Two adults and 15 year old looking for reasonable dive destination with a nearby rainforest. Going in November. Have been to Grand Cayman and Provo in Turks and Caicos. Both excellent but rather dull islands geographically. Any ideas?

Have you considered Saba? If you are looking for diving and hiking, this is your place. Saba is a tiny 5 square mile island with amazing diving and a wonderful rainforest. There is not much in the way of nightlife and the island is very quiet. Sea Saba is a great dive shop and they have a travel agency which can arrange your air, hotel, and diving (Dive Saba). Sea Saba has a website if you are interested.

Try St. Lucia. Anse Chastanet resort, in the shadow of The Pitons, is one of the Caribbean's lovliest spots and has the island's premier dive enterprise on site. The resort is set on a hillside (you'll need to be pretty able-bodied just to climb up hill to your room!) and surrounded by lush rain forest.
Another idea ‹ Grenada offers diving (to the wreck of the Bianca C, among other sites) from Grand Anse Beach, in the southwest, and Grand Etang National Forest Reserve is a huge rainforest in the central part of the island. Both islands are great vacation destinations ‹ lots of sightseeing opportunities, nice people, all kinds of accommodations ‹ including reasonable ones ‹ and dive packages available.

Have you considered not so "cush" dive areas as Central America? Having dove several Caribbean islands ourselves, it was enjoyable to dive Belize. My brother loved Bayman Bay Club in Honduras (?) but he also dives to the max but the hotel is unique. My husband and I enjoyed Belize but there really isn't a whole lot of night life--esp if you were to stay inland at a jungle resort spa.....have fun and dive safe!

Fran--
Just returned from Tobago. Wonderful diving plus a
great rain forest hike. We have been to Cayman and
Provo also--loved both places, but would have to say
that Tobago is varied with the rain forest and
excursions to Little Tobago (formerly the haunt of
the Bird of Paradise relocated from New Guinea)
however, the hurricane took care of that. They
hope to stock the island with this beautiful bird
in the near future.
If you are interested, e-mail me, and I have names,
fax numbers, e-mail addresses (in a few cases. I don't think you would be sorry visiting Tobago.
The only problem is getting there!

Sorry--this is my e-mail address.

Has anyone been diving off the west coast of Costa Rica? If so, please let me know what to expect?

Saba and rainforest? I don't think so, although it is a fine dive destination. For diving and hiking opportunities I think your choice should be Dominica. Good macro photo ops, sponges, crinoids. Few if any larger fish, no pelagics that I have seen. Great scenery, hot springs galore. Hiking was strenuous in March due to heat, humidity at least for folks from the NW. People are friendly and the Island is relatively undeveloped. It is quite inexpensive. I can recommend Castle Comfort Lodge for basic clean accomadations and good local style food. Fancier options are available, eg. Fort Young Hotel but as far as I know no large resorts (thank heavens). Please note Dominica is between Guadaloupe and Martinique-it is not the Dominican Republic. St. Lucia is very scenic-people are not all that friendly in my experience and I speak French. Also diving is not as good.