They may take a little elbow grease and require a few new parts, but here’s a look at nine of the best cruising sailboats that can sail afar for less than $100,000. By John Kretschmer Updated: April 17, 2019.
Are you planning a diving vacation in May? This is a great month to go diving in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as much of the Caribbean. To help you on your way, here is a list of the best liveaboard destinations to go in May.The South Pacific enjoys warm waters and a reprieve from the rain in May. Farther up north, Socorro is calm and sunny, while Malpelo enjoys similarly good conditions and warm waters.
It’s the hot season over in the Caribbean, and Sipadan is also warm and dry. Diving conditions in the Indian Ocean are at their best.1. SOCORROSeveral hundred miles off the coast of the Baja Peninsula, Socorro Island is one of the best places to dive with pelagics.
Advanced divers will be in heaven in the volcanic underwater landscapes which are teeming with manta rays, sharks and turtles. Diving in this is only possible with a Socorro liveaboard.May is the last month of diving season in Socorro, when conditions are at their best. This means calm waters and sunny days with only a little rain.
May is also a good time to see manta rays and whale sharks. Be aware that this is high season for tourism in Mexico; try to book ahead for the best deals.WHERE TO GO FROM: San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas, MexicoPRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $4,000DIFFICULTY: AdvancedLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 10 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 70 to 73° F (21 to 23° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Manta rays and whale sharks2. MALPELODiving at Malpelo is an experience you won’t forget. This is famous for its, especially hammerheads and silky sharks. It’s a good idea to get nitrox-certified before your trip so you can hang out in the deep water and wait for the sharks to appear. This secluded island off the coast of Panama is only accessible with a.Diving at Malpelo is great all year round, but the best conditions and warmest waters are found between April and September. Only a limited number of divers is allowed here each day so this is your best chance to see sharks in their natural habitat.WHERE TO GO FROM: Puerto Pedregal, PanamaPRICE RANGE: $4,500 – $5,500DIFFICULTY: AdvancedLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 11 to 14 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 68 to 75 ° F (20 to 24 ° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Schooling hammerheads and other sharks3.
PAPUA NEW GUINEAThe isolated islands of Papua New Guinea are home to some incredible uncrowded dive sites. Divers will find something for everyone here, from pelagics to World War II wrecks and amazing coral reefs. With a Papua New Guinea liveaboard you’ll have the chance to explore everything the area has to offer.May is a good time to dive the Bismarck Sea and the Solomon Sea. This includes many great sites such as Kavieng, Kimbe Bay, Rabaul, Madang, Tufi and Milne Bay, the birthplace of muck diving. Papua New Guinea also boasts fascinating streams of, which appear for lucky divers on night dives.WHERE TO GO FROM: Alotau or Kimbe Bay, Papua New GuineaPRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $4,500DIFFICULTY: BeginnerLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 11 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 79 to 84° F (26 to 29° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Birthplace of muck diving. SOLOMON ISLANDSPerhaps even more remote than Papua New Guinea are the Solomon Islands, just a little to the east. With scarcely any tourism to the islands, the dive sites have remained pristine and unspoiled.
Go muck diving, wreck diving, cave diving or even with a Solomon Islands liveaboard.Monsoon season in the Solomon Islands ends in April. This means May is the first month of good diving conditions in the Solomon Islands, with warm weather and little rain. Water temperatures stay fairly constant all year round and May has warm water averaging between 84 and 86° F (29 and 30° C).WHERE TO GO FROM: Honiara, Solomon IslandsPRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $6,000DIFFICULTY: BeginnerLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 12 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 84 to 86° F (29 to 30° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Exclusive dive sites practically all to yourself5.
FIJIFiji has made a commitment to and the country’s dive scene is suitable for all levels. Pelagics weave through the rocky seascapes and colorful macro critters hide in the sheltered lagoons of this volcanic archipelago. Whether you’re an advanced diver or just getting started, you’re sure to find the perfect Fiji liveaboard.May strikes a nice balance between weather and marine life in Fiji. The rainy season is just ending but with any luck you’ll still be able to see manta rays and whale sharks. Water is calm during this time and measures a balmy 82 to 86° F (28 to 30° C).WHERE TO GO FROM: Volivoli Beach Resort or Taveuni, FijiPRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $5,500DIFFICULTY: Beginner – AdvancedLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 11 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 82 to 86° F (28 to 30° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful soft corals and varied dive sites6. BAHAMASOne of North America’s favorite holiday destinations, the Bahamas are no less fascinating under the water. Beginners will appreciate the many shallow dive sites with their shipwrecks and stunning coral reefs.
For advanced divers, there is cave diving as well as if you dare! See it all with a Bahamas liveaboard.May is the last month to see oceanic whitetip sharks in the Bahamas before hurricane season starts in June. This month is also hot and sunny, and it’s high season so consider booking ahead.
Water temperatures during this shoulder season range from around 73 to 77° F (23 to 25° C).WHERE TO GO FROM: Nassau, BahamasPRICE RANGE: $1,000 – $2,500DIFFICULTY: BeginnerLENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 11 daysWATER TEMPERATURES: 73 to 77° F (23 to 25° C)BEST BOATS:HIGHLIGHTS: Blue holes and cave diving.
The Caribbean is an astonishing area for Scuba diving. The Caribbean Sea is separated from the Atlantic Ocean from the north by the Greater Antilles island chain starting with, the Greater Antilles merge with the Lesser Antilles which curve towards the south forming the eastern edge of the sea.The north coast of South America forms the southern edge. Mexico and Central America are to the west and south west. The channel between Mexico and Cuba opens to the Gulf of Mexico.The Caribbean Sea has over 700 islands, inlets and cays. Including the coastal countries, there are over 30 different countries that make up the Caribbean.
Some of the most noted for Scuba divers include the, the, and Honduras.In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in The Caribbean. Best Dive ReviewThe Caribbean offers divers a tropical paradise year round.
The strong tourism industry means frequent flights to most of the destinations from many other countries. The Caribbean is heavily favored by visitors from North America, as well as many European nations. Here are some of the best diving destinations in the region:.: The Cayman Islands are an overseas British territory. The three main islands that make up the Cayman Islands are Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. A few years ago the Cayman Islands started their dive 365 project. The goal was to establish mooring buoys at around the islands. That project is the heart of the islands current promotions.
Scuba Divers can dive a different site a day for a year. The Cayman’s have a wide variety of sites with a good mix of boat dives, shore dives and those only suitable for liveaboards. Best time to dive in The CaribbeanThe classic answer of when to go would be year round with a warning about the hurricane season from June 1 to November 30. The Caribbean covers a great distance and the hurricane threat is not uniform. The southern Caribbean has a much lower threat than the eastern section. Honduras and Belize are also out of the hurricane belt.While individual tolerances differ, most divers will dive without a wet suit in the summer months.
A rash guard or dive skin is a good recommendation. In the winter months, a 3mm wet suit is generally enough. Many divers in the southern Caribbean find they can dive year round without a wet suit. Dive coursesA wide range of training is available in the Caribbean. Just about all of the destinations have dive sites that are suitable for Open Water Diver training and Advanced Open Water Diver training.Photography is also a great specialty given the great visibility found on most dive sites.
The Grand Cayman’s has what may be the best underwater photography course in the world. Cavern diving is also a certification that is popular in Mexico.
The invasion of the lion fish into the Caribbean has lead to lion fish hunting. Some countries require and all recommend being trained to hunt the lion fish. Scuba Diving conditionsIt is difficult to generalize diving conditions over such a large area. However, it is safe to say that the Caribbean is noted for warm water and good visibility year round. In the summer many divers do not use any dive suits. Dive skins, Rash guards and 3 mm wet suits are the most commonly used protection worn if they are worn. Snorkelling in The CaribbeanSnorkeling is a favorite pastime for many visitors to the Caribbean.
Most of the diving destinations have a number of shallow dive sites that are also suitable for snorkeling.Sting Ray city in the Cayman Islands is one of the most beloved snorkeling site in the world. Cruise ships to the area frequently offer snorkeling trip at each of their stops. Fishes and CoralEntire books have been written on the marine life in the Caribbean. There are between 500 to 600 species of reef fish in the different regions of the Caribbean. There are over 40 species of soft corals, 65 species of hard corals and over 100 different crustaceans.Scientist have identified 34 marine mammal species visiting the Caribbean with 20 of them being common year round. There are also six of the seven species of marine turtles found here. Diving SafetyIf you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to The Caribbean, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what couldhappen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!).
I recommend as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.The Caribbean is seen by many as the home of recreational scuba diving. Jacques-Yves Cousteau introduced the world to the underwater world by way of his inventions, books movies and television programs.Many of the diving destinations he loved the most are in the Caribbean. As new divers started to visit these remote destinations, tourism developed to support them leading to the tourism destination the Caribbean is today. So it does not matter if you want a luxury vacation with diving or diving at unspoiled lightly visited area, there is a dive destination in the Caribbean right for you. Travel GuideNow that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
We dived in Aruba but made a poor choice of company. We selected SE Aruba Fly n dive and really wish we hadnt.
The dive master appeared to know what he was doing on land and while conducting a dive review (we hadnt dived for a couple of years)Unfortunately having kept us hanging around to wait for latecomers (over an hour) we set off on a drift dive. Fine for us but not at all fine for our daughter who is a total novice.No-one was given enough weight – hard work for those of us who know what they are doing but impossible for her as she bobbed about frightened and most of the time abandoned by the so called instructor. Frankly her father would have made a significantly better job of taking care of her. I dont understand why this company are still in business but I would suggest picking someone else, the experience could hardly be worse. Hi all, any recommendations on best spots in the Caribbean or North American to get my AOW license? I have my open water cert and 12 dives under my belt. Just got back from the Similians which were incredible.
I’m looking for great coral reef life and/or pelagic life. I love seeing schools of fish and clear water. Long term I’d like to dive Raja Ampat, Komodo, Cocos Island and some of the other top places in the world, but I want to make sure I’m experienced and will be able to fully enjoy it! Thanks again. Dive destinations in The CaribbeanFind out all information you need to dive and have a great time in these beautiful places!.Jamaica is a great vacation and scuba diving destination in the Caribbean Sea!.The island of Aruba is surrounded by outstanding reefs, and has a number of wrecks.The marine protection programs in Cuba has resulted in pristine coral reefs.The United States Virgin Islands – America’s Caribbean.
Outstanding scuba diving in a vacation haven.You can dive a different dive site every day for a year!.Bonaire has been voted the Best Shore Dive Destination 22 consecutive times by the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine.St. Kitts and Nevis has excellent scuba diving that is close to shore meaning short boat rides. Being a small island, dive boats can always find a sheltered dive site in poor weather.Saba offers Scuba divers site sites that are pristine and loaded with marine life.The Turks & Caicos Islands provides Scuba divers with a dive experience not easily matched.A great selection of wrecks and reefs for divers of all skill levels.The Dominican Republic is a lessor known dive destinations with outstanding diving from both the north and south coast. It is also the kick off point to the nearby Silver Banks.The Bahamas offer a wide range of diving sites. There are sites that are great for learning to dive and others for experienced divers. Cave divers will find many opportunities.