Holiday suggestions?

The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October. I'm
strangely stuck for ideas!

Due to a shoulder injury, we can't contemplate a rib-based operation, so
we're looking for a particularly-comfortable liveaboard, or a shore-based
trip - somewhere safe and comfortable with good dayboat diving. We're very
experienced Sports Divers (200 dives). We've done the Red Sea to death,
Gibraltar, Menorca, Martinique, Sardinia, Cornwall, Farne Islands, and loved
'em all. For this trip, which marks an important anniversary, comfort is
more important than usual.

Any brainwaves?

--
######################
## PH, London ##
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On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 11:39:27 +0000, Philip Herlihy wrote:

> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October. I'm
> strangely stuck for ideas!

I'm never stuck for ideas on holidays.

I got back from Aruba a couple of weeks ago. Nice diving and it's outside
the usual hurricane zone, so the weather was good. They've got a 400 ft
German WWII wreck in 16m of water, plus about 5 other wrecks, one of which
is in only 6m. There are also the remains of a couple of aircraft too. The
reefs are nice and healthy too.

We flew KLM and I booked the hotel via expedia, or First Choice do package
tours there.

Might get around to finishing the trip report when I've scanned all the
photos in.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports
including Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico

"Jason" <jason.usenet.nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
newsan.2003.09.26.12.05.14.602586@ntlworld.com.. .
> On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 11:39:27 +0000, Philip Herlihy wrote:
>
> > The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October.
I'm
> > strangely stuck for ideas!

Only a week I am afraid but I am off on a northern Red Sea liveaboard Oct
24th. booked via Hayes and Jarvis.

Eddie


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Alas, been there, done that. Good though!

--
######################
## PH, London ##
######################


Eddie wrote:
> "Jason" <jason.usenet.nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> newsan.2003.09.26.12.05.14.602586@ntlworld.com.. .
>> On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 11:39:27 +0000, Philip Herlihy wrote:
>>
>>> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of
>>> October. I'm strangely stuck for ideas!
>
> Only a week I am afraid but I am off on a northern Red Sea liveaboard
> Oct 24th. booked via Hayes and Jarvis.
>
> Eddie
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 23/09/03

Philip Herlihy <foof8500@removeherlihy.eu.com> wrote:
> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October.
> I'm strangely stuck for ideas!

Last year I was in the Cabo Verde islands (Ilha do Sal) in November.
Quite nice, with lost of fish. Not much coral though.

This year or more probably next year, I am thinking about Brazil,
particulary the Fernando de Noronha Island.

Curaçau and/or Bonaire are also places where I would like to go (due
to Hans Hass's books). See this web cam:

http://www.bonairewebcams.com/TheWorks.html

> Due to a shoulder injury, we can't contemplate a rib-based operation,

Your problem is only with RIBs, or small boats in general ?
The place which I used last year (Manta Diving Center) had rigid
(small) boats, but they also have a RIB.

http://www.mantadivingcenter.com/pt/homepage.htm

I stayed in the Hotel Novorizonte. The diving center is on the Hotel,
which meant minimal work carrying gear.

Some more links about islands at:
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/mergulho/ilhas/

> so we're looking for a particularly-comfortable liveaboard, or a shore-based
> trip - somewhere safe and comfortable with good dayboat diving. We're very
> experienced Sports Divers (200 dives). We've done the Red Sea to death,
> Gibraltar, Menorca, Martinique, Sardinia, Cornwall, Farne Islands, and loved
> 'em all.

An obvious destination which is not in your list is the Maldivas.
About the Red Sea, have you been in Djibouti ?

John Bantin (Diver) went there in the Savruga liveaboard:
http://www.divernet.com/travel/0902redsea.htm

In the Summer, the Azores Islands are also nice, but I would not reccommend
them in October. Madeira/Porto Santo are warmer, but then, Tenerife and
the other Canaries should be even warmer.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:24:09 +0000, Philip Herlihy wrote:

> Aruba sounds good - I'll look into it. Thanks.

I should warn you though that food and drink isn't cheap. Reckon on
spending at least $20 per person on a main course, plus most of the more
touristy places add 15% service charge on that.

If you have a look on www.visitaruba.com, there's more info there.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports
including Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico

Thanks, Rui, for these suggestions - all new to me. I'll look into them!

--
######################
## PH, London ##
######################


Rui Pedro Mendes Salgueiro wrote:
> Philip Herlihy <foof8500@removeherlihy.eu.com> wrote:
>> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October.
>> I'm strangely stuck for ideas!
>
> Last year I was in the Cabo Verde islands (Ilha do Sal) in November.
> Quite nice, with lost of fish. Not much coral though.
>
> This year or more probably next year, I am thinking about Brazil,
> particulary the Fernando de Noronha Island.
>
> Curaçau and/or Bonaire are also places where I would like to go (due
> to Hans Hass's books). See this web cam:
>
> http://www.bonairewebcams.com/TheWorks.html
>
>> Due to a shoulder injury, we can't contemplate a rib-based operation,
>
> Your problem is only with RIBs, or small boats in general ?
> The place which I used last year (Manta Diving Center) had rigid
> (small) boats, but they also have a RIB.
>
> http://www.mantadivingcenter.com/pt/homepage.htm
>
> I stayed in the Hotel Novorizonte. The diving center is on the Hotel,
> which meant minimal work carrying gear.
>
> Some more links about islands at:
> http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/mergulho/ilhas/
>
>> so we're looking for a particularly-comfortable liveaboard, or a
>> shore-based trip - somewhere safe and comfortable with good dayboat
>> diving. We're very experienced Sports Divers (200 dives). We've
>> done the Red Sea to death, Gibraltar, Menorca, Martinique, Sardinia,
>> Cornwall, Farne Islands, and loved 'em all.
>
> An obvious destination which is not in your list is the Maldivas.
> About the Red Sea, have you been in Djibouti ?
>
> John Bantin (Diver) went there in the Savruga liveaboard:
> http://www.divernet.com/travel/0902redsea.htm
>
> In the Summer, the Azores Islands are also nice, but I would not
> reccommend them in October. Madeira/Porto Santo are warmer, but then,
> Tenerife and the other Canaries should be even warmer.

Somewhere different try Tenerife, just got back, photos posted on web at

http://www.gray.at/tenerife.htm

--
Dale

http://www.gray.at
"Philip Herlihy" <foof8500@REMOVEherlihy.eu.com> wrote in message
news:bl18hf$rid$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October. I'm
> strangely stuck for ideas!
>
> Due to a shoulder injury, we can't contemplate a rib-based operation, so
> we're looking for a particularly-comfortable liveaboard, or a shore-based
> trip - somewhere safe and comfortable with good dayboat diving. We're
very
> experienced Sports Divers (200 dives). We've done the Red Sea to death,
> Gibraltar, Menorca, Martinique, Sardinia, Cornwall, Farne Islands, and
loved
> 'em all. For this trip, which marks an important anniversary, comfort is
> more important than usual.
>
> Any brainwaves?
>
> --
> ######################
> ## PH, London ##
> ######################
>
>

All good stuff - still no decision yet. Hair being pulled out in bunches
(and not by me...). Thanks!

--
######################
## PH, London ##
######################


Philip Herlihy wrote:
> The missus and I want a 2-3 week holiday around the end of October.
> I'm strangely stuck for ideas!
>
> Due to a shoulder injury, we can't contemplate a rib-based operation,
> so we're looking for a particularly-comfortable liveaboard, or a
> shore-based trip - somewhere safe and comfortable with good dayboat
> diving. We're very experienced Sports Divers (200 dives). We've
> done the Red Sea to death, Gibraltar, Menorca, Martinique, Sardinia,
> Cornwall, Farne Islands, and loved 'em all. For this trip, which
> marks an important anniversary, comfort is more important than usual.
>
> Any brainwaves?

On Thu, 02 Oct 2003 20:47:55 +0100, Keith S. wrote:

> Try Capt Don's in Bonaire. You can dive when you feel like it, just pick
> up a tank and go. Nice house reef 10->40m. DM's on boat dives let you do

After getting back from Aruba, I had a look at the prices of flights for
Curacao and Bonaire. For some reason, the Bonaire flight was a lot more
expensive. Don't know why. Both Aruba and Curacao were about the same.

I was going to pick your brains about Bonaire sometime. You want to come
on my November trip really, you know you do

One thing I was going to ask was that if you haven't got a car, is there
anyway to get out to the other sites? I understand that there's a lot of
shore diving to be had. Does the shop organise any transport?

Jason

--
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Cape Tribulation, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Exmouth and the HMAS Swan