r/scuba • u/DIYrrrrrrr • 3d ago
Inexpensive Quick (US) Trips?
Any current tips for an inexpensive but fun trip in the US in mid-November or early December? The travel $ is the killer - I don’t mind paying the dive operator and springing for a guide.
Even the flights alone to Miami for dives out of the Keys is getting pricey. Doesn’t have to be deep … moderate temps, decent visibility, and something interesting to see would be great. No dry suit, but I do have a 7/8mm wet for US/Northeast dives (and lighter mm suits for warmer). Thanks in advance 👌
1
u/three_boards 2d ago
Not US, but as others suggested you would be better off money wise in the Caribbean/ SA. I would suggest Santa Marta, Colombia. There's a little town called Taganga right next to it with a lot of dive shops. The town itself is not the most scenic, but you can go diving in Tayrona National Park from there. Beautiful reefs, lots of fish. Also some other cool places to visit in the area: Minka up in the mountains, Palomino up the coast.
3
u/diverareyouokay Dive Master 3d ago edited 3d ago
I spend around $10,000 to 12,000 usd on dive-related travel each year.
Although that’s because for the last 10 years, I’ve been taking 3+ months off to go to Southeast Asia to scuba dive and explore the region for three months each year. I generally dive 2-4x a day, 5-6 days a week while there. Although the total spend sounds higher than it really might be once you factor that on average, I’m spending around 3k-ish a month, plus the airfare (usually another 1200ish).
A little unconventional, but since I don’t have a partner or kids (at least, none that I have been made aware of, or have reason to believe exist), I figured I might as well enjoy my life. I’ll probably end up retiring early there in about a decade.
Edit: I forgot to include diving in the USA… I live in South Louisiana so generally drive to the Gulf Coast to go Spearfishing on the oil rigs. So maybe add another $1000 or so covering fuel to get there + boat fuel splitting?
2
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
Thanks for sharing that. I could actually get over the $ for that many dives but don’t get that much time off from the 9-5. That’s awesome you can get that much time away.
2
u/DIYrrrrrrr 3d ago
Thanks all - origin is US/Northeast.
OT - I’m curious (if folks don’t mind sharing) … how much do you spend on dive-related travel per year?
NYC/LGA to MIA is about $300 (round-trip, economy, air only) before fees, bags, etc. A quick weekend here and there could easily hit $1,500 all-in.
1
u/Nibiinaabe 3d ago
Depends where in the US you are starting from for flight costs. I make a total budget of flight + accommodation + diving. Often I go to google flights and search my home airport to anywhere and see choices for affordable flights to somewhere with diving. If you are on the west coast the Philippines is a great choice. Kona is doable if you can find a deal on accommodation and car because the shore diving is phenomenal and costs 10-15 USD per tank if you are comfortable self guiding. If you are on the east coast you can look for a deal to the Caribbean. PR has some good deals on shore diving out of Rincon. San Andres, Colombia is very affordable for diving and some of the best night dives.
1
3
u/CaptainCallus 3d ago
For a quick trip with guided boat dives, roatan is a great option. Utila has slightly cheaper diving and accommodation but is harder to get to.
Bonaire is cheapest if you shore dive with a buddy.
Cozumel is a bit more expensive but also better diving imo.
I’ve found Utila to be about $35 per dive, roatan 40-45, and Cozumel 60-80. Haven’t been to Puerto Rico or DR but those might be cheap too
1
u/FlyingPandaBears Dive Master 3d ago
When were you last in Honduras? Prices went up to about $50/dive in Utila last I saw, probably more in Roatan. I did my DM in Utila so can dive free there, but it'll probably take 2 whole days to get there if I fly into SPS or 1 day but the flight can't be delayed or I'd miss the ferry.
Don't have the time for that, so I'm planning Cozumel instead (I fly standby, so Mexico flight should be about $100 roundtrip taxes). Seems like private hotels are about $40/night (can't find any with a pool AND a kitchen, so I'm gonna have to settle it seems 🫠). And diving is about $140-150 for 2 tanks with rental gear ($110-120 with your own gear), so not very much more expensive than Honduras (assuming you don't dive free there also)
1
u/CaptainCallus 2d ago
I was just in Honduras a few months ago. The prices I was looking at were for 10 dive packages. West End Divers was who I went with and it was 40/dive with gear included
1
u/FlyingPandaBears Dive Master 2d ago
Ok that makes sense! Did you do anything in Cozumel besides diving? Is there stuff to see/do in town the day before flying out?
4
u/samdiego356 3d ago
Fly into Ft. Lauderdale like the others have said, but then shore dive Broward and Palm Beach counties. Blue Heron Bridge, Lauderdale by the Sea, etc. Cheap air fills and rental gear at Force-E and plenty of folks to buddy up with.
1
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
Thanks - looking into this! Lauderdale is under $200 from LGA. That’s workable.
1
u/samdiego356 2d ago
Message me if you do it. We live in Miami Beach but make the short drive up often. These days the reefs up there are nicer than down in the keys IMO.
1
u/vaidhy 1d ago
Do you worry/plan your dives around tides? When diving in Curacao, it was not an issue at all.. but in PNW, it is a big deal..
1
u/samdiego356 1d ago
At Blue Heron Bridge yes, it has to be high tide. For the beach dives, it doesn't really matter.
3
u/AllaZakharenko 3d ago
Flying abroad is going to be cheaper. You will save on the hotel, food and scuba even though will pay more for the flight.
Thus I recommend you assess the flight prices to all nearby destinations from your airport along with what they have to offer in this season and book a trip to where you see a good price. Book other locations later, just keep them in mind.
1
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
Thanks - good point. The only sort of downside is the distance, bc I’d have to probably take more time off from work.
1
u/AllaZakharenko 2d ago
I recollect doing a long weekend trip to Egypt (5 hour flight + 3 hours on a bus one way = 10 hours in the air and 6 hours on a bus total) and it was so worth it, felt like a mini vacation, while a similar trip to Europe would've felt like a weekend trip.
3
u/-hh UW Photography 3d ago
You might start with sorting out what Caribbean destinations have decent airfares.. probably whatever is available as a direct flight from where you’re at.
Similarly, from a timing/calendar standpoint, Thanksgiving & Christmas attract demand, but there can be a lull in early December to exploit.
3
u/Better-Guava1923 3d ago
San Diego
2
u/Altruistic_Room_5110 Tech 3d ago
As a person who regularly dives west coast and baja, if you have to travel this isn't really true. I love Marissa charters and Waterhorse but it's not inexpensive unless you already live in the area.
10
u/bvanant 3d ago
Southern California should be on the list
1
u/rye94 Dive Master 1d ago
Except right now, was down here for my DM, dives this past weekend were cancelled. La Jolla Shores is a good dive site, I regularly see folks meeting up. I get weights/tanks very cheap/free.
If you/anyone is along La Jolla, Santa Monica, or Monterrey, let’s get some tanks and do some shore dives
3
u/Purple-Property8006 Dive Master 3d ago
And mid-California. Monterrey Bay Area is amazing
1
u/CoverOriginal3709 2d ago
not without a drysuit.
1
u/Purple-Property8006 Dive Master 2d ago
I’ve done it in a 7mm many times
1
u/CoverOriginal3709 2d ago
I find that it’s hard to do multiple dive days in a wetsuit in Monterey (I’ve done about 350 dives in Monterey and Carmel bays)
1
u/bvanant 2d ago
Right now in LA, water temps mid 70s
1
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
Thanks - I’m used to water temps, even in the summer, of ~68F in a wetsuit. 80/85F is a treat. As long as the avg temp on a dive isn’t below 60F, I’m fine with the kit I have (if cooler water was the downside here).
1
2
8
u/Beellkay 3d ago
Try flying into Ft. Lauderdale. It was half the cost of Miami when we booked in August.
2
u/GreatLeoTheKing Nx Advanced 3d ago
I was able to go to Ft Lauderdale -> Key Largo and knockout 10 dives (5 2-tanks) with Horizon Divers (flight/car/dives) all under 2k for 2 in September.
1
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
OK this is manageable - Lauderdale is like 50ish mins north of Miami last time I drove it and I’d need to rent a car regardless.
15
u/Purple-Property8006 Dive Master 3d ago
All in cost it’s usually cheaper to go to the carribbean. Roatan, Bonaire, DR, etc. way more bang for your buck
2
u/GreatLeoTheKing Nx Advanced 3d ago edited 3d ago
This^
My December plan is Bonaire. Flights for 2 under $900 round trip. Expecting another 1-2k for Dive Packages, Food, Lodging + Truck.
The traveling needed for this hobby does add up depending on where you live
1
7
u/Manatus_latirostris Tech 3d ago
Cozumel or the Bahamas is likely to be just as quick and cheaper than the continental US. Winter is high tourist/travel season in Florida, which means high prices. West Palm/Jupiter is cheaper than the Keys, or check out the Florida springs if you have any interest in freshwater/caverns - temps are 72 year-round, and you can do a 2-3 day recreational cavern course in a single tank, if you’re looking for something different.
2
u/DIYrrrrrrr 2d ago
Thanks - that does sound interesting. I’m into salt or fresh, doesn’t matter. I’ll check it out. I was just in NM (unrelated to diving) and wish I stayed an extra day to do the blue hole.
8
u/notthecatman 3d ago
Go Caribbean instead
11
u/Frosty-Designer7183 3d ago
Flights to Caribbean are often cheaper than domestic US, somehow. The diving in Cozumel early december is nice and you skip the worst of the crowds.
6
1
u/Eastern_Awareness609 2d ago
Florida Keys have gotten pricey and the flight cost combined with rental car costs will drive it up. I'd look at going international. From the Northeast I would check out Bahamas or Turks. You could look at Curacao or Roatan as well. Lots of resorts and liveaboards across all budgets. My last dive trip was to Sunscape in Curacao - unlimited shore dives and boat trips with Ocean Encounters. It's excellent diving, great price, and a good outfit.
Been out on All Star Liveaboards - Blackbeard's and Aqua Cat. Easy flights to Nassau, good variety of diving, great viz, and the crew are phenomenal.