Kent Lind wrote:

> Hi folks:
>
> I've been off the list for a spell while I've been off having adventures and
> getting married in Chile.
>
> Now I'm happily-married and back in Alaska and thinking about dive vacation
> this winter to some place warm.  My wife Isabel is a recreational diver so
> that makes the vacation "theme" easy enough.  The possible complication is
> her 3 year old daughter who will, of course, come along on any vacation we
> plan.
>
> So I'm looking for recommendations for kid-friendly dive vacation spots.
> Preferably in the Mexico/Caribbean/Central America region as that is the
> most accessible region from Alaska.
>
> I'm assuming that liveaboards are out.  And perhaps also the dive-focused
> resorts in remote locations that may not have many interesting things for
> kids to do.
>
> Ideally I'd like a spot with a selection of modestly-priced hotels, nice
> beaches for the kid to play at, daycare facilities of some sort to take the
> kid so we can dive together, and good accessible diving.  I'm thinking about
> someplace where Isabel and I can get a good 2-tank dive in during the
> morning with the daughter in daycare and then spend the afternoons playing
> with her on the beach and just goofing off.  So we probably don't want an
> all-inclusive package since we won't know for sure how much diving we'll be
> doing vs just goofing off.
>
> Any recommendations folks?  How would Cozumel fit that description?  That's
> the one place that comes to mind but never having been to Cozumel I have no
> way to judge.  Any other places come to mind?

Let me first extend my warmest congratulations to the both of you.

We are always doing exactly what you are suggesting. We choose diving vacation
as a function of having the possibility to do a morning 2 tank dive and be back
in time for lunch then spend the remainder of the day with the rest of the
tribe. One plus is that we take the nanny with us which eliminates the need of
finding a daycare facility.
Ideal places to best combines Kid's care/enjoyment and diving are club meds and
the likes. Rather expensive though.

Jean-Marc