req: good holiday location for New Year (not top-whack prices)

hi-

my wife and I (in London) have just celebrated our 3rd anniversary.
Both of us learnt to dive padi ow on our honeymoon in the Maldives
(was *very* nice :)..). We haven't been diving since, and haven't been
abroad now for more than 18 months and thinking of a holiday to
include diving leaving just after Xmas this year (26th-28th) for 1
week only.

Can anyone suggest any good locations that will not be too expensive
but will provide a)clear warm water, good weather, nice reefs, good
sealife, b) respectable dive-schools (preferably padi or bsac approved
[btw.. any other organization approvals good?]).

We'd like to keep the holiday costs below about £1200 each (inc diving
and gear rental costs), although we'd rather pay less than that if we
could. We don't own any kit.

Thanks for any replies and hopefully recommendations.

"Jim" <camdenguy@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5ec40f04.0409211356.7ffeaa33@posting.google.c om...
> hi-
>
> my wife and I (in London) have just celebrated our 3rd anniversary.
> Both of us learnt to dive padi ow on our honeymoon in the Maldives
> (was *very* nice :)..). We haven't been diving since, and haven't been
> abroad now for more than 18 months and thinking of a holiday to
> include diving leaving just after Xmas this year (26th-28th) for 1
> week only.
>
> Can anyone suggest any good locations that will not be too expensive
> but will provide a)clear warm water, good weather, nice reefs, good
> sealife, b) respectable dive-schools (preferably padi or bsac approved
> [btw.. any other organization approvals good?]).
>
> We'd like to keep the holiday costs below about £1200 each (inc diving
> and gear rental costs), although we'd rather pay less than that if we
> could. We don't own any kit.
>
> Thanks for any replies and hopefully recommendations.

Although the water won't be as warm as the maldives, for a reasonably pried
holiday you could look at the canary Islands.

My wife & I have a timeshare on Lanzarote, which is our preference, although
Tenerife is the most popular island. It all depends upon what you want from
the holiday.

My preference for diving centres on Lanzarote would be College diving in
Playa Blanca, Calypso Diving or Deco-Stop in Costa Teguize, or Agua Tenerife
diving centre (TENERIFEDIVE.COM) on Tenerife.

Flights & accommodation on the Canary Islands are reasonable, the food is
good and all costs in Euros.

Regards,

Tony

Jim wrote:
> hi-
>
> my wife and I (in London) have just celebrated our 3rd anniversary.
> Both of us learnt to dive padi ow on our honeymoon in the Maldives
> (was *very* nice :)..). We haven't been diving since, and haven't been
> abroad now for more than 18 months and thinking of a holiday to
> include diving leaving just after Xmas this year (26th-28th) for 1
> week only.
>
> Can anyone suggest any good locations that will not be too expensive
> but will provide a)clear warm water, good weather, nice reefs, good
> sealife, b) respectable dive-schools (preferably padi or bsac approved
> [btw.. any other organization approvals good?]).
>
> We'd like to keep the holiday costs below about £1200 each (inc diving
> and gear rental costs), although we'd rather pay less than that if we
> could. We don't own any kit.
>

For that sort of money you are spoilt for choice. You could
try the Caymans (if they've cleared up the mess by xmas!).
Went there about 7 years ago and stayed at the Cayman Diving
Lodge which is basic accomodation but good food and 3 dives/day.
Barbados also has decent diving and should fit in that budget.

Seychelles has some nice diving too, we went last year in January
and got flight + 1 week's hotel for £650.

- Keith