Deep, protected freediving locations around the world.

[sxc]

Howdy!

I'm looking for a deep freediving location where I can settle for a few months and focus on depth. I'm looking for (in decreasing order of importance)
1) Atleast 80M of depth always available.
2) Calm most of the time
3) Accessible from shore
4) Not too expensive to live there.
5) Nice water temp for most of the year (no more than a 3m, 1.5m most of the time ideally)
6) Stuff to do nearby other than diving (not a remote rock in the middle of nowhere)
7) Good viz most of the time
8) Spearing allowed

If there's a freediving community near by, that would make the place even more awesome. My short list right now is:

1) Dean's
I love Dean's, but it's expensive to live in the Bahamas, there's not much of a community, except around events like VB. It's also quite remote, which means other than diving there isn't much to do. It satisfies all the diving conditions, but none of the other ones.

2) Dahab
Satisfies almost everything, except water temp, I've heard from multiple people that around winter time (now) a 5m is a requirement, and it won't start warming up to 3m weather until April/May. Dahab is my most likely option at the moment.

3) Tulamben, Indonesia
Has depth, but it's not protected. Have heard from multiple people who've been there that it's ideal for under 50M, but over that it's not. Some community, cheapish to live.

4) Scott's Head, Dominica
I really love Dominica, but I've never been diving in Scott's Head, anyone with on the ground info about this place? Even though there's no freediving community, I'm very interested in this place. If anyone has more info, please post!

5) Pemba Island
Lots of little tidbits about this place, but I'm not sure depth will be accessible from shore, and I don't think it's going to be protected. Reefs are supposed to be spectacular though. Spearfishing not allowed.

Any other locations I should be considering? Any on the ground info about these locations other than Dean's?

I hope this thread will be useful in the future to other people looking for depth around the world as well.

Thanks!

 

[sanso]

Tulamben is quite good even down to 130m infrastructure and community are there.

Fits your bill as far as I can tell.

Talk to oli@freediveflow.net for details.

 

[Spearo_the_Hero]

Look no further...all of your 8 conditions are met (spearing however must be outside of this town)....my place at ElementFreedive in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines....Live on the sea, just wake up walk down the steps to the reef and dive as deep as you want...no boats and dedicated deep-diving platform is only 100m beyond the reef. Send me and email for some options. If you are looking for a dedicated freediving spot for living for a few months or more, I think this is the right place.

 

[cdavis]

I have not been on the ground in Scots Head, but have done a fair amount of research. The place is on my list. Depth, vis, and shelter (most of the time) should be fine for you. There are simple places to stay walking distance from the diving. Shore diving works fine for most of the coast. There is lots and lots to do on the island, as long as you like natural. Cost might be an issue, also hard to get to. Getting to Scots Head from the airport is a long way. Google places to stay in Scots Head and close for prices. Communication with the locals is sometimes difficult.

If you go there, please post a detailed report.

Connor

 

[MikkoP]

I was in Scott's Head on January 2011. It's a beautiful place. For deep diving it's pretty good. You can find 40m in a very sheltered bay that has no waves and no current and pretty good visibility. For deeper (up to 600 meters, I heard) you have to go to the other side of the bay which is not as well sheltered. On the other hand, it goes vertically almost right from the shore, so you don't really need a boat. Although if you need one, there is a helpful dive center right next to the shore. The main problem was that there was often some current and it was hard to keep the buoy and the rope from drifting. But if you dive at times when there is no current, it's awesome.

 

[cdavis]

FINALLY, somebody who has been there.

Mikko, Could you please post a detailed report, including where and how long you stayed, vis, fish life, coral, reef structure, etc etc.

Connor

 

[Walid]

I think you forgot to mention Roatan, Honduras, it has all of these features..