SCUBA: first trip for non-certified diver

[Questor]

I'm planning a SCUBA trip for my kids as a first SCUBA experience. Since it's a family trip for 4, I need to watch costs. On the one hand, going to a place like the Florida Keys is attractive because you can take the whole class and the certification dives during the same week as a package deal. On the other hand, the keys don't really have any beaches and there's not much to do unless you're on the water.

Someplace like Grand Caiman has more attractive family activities and snorkeling you can drive to, but I've never been there and don't know what the options are for getting the necessary education for diving.

If you have solved this problem before, will you please tell me what you decided. It could help me cut through the options and I'd appreciate it.

[Graybeard]

I don't scuba but a former secretary of mine and her second husband run a scuba school somewhere down in the FL panhandle. It's supposed to be a rather famous location from what she told me last time I saw her which was many long years ago now. The water there is crystal clear so it's a favorite dive spot for folks to get certified.

Her name is Melinda and her current hubby is Al. I can't recall the last name. Her first husband died of a heart attack while she worked as my secretary. I think her and first husband Jerry owned the place and after she married Al an old family friend a year or so later she quit and they moved down to run the place full time.

I really know little more about it than what Melinda told back then but from my discussions with her it is one of if not the most favored dive spot in the FL panhandle area. Seems to me it had clear in the name. If you're interested I might can look at a map and home in on it a little better.

[Questor]

GB:

I'm familiar with that area. The springs start near Tampa then go up the panhandle at least as far as Tallahassee. It's pretty water. Very clear. I've dived in those and the fish look like they are hanging in the air because the water is so clear.

[swordfish]

GB,
You may be thinking of Clearwater FL. It's not on the Panhandle though. There is a lota diving in the freshwater springs there. Cool diving with the manities. The beach is a bit of a drive to get to though.

You are right about the Keys. Lotsa' of drinking and watersports, but if you do a search there is a lot of other stuff to do there. Skydiving, wildlife bird center, bowling, movies, High School football games, There are (2) beaches (Anns & Bahia Honda), tons of places to eat, more bars than you can shake a stick at, airboat rides not far from Florida City, lots of fishing, snorkeling, glass bottom boats, casino boat, ultra-lite rides, camping, kayaking............................ you have to look to find it all, but it's there. I used to manage the Pilot House Marina in Key Largo years ago.

I would recommend Ocean Divers in Key Largo. I used to take my dive classes there for their Open Water dives on occasion.

[dukkillr]

I've been PADI certified for 15 years or so.  I've dove many of the usual spots in the Caribean, Mexico, and Hawaii.  The best trip for beginners (read: no current) was a trip we took to Bonaire.  While they have the standard stuff like boat dives, wrecks, night dives, reefs, etc... they also very easy beach diving right onto the wall.  Tanks were like $2 at the resort and we just put all our crap in the back of a rented truck and drove to the beach.  It was a short swim out and you were into the best diving you could imagine... for almost free...  come back, have lunch, play in the surf, and hit it again in the afternoon.  As opposed to Cozumel or Kauai most of the action was 30-50 feet, perfect for beginners.  The other great thing when compared to Mexico or some of the other Caribean spots was that the people were not obnoxious or desperate.  It's a beautiful island, an easy flight, and actually cheaper than many inferior dives.

My advice: get certified here, or at least get certified upto the open water, and then go there.  Don't waste precious vacation time practicing your boyancy or mask clearing skills that could be done in any high school pool in the country.

I could probably dig up the name of the place if you're interested... send me a PM...

[Questor]

Thanks, Dukkillr:

I appreciate that. I hadn't considered Bonaire. Is there stuff to do for non-divers?

 

[dukkillr]

Thanks, Dukkillr:

I appreciate that. I hadn't considered Bonaire. Is there stuff to do for non-divers?

 

Same stuff you'd find at Cayman, Cozumel, or any other islandy destination... beaches, food, resorty stuff... probably not as much to do as Mexico because there are no ruins or bull fights or cultural tourist destinations...  but the diving and relative privacy are worth it.

[Questor]

Dukkillr:

I never would have considered Bonaire as a place for a beginner. Thanks for putting it on my radar screen. The desert habitat of the island is a definite plus.

[victorcharlie]

I lived in Homestead for several years.  Quite frankly, although I have been advance open water certified for years, I seldom dove in the keys.  Most of the water is shallow, and you can snorkel it more effectively IMO.

If you're in a protected area you can't disturb the bottom anyway, might as well snorkel......

[highwayman]

scuba club cozumel. i have been diving for years and my girl friend decided to try it. went through the class part at under water adventures in baton rouge la. and did her check out dive at scuba club. great staff, enough to do top side for the kids, meals on site, cheap to get to mexico now. will be hard to bet.