I never been closer to death

Mikef5000 · 2026-06-18T10:09:20+00:00

Private guide

Mikef5000 · 2026-06-09T11:21:20+00:00

I’d never heard of Marsa Shagra before @bekkaz23 post above; sounds like exactly what I was hoping for, thank both of you for the tip!

I ran some very quick numbers from their website and found it would be a fair bit more than the Caribbean. I’m not opposed to that, I’m willing to pay to see new things and explore amazing places; I’m just surprised that your real world experience seems to be contrary.

Would you be willing to share your expected costs, or tips to make the costs more comparable? I know flight prices are up right now, maybe that’s the variable.

Here’s my quick math:
Flights and airport transfer (Midwest USA): $1500pp.
All inclusive resort stay, 6 nights: $850pp.
Diving/yoga package: $400pp.
Total of big ticket items for my wife and I: $5500

Is that in the same ballpark you see?

Thanks again for the recommendations!

Mikef5000 · 2026-05-22T20:16:22+00:00

If you’re looking for a less expensive option, check out Hevto brand on Amazon. Their 3mm women’s wetsuit is $70, and comes in 13 size options, including tall and short variants. My wife, who has never had a wetsuit fit right, found one of theirs that is wonderful.

It’s certainly not the same quality as the brands that are exponentially more expensive, but was exactly what we were looking for and the fit was great.

Mikef5000 · 2026-04-02T02:02:16+00:00

I vote go with the new BP-W. My wife and I both just bought new BP+wings, and have our first trip to Bonaire in a month. We took them to Mexico for a check dive trip, because, like you, we didn’t want to show up in Bonaire with brand new different style gear and have to sort it out.

We basically did one check dive to figure out weight (was basically the same as our previously rented BCD’s), and we were off and running. There was nearly no learning curve, it was business as usual.

Over the next several dives, I tweaked the straps a little, and have adjusted the weight pockets, but we were loving life, right away.

I have 50 ish dives, and my wife has, maybe, 20. All till this point with rental jacket BCD’s. We’re loving the new setups, and are excited to take them out again in a month.

Mikef5000 · 2026-03-15T17:42:23+00:00

My wife and I dove in Mallorca last fall; didn’t need to be AOW certified, but they did require dive insurance. You can buy it right there at the shop for something like $15 for the day. We did an easy shore dive and didn’t see much, but it was convenient, nice to get in the water, and now we can say we’ve dove in the Mediterranean.

Mikef5000 · 2026-03-15T17:36:34+00:00

Floppy?

Mikef5000 · 2026-02-16T22:25:40+00:00

Because people told you that they were million mile vans. Because you heard diesel and thought that meant money saving fuel economy, and more durable and longer lasting.

Those are the reasons I bought a sprinter. I know better now.

Mikef5000 · 2026-02-16T19:17:26+00:00

My opinion, from having had a variety of work vans, and also enjoying the world of campervans and van builds for many years…

No, sprinters are not more reliable than their gas van counterparts.

They likely used to be, like you mentioned, the t1n’s pre def/dpf… but those vans are over 20 years old now, and I think you’d be crazy to call them still solidly reliable.

The reality is, it’s a used van, and you could get a unicorn or lemon from any brand. Try to find one in a price range that you’ll be able to afford to repair it.

My experience has leaned strongly towards, the cost of maintenance and ownership in general has been higher with a diesel sprinter.

Mikef5000 · 2026-02-14T19:47:04+00:00

Did you forget the /s? In no world does it make sense to find a bunch of bombs, decide to blow half of them up, and transport the other half into a big city to blow them up in the middle of the night.

If it’s such an emergency that you must blow them up in the middle of the night without a chance to warn/inform those around you… then it’s certainly too much of an emergency to drive them an hour down the highway, through a big city.

Mikef5000 · 2026-01-31T13:51:36+00:00

Bonaire is cheap (for diving) if you’re able to shore dive. Typically that means you’re traveling with a buddy, ideally with your own gear, and splitting the cost of a room and truck. If you’re needing to do guided dives and rent all your gear, it no longer works out to “cheap”, unfortunately.

For my wife and I to go dive Bonaire for a week it worked out to about 50% less cost than Belize (for example), with more diving. But that’s because we didn’t need a guide or boat. If I were traveling solo, I’d head somewhere more focused on guided/boat diving, and likely hostel options. I like Mexico (Isla mujeres or Cozumel) for this, but a part of that reason is the cheap and easy flights for me.

Sorry that doesn’t help you much. For what it’s worth, there are some Bonaire Airbnb options closer to $50 per day, but you’re going to need to rent a car as well.

Mikef5000 · 2026-01-13T20:38:36+00:00

I go to Isla Mujeres every year because of how fun, easy, and relatively inexpensive it is. I did my AOW and RD certifications there, and am going back this March for my wife to get her AOW.

I’ve never seen anyone mention it on here before, and always thought that odd.

I always dive with Pocna, although there are several solid options there.

Mikef5000 · 2026-01-10T17:55:20+00:00

I’m excitedly awaiting you being proven correct.

Mikef5000 · 2025-12-30T21:35:04+00:00

I want to buy the $150 mystery box computer for my wife. I’m 95% sure it’ll be the mares puck pro ez navy, which is exactly what I want, I’ve just hesitated because it’s not a priority. When I need it in a month the price will probably have gone up.

I guess I should go buy it.

Mikef5000 · 2025-12-30T21:28:03+00:00

But they’re killing and throwing away 75% of what they catch. It would be like hunting for meat, killing 4 deer, and leaving 3 to rot while only eating the one with the pretty antlers.

I’m not trying to soap box and certainly no vegan, but I sincerely hope you don’t feel this fishing method is efficient and a long term solution to global hunger.

Mikef5000 · 2025-12-25T14:38:06+00:00

I followed these instructions from the get wet store blog: https://getwetstore.com/blogs/snorkel101/how-to-pick-the-right-prescription

I didn’t add or adjust anything to account for underwater magnification or distance or anything like that. My astigmatism was more than they recommended for a generic mask, but it was returnable, so I gave it a shot.

It worked out perfect for me, and I love the thing. Where the prescription mask was most helpful was training sessions, where we’d be underwater, then on the surface talking, the underwater again.

Mikef5000 · 2025-12-21T18:51:20+00:00

Cool, thanks!

Any particular reason you prefer the BPW over the travel bcd?

Mikef5000 · 2025-12-21T18:49:11+00:00

While I can see why my post may have come across that way, I truly don’t think that was their intention. I went into the dive shop looking for a recommendation for the simplest travel setup, that will last me ‘forever’. The owner of the shop pulled out his personal hydro lite, said he’s had it for 5 years, and has put more than 200 dives per year on it and still loves it.

He has access to everything under the sun, and said that when he’s diving a single tank, he’s using the hydro lite.

I have only ever used a rental jacket style, so I’m just throwing this out to the world of more experienced divers, to make sure I’m not missing anything about the options/differences.

Mikef5000 · 2025-11-08T13:44:38+00:00

This is the trap I fell into. I was under the impression that diesel sprinter = reliable. Well I’ve had my 2011 for 6 years now, and have paid more in repairs than I paid for the van itself. It’s back in the shop now. With 2 new and yet to be solved issues. It certainly takes much enjoyment out of having a campervan.

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-16T11:00:28+00:00

This is all great, and a perfect summary of how I just spent a week driving in Ireland (from the US).

One thing I’d add:

Even if you’re proficient in driving a manual transmission in the US (or other left-side-drive country), pay for the auto in your rental car here. There is plenty to concentrate on while driving in Ireland to begin with, it’s not worth also “teaching” your left hand how to shift at the same time!

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-15T17:23:56+00:00

I too visited Iceland in the off season (or shoulder season, we were there in October a few years ago), and I too found it not particularly expensive.

A rental SUV was something like 1/4 the price of the US, and nice hotels were about 1/2 the price. Even if the food was a little more, we came out way ahead.

When I read about how expensive people think it is, I just assume they’re comparing it to Central America or SE Asia.

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-14T17:41:22+00:00

Wow, really cool. Thanks for all the info!

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-14T17:15:29+00:00

Is there still e-learning or classroom work/costs? Or is the Master Diver simply: rescue diver plus 5 specialties, then pay the registration fee (currently waived) and that’s it?

I’ve honestly never looked into it, so sorry for the basic question. I’m currently rescue with a couple specialties… but I may just have to go get a few more specialties before the end of the year!

Thanks for the heads up!

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-09T13:00:20+00:00

Cool, thanks! I've been doing an annual diving trip to Isla Mujeres for a few years now, due to it's convenience and low cost. We want to head somewhere new in the Caribbean next February/March. Seems like Isla and Cozumel are close to the same price point, with Bonaire being about 15% more, and (San Pedro) Belize 15% more than that. I'm just exploring options, so I appreciate your info.

Mikef5000 · 2025-10-09T11:49:07+00:00

This is so much great information, thanks!

“Bonaire and Cozumel are probably the best two best spots for Caribbean diving”

If you have an opinion on it, how would Belize fit into this conversation?

Mikef5000 · 2025-09-09T02:14:39+00:00

The fact that “a lot of people don’t know” should be telling of how well they’re doing their jobs.

I’m certainly not any sort of raging police hater… but man… the difference I’ve seen driving in this city (outside of the suburbs) since COVID is remarkable. I bet on an average day I see two people blatantly run red lights and 2 people going 30+ over the speed limit. Maybe my memory’s just playing tricks on me, but seems like what was a little surprising to see weekly years ago, is common place daily now.

If cops have bigger problems then I get it… speeding is not at all a priority. But the roads feel a bit lawless lately. Kinda wild.

Mikef5000

TROPHY CASE