warm holiday - diving in January?

RedBern

Hi - posting on behalf of my daughter (24) - she's got about £1k saved to go on holiday on her own, in the next couple of weeks - wants somewhere warm, possibly somewhere she can dive (is experienced), and where she can relax. She's looked at Egypt, but doesn't like the look of Sharm, is thinking about Mexico or south America - wants to be away for about 18 days in total.

Anyone got thoughts about Cuba? Is it safe(ish) and good for diving? She's been to Thailand and wouldn't mind going back but flights are over £600 at the moment...

If only I could dive, I'd be tempted to go with her - but any suggestions appreciated.

kegg_2

eypt is a big place and not limited to sharm which is probably the worst place in egypt to dive anyway due to the damaged corals.

There is really good diving up at taba. Taba is a quite resort and people mainly go there for the marine life or as a base to visit Jordan and Petra.
Vastly different than sharm and not at all commercial in fact there is only 2 hotel in taba, the hilton and the movenpick and then a few more hotels at taba heights.

Check out the reviews on trip advisor to see if she likes the sound of it as it should come in at a round her budget with a little left over to pay for a few dives.

scubaangel

I wouldn't utterly discount Sharm, she could get a decent priced late deal on a liveaboard trip. Equally she could look at going to Hurghada or Marsa Alam - they seem 'friendlier' than Sharm for lone travellers, there are also part livaboard part shore based trips available.

There are other parts of the Red Sea too, although I don't know too much about the costings of those resorts.

I dived over at the West of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta a few years ago and loved it but again not sure about cost (it was a family trip and I was just pleased to escape the parents to do something they couldnt boss me about on), I've friends who have been to Cancun and did some diving but not much, they also went to Cuba and loved it but again didn't dive much as they said the dive packages were quite expensive add ons for the dives available.

DKLS

Your daughter has good taste, Sharm is indeed a chav hell hole, but ravel 30mins north to Dahab, and its wonderful, Try Le Meridian Hotel, staff are great and the blue hole is one of the must dives for divers.

RedBern

DKLS wrote: »

Your daughter has good taste,

goes without saying!! thanks for this - had a look on Thomsons and they have Le Meridian and Hilton at Dahab - so going to nip over to beat my quote for the Hilton and see if anyone can trim a few quid off.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. Oh to have the problems of the young hey!

DKLS

RedBern wrote: »

goes without saying!! thanks for this - had a look on Thomsons and they have Le Meridian and Hilton at Dahab - so going to nip over to beat my quote for the Hilton and see if anyone can trim a few quid off.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. Oh to have the problems of the young hey!

Woah for gawds sake dont go with Thomsons, either book direct or with Travel the World Egypt as they can get great rates, if you want any tips re: Dahab, just pm me.

Ps If you can try and get scheduled flights into Cairo and transfer, otherwise you will have a flight from hell with all the animals going to the AI hotels in sharm.

slinga

You might want to check the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia.

lewroll

DKLS wrote: »

Woah for gawds sake dont go with Thomsons, either book direct or with Travel the World Egypt as they can get great rates, if you want any tips re: Dahab, just pm me.

Ps If you can try and get scheduled flights into Cairo and transfer, otherwise you will have a flight from hell with all the animals going to the AI hotels in sharm.

Animals?????

Kazipoo

Ok, its a long shot, and its somewhere hopefully I will be emigrating within the next ten years. Has she considered going as far afield as the Bay of Islands in New Zealand?

Don't know what the prices are like at the minute, but generally you can pick up return flights for around £400 - £600. Of course it depends on whether she is willing to travel quite so far, but apparently it is one of the best sites in the world for diving.

EDIT: Oh and the weather at the moment is absolutely glorious at 23 degrees plus!

RedBern

slinga wrote: »

You might want to check the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia.

She's been there - she travelled SE Asia etc a couple of years ago - bliss I believe!

Ok, its a long shot, and its somewhere hopefully I will be emigrating within the next ten years. Has she considered going as far afield as the Bay of Islands in New Zealand?

Don't know what the prices are like at the minute, but generally you can pick up return flights for around £400 - £600. Of course it depends on whether she is willing to travel quite so far, but apparently it is one of the best sites in the world for diving.

EDIT: Oh and the weather at the moment is absolutely glorious at 23 degrees plus!

thanks - bit far for such a short time.

lynzpower

If she is happy shoestringing it: she could get a charter flight cheap to Cancun, and bus down to Belize. I learned to dive there and it was absolutely spectacular.

You can take a pullman to Tulum ovenight there then the next day bus to belize city ( awesome journey) The coach cost me about 20 quid for that journey single the full way. I then took a monster coach journey ( so worth it) to placencia which was to die for. http://www.placencia.com/ Guest houses are reasonably priced, I think i paid 10er a night, it was basic. But there is accommodation right up the ranges.

The world famous Blue Hole is in belize too, one day Ill go back, it really is utterly stunning.