Top 10 Diving Destinations
According to polls taken by various dive magazines, the top ten diving destinations for Americans are: Florida Keys, Florida's east coast, Cozumel, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Bonairs and Turks & Caicos.
Blackbeard Cruises
Blackbeard cruises offer three sailboat choices for scuba diving adventures. The Sea Explorer, Morning Star and Pirate's Lady each offer a scuba diving vacation in the Bahamas. You will explore wrecks and reefs and have night and shark dives; wall and drift dives are available on all ships. These weeklong cruises have no set itinerary as the weather and conditions permit offering you an adventure of a lifetime. Prices ranged from $899 a week, as of December 2009.
Aqua Cat Cruises
Aqua Cat has a liveaboard scuba diving and snorkeling vacation in the Bahamas, which sails from Nassau, Bahamas, to the remote islands of Exumas. You will find the most pristine areas of the Bahamas in the Sea Park and Exuma Cays. Aqua Cat is a floating resort with bar, meals, scuba diving and water sports all for a price comparable to a Caribbean luxury cruise. You will have the captain and crew at your service during this luxury vacation. The Aqua Cat travels at a speed of 14 knots and its 35-foot beam makes for a smooth sail. Rates for the eight day/seven night with 5 1/2 days of diving start at $2,295 a person with discounts for the third and fourth person in a cabin, as of December 2009.
Explorer Ventures
Explorer Ventures offers dive cruises to the Bahamas, Galapagos, Saba/St. Kitts, and the Turks and Caicos. It offers eight-day cruises and all accommodations have a private bathroom. Included in your price you receive eight days, seven nights of accommodations, five dives per day, the use of tanks, weights and belts, three meals a day and snacks in between dives, all beverages including alcohol, and all port and immigrations fees. Airfare, gratuity and other taxes and fuel surcharges are not included. As of December 2009, prices range from $1,800 to $4,300 depending upon your destination of choice.
Nekton Cruises
For those who love the scuba diving, but aren't too keen on the idea of living on a boat, Nekton Cruises may be a great choice. Nekton has the most stable liveaboard scuba diving cruise vessels around with its unique SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) design. Its vessels are so stable that there is no seasickness as is found with other boat designs, and it offers more time in the water because of the mooring system. It offers diving adventures in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Belize, St. Croix and more, with prices ranging from $1,495 to $2,395 depending on location and length of trip, as of December 2009. It also offers certification courses for nondivers who are interested in learning.
