I do not intend to sound like a snob here.....

I have been diving since 1981 and have seen a bunch of changes. Places that used to be wonderful such as Grand Cayman have become destroyed by the legions of novice divers that have pretty much destroyed half the decent dive sites off the island (Was there in 1984 and in 1998 and boy did it change). Sharm still has some great spots, however is dominated by "group" dive operators that take mostly Italians and French down, and they then proceed to get their bouyancy scrwed up and spend the whole dive destroying the reef and are more into the color coordination of their equipment than actually enjoying their diving. That said there are still some great spots in Sharm, but I would not go there in August due to the European crowds. I'd save it for a Jan/Feb when you'll appreciate the warm temperature more, and crowds will be more reasonable (If you wait until March/April its ok, but first check when Jellyfish egg season is as that 2 weeks is not the best to dive).

Bonaire or Turks are probably the best suggestions in the caribbean (cannot comment on Cuba). I personally find the Mediterranean and Aegean to be wastes of time (unless you have a specialized thing you like to do and can get licenses for like archeological stuff or spear fishing etc.).

I've heard some great thins about Kenya and Mozambique. Off the beat and track, some of the best diving I have had was near Dakak, which is in Northern Mindanao in the Phillipines (it is safe there). Truk and its surroundings are great as you have the whole wreck thing plus incredible sealife as well. If you go for the GBR, Heron Island is the place to go, much clearer than on shore and whitsunday diving and you are actually "on the reef" in a very ecologically friendly setting.

They claim 90F at mid day. The overhead sun makes it hotter. Dry and windy. Diving is in the lee of Bonaire. Rainy season is one or two days in April. No Gonzo diving. Just not much to see below 80-90ft. No gloves allowed. Most operations do a 1 hr morning dive and a 1 hr afternoon dive. Bruce Bowker allows longer dives.

Almost all dives are from fixed moorings, no anchors allowed, unless the wind dies, and then one can go to the east side of the island. I have been there for about 50-60 days of diving, and never had an East side dive.

Shore night diving is a big deal, an is quite good almost everywhere. Town Pier is a famous nite dive, but may requre permission, or a permit, or a guide (try Dee Scar if she is still around)

Normally I would agree with this, but at this time, for some reason a lot of people are staying away http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif and the diving is supposed to be great (ie 1/2 boats at Thistlegorm, instead of 15 !).

Re: East Africa, I was in Zanzibar last October, great diving, quiet, great coral but not too many big pelagics (sp - the big stuff, sharks, rays, etc). August is a good time to go too - tack a week in Pemba onto a safari.

cheers
Stew

hfly, stewie mac and slawecki - thanks a million for your suggestions and tips. This definitely gives me food for thought.

Niels

My biggest pet peeve!

We all had buoyancy problems when we first started, at least the dive masters were very adamant on the boat and while diving not to touch the reef.

I could not tell you the last time I heard a dive master mention "watch your buoyancy, stay off the reef" during a pre-dive orientation.

Just recently in HI on the inside of the Molokini crater (which we were told has the most abundant coral concentration in all of HI), when we came up after our 1st, I mentioned to the dive master of my group that I had noticed many divers in another group sitting on/kicking/kneeling on the coral. He mentioned it to the other dive master, who did not (to my knowledge, nor to the dismay of our dive master) draw his group's attention to the problem.
On our 2nd, the same thing was happening and I pointed it out to our dive master who swam over and make it clear to the other dive master what was happening.

On the boat a fight almost broke out between the two dive masters, until the captain heard what had happened. The captain conferred w/my dive master, myself and my wife, after which he suspended the other dive master for two weeks, right there on the spot.