Hello -
One particular streamlined approach to this vacation is going with an
experienced travel agency. With one company I spoke to, the cost is
nothing more than if you were to book the accommodations yourself; it
may actually cost less. The chief thing that you gain is convenience.
Instead of dealing with multiple accommodation companies directly, you
have one streamlined phone number to call to setup/maintain all of
your needs.
Here are agencies that specializes in dive-oriented vacations:
Caribbean Dive Vacations
http://caribbeandivevacations.com/
Carriacou Silver Diving
http://www.scubamax.com/
Caradonna
http://www.caradonna.com/caradonna/
Caribbean Divers
http://www.caribbeandivers.com/
Neal Watson
http://www.nealwatson.com/Reservation.html
I spoke with a representative from Classic Custom Vacations, a luxury
travel site thats lets you customize your luxury Caribbean vacation to
your liking:
http://www.classicvacations.com/ca/
In a few easy steps, you choose the flight, island, and lodging. Call
800-635-1333 to book the vacation.
For an optional $69 per person, you can purchase "vacation
protection," which eliminates any penalties for any reason for any
cancellations of any kind.
There are two resorts that have scuba diving as part of the package.
Beaches Turks and Caicos (http://www.beaches.com/main/tc/tc-home.cfm)
is one of them, as recommended by the rep. He also says Aruba and St.
Lucia are great places for scuba diving.
You will have to arrange with a master should you choose
accommodations without scuba diving included. Note: this company is
*not* a dive-oriented agency.
You can find dive resorts here, through whom you can find divemasters:
Diveindex
http://www.diveindex.com/link/list.php?CID=72
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Here's an example of a do-it-yourself booking. Feel free to let me
know exactly what island you want to go to, and I can provide details
just for that island.
According to Caribbean On-line at
http://www.caribline.com/cy/cydv.shtml "Whether you are a diver,
snorkeler or swimmer, the Cayman Islands offer an exciting glimpse
into the beautiful and amazing marine kingdom that surrounds them.
(The area code for all phone numbers is 345.)
# Swimmers and divers alike can get a taste of underwater life at the
amazing Stingray City in North Sound (Grand Cayman), accessible by
boat. Contact Bob Soto's Reef Divers at 949-2022 for full diving and
snorkeling programs, including Learn to Dive and PAPI Certification
programs.
# Call Eden Rock Diving Center at 949-7243 to see firsthand Devil's
Grotto, considered to be one of the best shore dives in the world.
# Fisheye of Cayman is a highly personalized scuba diving company.
They have expertise in underwater photography and video and offer free
use of an underwater camera (with film purchase) for all clients
diving on their boats. Call them at 945-4209.
Visit The Cayman Car Rental Guide
(http://www.caribbeancar.com/cayman.htm) for secure online car
reservations at the lowest rates. Compare low internet rates and rent
a car from $40 a day by filling in our secure reservation form. You
can pick-up the car at the airport office or have it delivered to your
hotel.
Since the islands are relatively flat and small, renting a car is a
good option. But keep in mind that you must drive on the left. The
major car rental agencies on Grand Cayman are Cico-AVIS (345-949-2468
or 800-228-0668), Ace-Hertz (345-949-2280 or 800-654-3131), Budget
(345-949-5605 or 800-527-0700), Dollar (345-949-2981) and National
(345-949-4790). A local agent is Just Jeeps (345 949-7263)."
Here are some hotel reviews by various visitors:
http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/hotelreviews/cy/
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If you choose to rate this answer, please ask for any clarification
you may require prior to doing so. Thank you.
Search strategy:
various combinations of
scuba, dive, caribbean, vacation, etc. |
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
19 Apr 2004 13:14 PDT
Four Seasons is notma dive-oriented resort, but I've confirmed with a
representative that they can offer best-available diving arrangements
for their guests (they work with off-site suppliers for diving
arrangements). Finding a hotel of this calibre with off-site diving
is probably your best bet; I haven't been able to find this level of
luxury with on-site diving (after searching and talking to multiple
industry reps).
Four Seasons actually has two resorts in the Caribbean: Nevis (West
Indies) and Exuma (Bahamas).
Nevis
http://www.fourseasons.com/vacations/nevis/index.html
P.O. Box 565, Pinney?s Beach, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies, Caribbean
Great Exuma
http://www.fourseasons.com/vacations/greatexuma/index.html
P.O. Box EX29005, Great Exuma, The Bahamas
(800) 819-5053
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On the same tier as Four Seasons is the Ritz Carlton, with confirmed
diving availability about 1 hour from the hotel at their Puerto Rico
resort:
Puerto Rico
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/san_juan/
6961 Avenue of the Governors
Isla Verde
Carolina, Puerto Rico 00979
(800) 241-3333
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Not quite sure if this will be of sufficient quality, but Harbour
Village was rated very highly by readers of Scuba Diving magazine, and
recommended by Caradonna travel agency (agency of 18 years:
http://www.caradonna.com/caradonna/):
Harbour Village Beachfront & Marinafront Residences
Kaya Gobernador N.Debrot No. 71
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Phone: 599-717-7500
Fax: 599-717-7507
Email: reservations@harbourvillage.com
Email: reservations@portofinobonaire.com
Visit http://www.harbourvillage.com/index.html
--
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
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