Baby friendly scuba diving holidays?

[MumOnAlma]

Hi Mums

My husband and I love our long haul holidays and usually go somewhere we can do a few dives. We now have a gorgeous 4 month old baby and I was wondering whether our scuba days are well and truly behind us or whether there are any travel companies who do scuba holidays for parents with babies? It doesn't have to be particularly long haul, in fact the shorter flight the better if we have a baby in tow, so maybe we just go to Egypt, stay at a hotel and take it in turns to look after the baby whilst the other one dives? - but my DH has been my dive buddy for 10 years, so I wouldn't feel too happy having to trust a stranger when diving (though maybe better that than trust a stranger with my DD?!). I know for Skiing companies like Scott Dunn have nannies, so is there an equivalent for diving? - Mark Warner?

Thanks for any advice from anyone with experience in this area.

Hi,
we were looking at a Mark Warner place in Egypt last year that had the nannies to look after little ones and had fab diving. It looked fabulous but the only do full packages ie flights from the UK and we are in the Middle East so it wasn't cost effective.

Have a look at the Mark Warner website and hopefully you'll find it. They had a fabulous one in Maritius too but a bit further for you.

I know what you mean about not wanting to have a different dive buddy. For the last 6 years my buddy has been DS1 and don't really want to dive with anyone else.

We took DS1 (then pregnant with DS2) to the Maldives in August. One of the best places in the world to dive (so I was told as I don't dive!). We stayed at the Bandos Island Resort that has a free kids' club in the day for babies/kids from 8 months onwards (so you might have to wait a few months). They can also organise babysitting at night (usually with the same staff as the ones who work in the kids' club). They also have a great diving centre. My DH did 3 diving courses plus additional diving in the 2 weeks we were there and just loved it. We only stuck DS1 (18 months old then) in the kids' club for a few hours a day but it gave us a big break! The staff seemed very nice and we absolutely trusted them from day 1. The kids' club was pretty small but they have a baby sleeping room with cots and everything. For us, we was worth the long haul flight for such a lovely holiday (and it was very reasonable too compared to the short haul destinations we were looking at as well).

Hi - there is a company called Family Diving (I think) who should be able to help you. I made some enquiries with them back in the day when I only had one child (now we have two we've given up and have to dive separately!) and they seemed excellent. I do think they've just been taken over but the emails from the new owners promise they want to keep things the way they were.

Otherwise if you trust kids clubs, Beaches (eg in Jamaica) have diving included in their all-inclusive packages and have children's clubs.

Perhaps we should start a Mumsnet dive club where we all go on holiday to the same place together and look after each other's children so we can dive with our dh's!

Hi
have you ever looked at diving in Lake Malawi in Africa?? The lakes 356 miles long and full of fish and dives are $35 for the day in fresh water!!! plus you could do a safari, I know a company that do safaris there where the owner was a nanny and looks after children on their trips which I can give you info if you are interested.

MumOnAlma you post just freaked me out as it echoed exactly where we are with our 5month year old and why I was cruising the Travel forum.

We're having cabin fever, are unusually free to take a last minute deal and craving sun and, ideally, diving - though again thinking we'd have to take it in turns which isn't as appealing, but still...

We're looking into places in the Maldives but are wondering if we're being fair to the little one with such a big trip - 11 hours of plane time alone and then sun / heat issues (though doesn't yet seem too hot there). Also wondering if it'd be too tantilising to take it in turns to stay in the room, though we'd also considered Egypt and thought at least most Maldives rooms have a good view / terrace...

Anyway, totally up for the Mumsnet dive club or likewise as we were also trying to pursuade our NCT buddies to come along to alternate on baby minding but no luck so far as they're not in the same boat re time off work.

Don't suppose you want to go to the Maldives with us? I promise we're not bunny (baby) boilers! ;-)

We'd seen the likes of Bandos but our little one is too small for the kids club type set ups at the moment unforunately

If you fancy shorthaul, Cyprus will fit the bill. There are some amazing dive sites such as the Zenobia wreck and fairy grottos... Weather is usually gorgeous and if you pick a lovely hotel there will be a kids club for your little one.

Hi,

My dh is a dive instructor, and finds a way to dive anywhere we go lol. Kids clubs and diving work well at the following:

Bandos - have been twice now, went for 3 weeks last year and loved it - spent all my redundancy but it was well worth it lol!

Almond Morgan Bay St Lucia - childcare from 3 months, you can dive the Island from the beach, they'll take you out every day.

Almond Beach Club Barbados - again childcare from 3 months, my husband passed most of his courses here!

Playa Pesquero Cuba - childcare for 2+ years, dive centre on the beach.

I always find those Mark Warner/Sunsail places a rip off as there are loads of hidden costs, just find a resort with good childcare near a dive site you want. I just asked if nannies would be free to earn some extra money for night dives etc. most are happy to oblige!

Hope this helps!

They sound VERY expensive. But good!!

I think the Mumsnet diving club is the way foward. I have joined a club in Bristol and am actually looking for another Divemum I can share babysitting/ diving days with!

My DS is nearly ten months old, so he won't be able to go to any kids' clubs for two or three years. I had hoped to leave him with a nanny in Sicily and dive there, but the season hadn't started due to (what they think of as) bad weather.

ps: nannyafrica - I am interested in the place you talk about - I'll try to PM you, or can you post here, please?

There's also this site:
www.familydiving.co.uk/childcare.htm

I second (or third?) Bandos.
I've been there three times now and the diving is fabulous as is the kids club which is FREE!
Really want to go again but DH has put his foot down as the last time we went (for my 40th birthday 2 years ago at Christmas) we stayed in one of the 2 watervillas and the total cost of the holiday was almost the same price as our new Dodge Durango
Was worth it though

My DP and I are divers as well (DP - Divemaster and me - Instructor). We were away at Christmas and Asia is great for childcare and diving. We stay on Koh Samui and go diving Ko Tao way (no problem for a short day on the speedboat). The Thai's love children and will often look after your children for very little and they will often have children of their own that your little ones can play with. The Waterfront resort in Samui provides childcare. We also took our daughter with us for a day out on the big boat and we traded off on some shorter dives and had a little swim with her when we were on a shallow lagoon dive. The flights to Asia cost a little more but it is very expensive when you get there. I would highly recommend it!

mumoverseas - all this talk of Bandos - had to get the photos out last night! Love it there so much - am thinking of taking a temp contract for a few months just to pay for another trip there lol...

It doesn't have the MOST stunning beaches but there is something about it's natural beauty and friendliness....

When we were there in June LY they rebuilt the sundowners bar - I think they were looking for new investment - hope they don't sell to a huge corporation though, that would be v sad.

totally agree lottaluvin I just love it there. There is something about it when you stand at the central point between the dive centre, the pool and the sports centre under a lovely tree. Lovely smell and I could just go there tomorrow. Oooh, theres a thought, can't get to the UK at the moment but could get there

I used to love Sundowners after a dive, like you, I hope they don't sell out.

Ooh good tips thanks, DC2 is 3 months now so will be a bit older by the time we go away but really want to go somewhere baby and dive friendly. Will have a peek at the ones you mention

Crumpette, Bandos is really lovely when you have little ones. I'm pretty sure the kids club is from 8 months and we used to drop off our little one and go diving and then afterwards all go swimming in the pool which is very child friendly.
We love Bandos but its got a little expensive for us booking from the middle east (can't do packages from here) Its actually cheaper to fly back to the UK and then do a package holiday from there.