My husband and I are divers and have been to the Great Barrier Reef and Grand Cayman, and we're looking for a destination that is on the less expensive side.

We're thinking the Florida Keys or Hawaii or even somewhere in Mexico like Cozumel.

Any suggestions?

Bay Islands, Honduras. I love Belize, too, but it tends to be more expensive than Honduras. My photos and travelogues are linked below if you're interested (will try to post this summer's trip in the next week or so). Happy trails!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

I'd recommend Honduras as well - I'm not a diver, but we loved the snorkelling off Roatan, and lots of people head there for diving.

@hopefulist Thanks for the tip—I'd never thought of Honduras! Your pictures are great. Looks like you've been several times—what keeps bringing you back?

@SusanInToronto We'll look into Roatan. Thanks!

You saw the pictures. I'm fond of Copán Ruinas, too, and there are wonderful jungle activities near La Ceiba in addition to the island options. We enjoy the lodging options, snorkeling, diving, and fly fishing on Guanaja, Roatán, and Utila. We visited in Honduras in 2005, 06, and 08 and will likely head back again in the next year or 2.

You may want to take a look at: http://ambergriscayetravelforum.freeforums.org

www.utiladivecentre.com

Am a PADI/NAUI Instructor

Utila best cheapest quality island diving

Florida Keys poor dead reef also Cozumel...

Belize Cayes good also more expensive Blue Hole is worth it.

www.jinetesdeosa.com CA Cano Island diving is excellent

scubaboard has a lot of information, but folks sometimes push their own place - caveat emptor: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/central-america/

I found 2 dive shops on Caye Caulker with good websites, but both got a few negative reviews. My 2 daughters (age 19+) will be getting their open water cert there. I'm getting nervous. How to pick a safe reliable dive shop? I on't dive myself, just snorkle

late reply don't know if you are still there, but I would ask on scubaboard.

oh, and we dove with Ecologic while on Ambergris, and liked them very much - professional, good equipment (we rented BC and reg) and great dives.

We also went to Thatch Caye and dove with them, Ian (DM/Instructor) was wonderful! Very different diving, and also fabulous.

www.anthonyskey.com

www.bibr.com

good operations on Roatan

qwovadis: I totally disagree with your lumping the dead coral of Key West with the reefs of Cozumel. The <u>diving reefs</u> in Cozumel are healthy and well -- full of fish and sea creatures of all kinds. Maybe you haven't been there lately and have read too much about the damage caused to the <u>SHALLOW</u>, shore reefs by hurricane Wilma. However, even the snorkeling reefs are making an amazing return now. While I agree that Roatan, Honduras is a wonderful dive location -- it is neither as easy to get to or as cheap as Cozumel.