I'm trying to plan a trip for 3, maybe 4, couples to the Caribbean and had planned on booking Grand Cayman since we would like to scuba dive. I had also planned on finding a nice villa but based on the posts here and my research, I'm not so sure GC is the way to go. Does anyone has any suggestions for an island with nice accommodations and good scuba diving? A nice place to stay is pretty important. (I thought I posted this question before but can't find it - if you've seen it already - my bad.)<BR>Thanks for your help.

We do a couples' dive vacation every year. Our favorite place is Cozumel. Divers agree its the best reef with easy accessability. Lots of great places to stay and plenty of diversions when you're not diving. Last winter we also went to Belize - Ambergris Caye. It was very nice, somewhat low key. The diving was quite good, but no better than Cozumel and much harder to access. This year we went to Roatan, Honduran Bay Islands. Wow! Stayed in a 3 bedroom, 3 bath house right on the beach with a dive shop two doors down and the greatest snorkeling and diving right from the same beach. It was wonderful. The guys (or divers) can't wait to get back. All three of these options are cheaper than Grand Cayman, however, our dive shop owners love Little Cayman and dive from there often. If you want more specific information about any of these locations, drop me an email I'll be happy to share the details.

In addition: I have been investigating the Yucatan Coast from Playa del Carmen south for next year. It is the same Palancar Reef system as Cozumel. There are tons of beautiful villas for rent along that coast. Take a look at www.locogringo.com

There's great diving and a really laid back atmosphere on both St. Eustatius and Saba. However, niether have any real fancy places for accomodations.

I think Turks and Caicos is amazing, there are totally virgin dive spots and the beaches themselves are glorious. Today the island has lots of fancy resorts. This is a place strictly for beach, dive, tanning though, not a place for shopping, nightlife and so forth. I did a live aboard dive trip there with another couple and found it amazing but live aboards are not luxurious though very pleasant.