New Divers Need Honeymoon Dive Site Advice

[Cookie]

Hello all!!

My fiance and I are getting SCUBA certified next weekend (assuming we don't do something dumb on our test dives hehe) so that we can dive on our honeymoon in early September. Being brand new divers, we have no idea what the best sites are and are hoping some of you more experienced divers can give us some advice.

We are taking a Carnival cruise that stops at the following ports and offers the following dives through the cruise line itself. Do you guys recommend any of these sites, or do you suggest we take a little side trip to find a better/cheaper/less crowded site?

Tue, Sep 1
Grand Cayman, Cayman Island 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Dive Excursion through Carnival:
Certified two tank dive (4 hrs total), first at West Wall, 80ft max depth, second at a reef or shipwreck. $99/person

Wed, Sep 2
Cozumel, Mexico 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Dive Excursion through Carnival:
Undisclosed dive site (4 hrs total), simply says "Participate in two dives, the Captain will select based on weather conditions, with depths ranging from approximately 50 to 80 feet." $81/person

Thu, Sep 3
Belize 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Dive Excursion through Carnival:
Turneffe Atoll Two Tank Dive (5 hrs total), $169/person

Fri, Sep 4
Isla Roatan 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Dive Excursions through Carnival:
1.) Certified Dolphin Dive (2 hrs total) described as:
* Take a short ride to Anthony’s Key and the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences.
* Be taken by boat, just outside the reef, with a dive guide, dolphin behaviorist and a videographer.
* Spend 45 minutes observing, photographing and playing with the dolphins.
* Take part in a one-tank dive at depths of up to 60 feet over a white sand bottom adjacent to a shallow reef wall with two dolphins.
$199/person
2.) Certified Two Tank Dive at Anthony's Key (4 hrs total), reef and wreck sites. $109/person

I know this is a lot of information to sift through... thanks in advance to those who take the time to read it and respond. Can't wait to hear your advice!

Cynthia & Jonathan<br><br>Post edited by: Cookie, at: 2009/05/17 18:30

[rcontrera]

First off ... Congratulations!!

Since you are new divers, just take the cruise ship excursions. ye, you can get the same dives cheaper buying directly, but if you are late back to the ship it is going to leave you and then you will have to pay for the plane ticket to meet the ship at the next destination.

While there isn't a lot of room in the cabin, I suggest taking your own mask, fins, regulator and BC since the rental stuff is usually pretty hammered.

Enjoy your cruise, your honeymoon and your diving.

[aggiebq86]

I dove with Papa Hogs in Cozumel. They are a great operator. You can reach them on line and by phone. They will pick you up at the pier. It will depend on when your ship arrives at the port of whether you can go out with a dive operator different than through the cruise line.