AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Caye Caulker Diving in CC

Coming to Belize Aug 30-Sep 8....staying on CC from Aug 30-??? (depending on how much we love it). Our goal is to do the most diving on a budget (we have equipment minus the tanks) and also to relax and maybe enjoy some nightlife. Looking for the best Dive shop on CC to book diving excursions with (PADI preferred). Suggestions? We're still uncertain as to where we will stay (looking for rooms with A/C, private bath and under $50). Is it better to wait until we arrive on Aug 30 to look around before booking or are reservations necessary? Are most places keen on spur-of-the-moment guests? What's the night scene like? Any place to play pool or other bar type activities? Live bands? Looking forward to meeting people and enjoying a bit of paradise. This is my first vacation at age 35 - any tips to make this most memorable on CC is appreciated as well.

[This message has been edited by exsqwid (edited 08-25-2002).]

Paradise Down is great. PADI approved and biggest boat and nicest equipment on CC. See Patti,OJ or Maribel at the office inside the Oceanside on Front Street. I highly recommend them, as I certified with them two years ago and keep coming back!

Unless you are really attached to using your own equipment you really need not bring it along. Save lugging it around everywhere on your trip, paying extra for the insurance on the plane, and tending to it by using the very good rental equipment at the diveshop. It really does not increase the cost much at all but the freedom is wonderful.

I agree with the above poster, Paradise Down is a top notch shop. They are PADI and have a very safe operation. Their new boat, a 45 foot divers dream, gets you to the outer atoll dive spots quickly and comfortably. It even has a head. Their staff are wonderful, quite accomodating and just plain good people.

As for nightlife, try the Oceanside bar and perhaps the Disco. Not alot of nighlife but you will probably be tired from all the diving and want to call it an early night anyway.

Caye Caulker is a great spot, hope you have a terrific vacation.

i agree

Thank you all for the good info. We chose De Real Macaw for our first night's stay (keeping our options open)...and we're going with Paradise Down for the diving...we decided to NOT bring our own equipment as well (except mask-snorkel-fins). Thanks again.

I've been living in Belize for 12 years and I have always prefered to dive with the Belizean owned dive operations - Frenchies.
They are great!

Hi was there this past year and definatly like Frenchies Dive group carlos and the rest were awesome to dive with, reasonalbe prices and more helpful then paradise Down actually booked a trip with paradise down and their affilliate boat from Ambergrise broke down and there was no radio on the boat...a few hours of bullshit(sorry about the language) Definatly try Frenchies you wont be dissapointed.