think back on our most recent trip to the Cayman Islands when I celebrated my 50th dive and I marvel at the progress I’ve made in the last three years. While there are a few butterflies before every dive because you never know what might happen, I am more excited about what I will see and calm about the processes.

The underwater world is incredible to experience. Diving is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done and I encourage everyone to try it!

Have you or would you try scuba diving? What would you want to see?

P.S. See more scuba diving posts here!

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The post How I Got into Scuba Diving + My Scary/Funny Diving Stories appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

The Cayman Islands are where I hit 50 dives and started appreciating the small things. Maybe it was me finally feeling the most steady and calm while diving as I ever have (only took about three years!), but I truly enjoyed diving during this trip. We also saw nudibranches, very small sea slugs, for the first time, among many other favorites.

Best Time to Dive in the Cayman Islands

It’s always a good time to dive in the Cayman Islands. The temperature is 21-27°C/70-80°F year-round. Be wary of diving from June to November because of hurricane season; you never know what will happen.

Arrow Crab looks like a spider

Which Cayman Island to Dive?

Grand Cayman is the biggest island and the easiest to get to because of direct flights from the U.S. Getting to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will require another flight after landing in Grand Cayman. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are both about a 40-minute flight from Grand Cayman while Little Cayman to Cayman Brac is a 10-minute flight.

Grand Cayman is the most developed island, with hordes of tourists and businesses that support tourism. Little Cayman is the quietest, with one main road, one police officer, and a handful of resorts. Cayman Brac is in the middle, though still much quieter than Grand Cayman.

It’s fun to visit at least two islands to get different experiences. You’re more likely to have a more intimate dive experience on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac unless you book a private tour on Grand Cayman. That means more personalized instruction, smaller groups, and guides that are more inclined to point out smaller wildlife.

Flounder

The Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands

There are more than 200 dive sites around Grand Cayman and around 60 dive sites each near Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Here are the most well-known dive sites:

• Bloody Bay Marine Park, Little Cayman
• Mixing Bowl, Little Cayman
• Devil’s Grotto and Eden Rock, Grand Cayman
• USS Kittiwake, Grand Cayman
• Babylon, Grand Cayman
• MV Captain Keith Tibbets, Cayman Brac
• Stingray City, Grand Cayman

I did my first wreck dive in Grand Cayman! I also very quickly learned I do not like wreck dives, haha. USS Kittiwake served as a submarine rescue ship for 49 years and was donated by the U.S. Maritime Administration. It was purposefully sunk near Seven Mile Beach in 2011. In 2017, a tropical storm pushed the ship onto its side. The tilted ship felt like a fun house to me and the mind games made it harder to dive. It threw off my center. We also went through some very narrow entryways and made sharp, tight turns that made me uncomfortable about bumping into the ship. There wasn’t a lot of wildlife to see. I would much rather go through swim-throughs and see more fish and coral, which we did a lot of on our other dives.

What You’ll See Diving in Cayman Islands

You’ll see many of the Caribbean wildlife in the Cayman Islands. What we saw was similar to what we saw in Honduras and Belize.

We saw nudibranches for the first time! These sea slugs come in all different sizes and designs, and they were so small, I had no clue what they were until we talked about them after the dive. We also saw lots of turtles, squid (even ones mating, haha), rays, and free-swimming sharks! (The sharks I saw previously were sleeping.)

Some of my favorite fishes also made an appearance, including squirrelfish, drum fish, and puffer fish.

Lettuce leaf nudibranch at the bottom

Cayman Island Dive Shops, Dive Resorts, and Liveaboards

Vibrant tourism in the Cayman Islands means plenty of dive options, good and bad. Sometimes that means diving with beginners, which makes your dive a little more hectic. It’s easy to feel like one of many tourists being shuffled on and off boats day after day. You’ll also get dive guides that are less than enthused about having to dive AND being vocal about it, whether they mean for their customers to hear or not. To avoid all of that, I recommend researching dive shops before you book and find ones with smaller dive groups. Also, when you’re there, chat up your dive guides and they may be more inclined to personalize your dive as much as possible.

Dive Resorts – Little Cayman
Because Little Cayman is so small, there are a few options and many offer all-inclusive packages that include your accommodation, meals, and diving.

• Pirates Point – We had a great time staying and diving at Pirates Point. It was a short trip but we got several dives in and enjoyed the island. The food was fantastic!
• Little Cayman Beach Resort
• Conch Club
• Southern Cross Club

Dive Resorts – Cayman Brac

• Cayman Brac Beach Resort

Dive Resorts – Grand Cayman

• Sunset House
• Cobalt Coast
• Compass Point (they partner with Ocean Frontiers dive operation)

Dive Shops – Grand Cayman

• DiveTech – For diving in Grand Cayman, I narrowed down my choices to Dive Tech and Living the Dream Divers and in the end, the pricing was better at Dive Tech and they had a pink boat. We had a pretty good experience with DiveTech. The instructors were knowledgeable for the briefings and the equipment was in good shape. All the dive spots were no more than five minutes away from shore. Some trips had a bigger group than I would have liked and less experienced divers, but there was always time at the end of the dive to explore on our own. We dove with Lee as our guide several times and he made our experience better with his enthusiasm and knowledge. DiveTech also offers hotel and diving packages to make planning easier. Owner Jo has made DiveTech’s branding all pink everything, from the boat to the towels, so that’s pretty fun!
• Living the Dream Divers
• Don Fosters
• Epic Divers
• Ocean Frontiers

Cayman Islands Liveaboard

• Cayman Aggressor IV

Conclusion

While the Cayman Islands wouldn’t be my first choice to return to for diving, I’m glad I experienced it. The abundance of dive sites assures you’ll have something new to see on every dive. I liked the overall dive experience better in other countries and there are certainly more affordable diving options in the Caribbean. If you’re a more advanced diver, I recommend a charter (or a guarantee from a dive shop) to the best dive sites. If you’re traveling with people who don’t dive or want a variety of activities, Grand Cayman has plenty of options for everyone to find something they like.

Check out this video of our dives in the Cayman Islands!

P.S. Diving has unexpectedly become a big part of my life. From growing in a new skill to discovering the incredible underwater world, it’s been life-changing. Check out all my other diving posts here.

Don’t miss the adventures! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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One of the main reasons we traveled to Belize was for the diving! The second largest barrier reef in the world has an abundance of wildlife, and Belize has three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. (An atoll is a ring of coral reef that grew along the shore of an island.) While Blue Hole is the “must do” and most popular dive, there are certainly better dives in Belize that you must do. You can easily spend at least four days diving in Belize!

One of my favorites: squirrelfish

Best Time to Dive in Belize

You can dive year-round in Belize, and the water temperature is usually 78-85 degrees Fahrenheit / 25-30 degrees Celcius. The best time to dive (for visibility) is April through June, and this is also when you can see whale sharks in the southern barrier reef.

High season for tourism is December through May, which is also the dry season. While this means less rain, it also means cooler temperatures or the Belizean winter. Low season is May through November, which means it’s the rainy season and hurricane season.

We dove Belize the last week of November and the dives were pretty good. I dove with a 3mm shorty and while I had slight chills here and there, I was still comfortable. The coral wasn’t as bright as around April. We had to skip diving The Elbow, one of the popular dive sites, because the currents created horrible visibility.

Lionfish

The Best Dive Sites

Because of distance from the mainland and cayes, dive trips might cost you more than usual but I thought they were worth it. Dive trips to the atolls usually require a minimum of eight divers.

Blue Hole is the “must-do” dive, and many divers say they wouldn’t do it again because there are many better dive spots in Belize and around the world. The big draw is seeing the stalactites at 130 feet down but there is limited wildlife to see. Thankfully, a dive trip to Blue Hole usually includes dives at two other noteworthy sites.

Visibility depends on the currents, so my preference may be skewed on how the conditions were that day. If you’re limited to one day of diving in Belize, I say take a trip to Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Blue Hole.

nurse shark

Here are some of the notable dive sites:

Lighthouse Reef Atoll & Blue Hole

• Blue Hole
• Half Moon Caye
• Long Caye Aquarium

Glover’s Reef Atoll – most remote of the three atolls and the least visited

• The Pinnacles

Turneffe Islands Atoll – largest and closest atoll to the mainland

• The Elbow
• Chasbo’s Corner

Ambergris Caye – one of the most popular places to stay in Belize, so plenty of dive shop options

• Hol Chan

Southern Barrier Reef – most popular place to see whale sharks in the season; closest dive spots if you’re staying in Hopkins or Placencia

• Laughing Bird Caye
• Southwater Caye Marine Reserve
• Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes

What You’ll See When Diving in Belize

The biggest sight, literally, is whale sharks from April to June. This is also when the coral will be most vibrant. Even if you don’t dive between April to June, there are about 500 species of fish and 100 types of coral to see.

You’ll see many of the typical Caribbean wildlife. Some typical sights are green sea turtles, eagle rays, southern rays, nurse sharks, black tip sharks, moon jellyfish, squirrel fish, parrot fish, angel fish, triggerfish, trumpet fish, eels, and grouper.

green sea turtle!

shrimps

Belize Diving Costs

• Full gear rental is around USD $25-30.
• Dive trips to the atolls range from $150 to $300 per person.
• Many resorts and hotels have packages that include your stay and diving.

garden eels

Dive Resorts, Shops, and Liveaboards

Ok, now that I’ve convinced you to travel to Belize to dive, you’ve got to find a place to stay. I lean towards dive resorts because it’s easier to coordinate the diving, but there are plenty of dive centers a short distance away to make your diving plans. If you’re planning to do lots of diving, there are also liveaboards.

Here are a handful of places I liked and considered when researching for my trip.

Dive Resorts

• Sunbreeze Hotel (San Pedro)
• Ramon Village Resort (San Pedro)
• Belizean Dreams (Hopkins)
• Belize Ocean Club (Placencia)
• Jaguar Reef Lodge and Spa (Hopkins)

Somewhat Remote Dive Resorts

If you’re going to Belize solely for the diving, it might be nice to stay closer to the atolls and not on the mainland or Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker. These places will feel like you’re on your own private island.

• Turneffe Resort
• Blackbird Resort
• Huracan Diving Lodge
• Turneffe Flats

PADI 5-Star Dive Centers

If you already have a hotel in mind and it is not connected to a dive shop, here are a few 5-star dive shops to choose from. Most of these are in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

• Belize Pro Dive Center (San Pedro)
• Island Divers Belize (San Pedro)
• Ecologic Divers (San Pedro)
• Robert’s Grove (Placencia)
• Belize Underwater (Hopkins and Placencia)

Liveaboards

Want to sail around Belize and dive? Of course, you do!

• Belize Aggressor III (Sunday to Friday)
• Belize Aggressor IV (Saturday to Saturday)

The Aquarium

moon jellyfish

Diving with Hamanasi

We stayed at Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, a 5-star PADI resort. You can read all about our experience here but I’ll give a few details about their dive operation, Hopkins Divers, here.

• Every dive trip has a PADI instructor or dive master.
• They don’t have shore diving but the Southern Barrier Reef is about 30 minutes away and available often. They also do day trips to Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Blue Hole (2.5 hours away), Turneffe Atoll (1.5 hours away), and Glover’s Reef Atoll (1.5 hours away).
• They require a minimum of eight interested guests to do the day trips but while we were there, we easily met that requirement for all three of the atolls. (I was nervous about this before arriving because I wanted to be sure we got to dive!)
• They also have options of lionfish spearfishing dives and night dives.
• They have gear rental for $25 a day, and nitrox tanks for $10 a dive.
• Their equipment was in pristine condition, and I had no doubts about the equipment or dive guides.
• For day-long dive trips, they pack you a lunch of your choice and also have plenty of cookies and fresh fruit as snacks.

Conclusion

Diving in Belize was a fun adventure! While the wildlife and underwater environment were similar to diving in Roatan, I prefer Belize more because of the full travel package – being able to experience the culture, feeling safer, and more variety in activities. If you’re wanting to dive in the Caribbean, I highly recommend Belize!

Last but not least, the only recompression chamber in Belize is located in San Pedro.

The view when you wake up early to scuba dive

Check out all my Belize posts here.

P.S. See more diving adventures here.

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The post Diving in Belize: Blue Hole and Atolls appeared first on Fearless Captivations.