Dive destination recommendations needed for beginners in January/February

[heleng]

Hi All,

I am a PADI rescue diver and last Christmas I went on a lovely holiday with my family to Egypt where they all did there open water course. This year we would like to go away again together to do some more diving an I was hoping someone would be able to give me some suitable recommendations for January or February time. Egypt was lovely but for me it was very cold (the gappy male wet suit did not help) and for my newly qualified family there were a few too many beautiful corals to squash with their beginners buoyancy. Can anyone suggest a holiday location where we can do some diving in warm water with easier dive sites for my family to practice and develop their skills and they may possibly do the advanced course to help with this.

Thanks, Helen x

[greatwhite]

Philippines/Indonesia/Thailand?

[greatwhite]

depending where you go as some areas diving is more difficult than others.

[Stew W]

It does depend on budget.

Thailand is a good option for Jan/Feb as it is high season. Anywhere around Koh Lanta/ Koh Phi Phi has some easy sites.

You could try Malaysia, but it is extremely early in the season for them. Although Tioman island opens up early Feb so they can be worth a try. B&J Dive Centre will be open then (yes terrible name, and I gave the T-shirt back after finished working for them)

Personally I'd choose Dahab. I know you found it a bit chilly in Egypt around that time, but the cost will be better and if you choose a good dive centre they will have male and female wetsuits. I'd recommend SeaDancer if you do


Everywhere will be able to do an Advanced Course. Maybe choose Peak Performanc Buoyancy as one of the elective dives.

[colinjenkins2]

Maldives, Grenada

[Tim Digger]

This is best time for Caribbean, man! While it may not have the biodiversity of Eastern destinations it has a lot of sand as well as some good diving. possibly the best Caribbean destination is Cozumel Mexico. Access is usually via US sorry. Alternatives we have liked include Dominica (not the Dominican Republic) some good walking in a very wet island (but its warm rain and the whole place has waterfalls to the max, Cuba ( be a bit careful if hiring gear unless in a well resourced resort) go soon before the US lifts the embargo. Also but never been Caman Islands might well suit a bit American I understand. Access from UK is often through Antigua, the airport is antique and not up to sorting two simultaneous 747s (which happens regularly) transits to other islands is usually via local carriers such as Caribair.
I suggest this because you are just starting your dive careers and there is a great deal of care (possibly driven by American litigation) taken of guests (Cuba can be an exception) and also because it is a shame to have everything else a disappointment later on.

[greatwhite]

I have never been but how about Israel redsea - Eilat?

[Stew W]

I have never been but how about Israel redsea - Eilat?

Rubbish.

Well not that bad. But I used to work for Aquasport who had shop in Eilat and Taba, so either side of the border. The Taba dive sites were much better than the Eilat ones. Some of Dahab better than Taba and anything past Hurgada better again. Eilat is fairly hammered by divers as it's the only stretch of the Red Sea accessible to Israel.


There is a lot of choice in Eilat as it's like the Israeli Riviera, lots of hotels, restaurants. Any Israeli wine is fantastic!

[greatwhite]

Helen where did you dive in Egypt? How about Marsa Alam if you have not been? Plenty of nice easy shore diving when I was there. Also, decent boat diving can also be done.

[greatwhite]

Stew that's Eilat off my list of places to dive then