Which Operator if Diving for 4 days & finished each day by lunchtime (have Advance Certification)

[ggunn]

That would be Salty Endeavors: Cozumel Scuba Diving Best Dive Shop Cozumel Mexico
Henry does run an outstanding Op out of the northern marina.

Do they actually boast of being the "best dive shop Cozumel Mexico" on their website? That there's some pretty big talk.

 

[Zman96]

Aldora, Pepe, Island Divers are all shops I have used from up north. Aldora will not have you back by noon unless you have dove the northern sites, as their dives are typically 70 minutes plus depending on the particular dive profile. I love staying north, but it does make for a longer day since the majority of the diving is done 30-60 minutes by boat south of there. For me that is not a deal breaker and my non diving spouse and the rest of the group know I wont be back until 130-2 depending on the dive sites that day.

 

[sefuchs]

jonhall put together a fantastic spreadsheet identifying details of most dive shops in Coz. "Finding the (Best) Dive Shop in Cozumel" is the first thread in the Cozumel forum and loaded with great info.

I agree with Zman96's comments, essentially all the reefs are south so your travel time is about the same via boat from northern marina or driving to southern marina to jump on the boat. Depending on which reefs you dive the total time vary 30-60 minutes as well. If you want to get back by noonish you probably should find a dive op that leaves by 7-8 am. I dive with ScubaLife Cozumel which leaves the southern marina at 9:00 am and gets back at 1:30 +/- 30 minutes. Your drive from the southern marina to where you are staying is probably 15-25 minutes depending on cruise ship tourists along waterfront. If you drive to southern marina avoid downtown, circle around on 65th Ave.

 

[ggunn]

jonhall put together a fantastic spreadsheet identifying details of most dive shops in Coz. "Finding the (Best) Dive Shop in Cozumel" is the first thread in the Cozumel forum and loaded with great info.

I agree with Zman96's comments, essentially all the reefs are south so your travel time is about the same via boat from northern marina or driving to southern marina to jump on the boat. Depending on which reefs you dive the total time vary 30-60 minutes as well. If you want to get back by noonish you probably should find a dive op that leaves by 7-8 am. I dive with ScubaLife Cozumel which leaves the southern marina at 9:00 am and gets back at 1:30 +/- 30 minutes. Your drive from the southern marina to where you are staying is probably 15-25 minutes depending on cruise ship tourists along waterfront. If you drive to southern marina avoid downtown, circle around on 65th Ave.

I agree; staying north and getting back by noon is a bit of a tall order. It depends a lot on which reefs you are diving, but be advised that most small boat ops choose dive sites by consensus of divers aboard.

 

[Charred]

You want to pick an op with extremely fast boats if you are staying in town. I can only recommend Tres Pelicanos also referred to here as 3P.

I'll give you a pro tip to get back early. For the second dive, ask to dive on the sites already half way home like Yucab, Tormentoes or Paso de Cedral. Or the top of Santa Rosa wall. Then you are half way home during your surface interval and and quickly zoom in after the second dive. Avoid sites like Palancar Gardens or Columbia Shallows.

I see Aldora mentioned a lot. Great op, my primary choice, but you will not be back before 1. Long dives with long surface interval. I suppose if you have a group of 4-6 you might enquire about a private boat and tell them you want 60 minute dives and back by noon. But that would be missing the point of them. Big tanks and long dives.

 

[ggunn]

For the second dive, ask to dive on the sites already half way home like Yucab, Tormentoes or Paso de Cedral. Or the top of Santa Rosa wall. Then you are half way home during your surface interval and and quickly zoom in after the second dive. Avoid sites like Palancar Gardens or Columbia Shallows.

But keep in mind that you cannot dictate where the boat goes unless you guys are the only ones on it. You can ask and vote, but consensus rules.

 

[Sloeber]

Thanks! I'll edit my original post - in case that impacts people's suggestions. We are in a house just north of the airport. So we would be driving to the suggested location.

Hola. Owner of Salty Endeavors here. Our boats are in the north. If your rental has a pier we can offer you pier pick up for your dives. If no pier on your property our boats would be within walking distance for you.

 

[Sloeber]

Do they actually boast of being the "best dive shop Cozumel Mexico" on their website? That there's some pretty big talk.

It's called marketing my friend. Over 1000 people monthly search Google for "best cozumel dive shop." If we find 10000 people searching for the "second best dive shop in cozumel" then that would be our tag line

Besides, from what I understand Cozumel has about 300+ best dive shops, so no worries.

 

[KarinW]

Aldora, Pepe, Island Divers are all shops I have used from up north. Aldora will not have you back by noon unless you have dove the northern sites, as their dives are typically 70 minutes plus depending on the particular dive profile. I love staying north, but it does make for a longer day since the majority of the diving is done 30-60 minutes by boat south of there. For me that is not a deal breaker and my non diving spouse and the rest of the group know I wont be back until 130-2 depending on the dive sites that day.

Great info! Does it tend to be quicker to drive down south and get on a boat in the south or get on a boat up north (Like Pepe's) and do the boat ride south to the good sites?

 

[Sloeber]

Great info! Does it tend to be quicker to drive down south and get on a boat in the south or get on a boat up north (Like Pepe's) and do the boat ride south to the good sites?

The taxi ride is probably 15 minutes from north of the airport to Marina Fonatur. Can be as much as 30 minutes mid afternoon depending on traffic. Boat times are about 10-15 minutes from the north down to the south marina. So neither option really saves you any time they are about the same slight edge to the boat mid afternoon traffic times. But a taxi will cost probably $20usd one way give or take. Personally, I like boat rides anyway. I ride in a car everyday so hopping on a boat and seeing Cozumel from the water I find enjoyable.

Salty Endeavors dives the south dive sites everyday without fail. You won’t be missing anything by jumping on the boat up north.