Planning first trip and need help

[ltlbull]

We are planning our first trip to Coz and are in need of suggestions. We visited Coz via cruise ship this past April and now want to go back for a week. It will be husband and I and we are both AOW certified. This trip will be for my 40th b-day.

We are looking for a hotel/dive op combo that offers:
Decent Rooms
All Inclusive
Unlimited Shore diving on site
Boat Diving

Any suggestions?

We were originally looking at an August trip, but may have to push it to the fall. How is November? What part of November is recommended?

Thanks in advance.

 

[redacted]

<My first suggestion would be Scuba Club Cozumel (Cozumel Scuba Diving at Scuba Club Cozumel Dive Resort and Scuba Cozumel Dive Shop)

 

[ltlbull]

<My first suggestion would be Scuba Club Cozumel

We have really been looking at that, but are concerned because drinks are not included. Although we are not HUGE drinkers (alcohol), my husband can drink a pitcher of tea a day. I also love my pina coladas and other lovely frozen drinks. It leaves a big factor that we don't know the cost for. What has been your experience?

 

[cicopo]

Can't help re Scuba Club info but there's plenty already here. Re shore diving that limits you to hotels / resorts north of the International Pier because south of there is all Marine Park protected & requires a guide to accompany you when diving park waters. AI's north of the pier & south of the downtown area include the Park Royal, Hotel Cozumel (AI is usually optional there) and the Palace ($$$). There are several basic hotels along that zone as well, and Blue Angel (formerly Caribe blu) might interest you. AI's north of town mean longer trips to dive, but El Cozumelino has a strong following, but I've never tried it.

Photo tours of several I've mentioned are here. (Some captions lead to reviews / trip reports / extra info)

Picasa Web Albums - Larry

 

[firstdive2005]

Park Royal, spotless, great AI, walk five minutes to ScubaMau. Unlimited shore day/night dives, great six pack boats. Fabulous prices with million dollar friendship to go. I walk off the guac n chips with walk to the shop. I leave my gear there. Perfect.

 

[Texas Torpedo]

Try Hotel Cozumel for what you are looking for. They have all inclusive packages that include meals and alcoholic drinks..
You can shore dive from the pier across the street. Rental gear is readily available if you need it.
Shore diving from any of the area hotels is going to be convenient but you aren't going to see much compared to the boat rides to the reefs.

Hotel Cozumel - Home

 

[DandyDon]

November is probly an idea times, after summer storms, before winter nothers/nortes, water still warm. So where are you originating, and how many ocean dives do you have? Completing such in profile helps give better answers.

You can pick your hotel then easily find a good operator to dive with. They don't have to be partners. I'm more likely to book air and hotel in a package for the savings. Sidestep.com is a good place to shop for choices, or see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...s/331431-fun-orbitz-200-package-discount.html

I am not a AI fan but it works well for some. Casa del Mar has decent rooms and a cheap AI plan, Scubaclub higher and their AI does not include alcoholic beverages, and all of the southern resorts have AI options. Sidestep.com is not good on their location information, I think they use google maps which suck, but it can give you a good menu of Vacation packages and this map http://www.cozumel.net/1maps/cozumel-hotel-map.jpg seems to have the locations right I think.

Coz is not particularly a shore dive destination, and not knowing your ocean diving experience - boat dives are much safer. The best shore diving seems to be around Villablanca, altho Casa del Mar and Scubaclub have some areas that appeal to some. You could check the eddy direction, take a cab upstream and drift back, or walk to VB and rent a tank for $5 each. I've stayed and dived at the Blue Angel the last several trips near VB tho and while they offer free shore diving to customers, I did almost all boat dives every trip.

If we knew more about you and why you listed those preferences tho, you might get better answers. Have a great trip. ilot:

 

[robint]

I think you will love Scuba Club, the issue about drinks being extra isn't really a problem. The Chedraui grocery store is 2 blocks away and the first day we walk down and buy beer and sodas for our room then put them in our room fridge (every room has a small fridge). The drinks at lunch and dinner are extra, true, but if you order tea they refill you glass constantly so you only pay for the first one (it is waiter service like any restaurant) and the margaritas are huge! I didn't get one until the last day and I couldn't finish it. Seriously, I wouldn't let that stop me from going there! You pay all your extra charges (like the drinks) on the last day at checkout. We had less than $80 in extra charges for the week and that included several beers on Fiesta Night and that margarita.

Did you watch my shore diving video for Scuba Club?
Cozumel - shore diving at Scuba Club HD on Vimeo

We have been to Cozumel 7 times, stayed at 6 different places, and SCC is our favorite and we won't stay anywhere else now. That places really makes you feel spoiled. It isn't the fanciest place on the island, but it is very homey, comfortable, and staff is the best. We are dive dive dive people and it meets our need.

robin

 

[diggerled]

Allegro Cozumel is far from town but it is only minutes from all the park dive sites. This saves you up to two hours a day in travel time. Extra benefit is boat doesn't have to leave so early in the morning.

This AI will pour you all the liquor you care to consume. Good food.

If I remember correctly, it was $13US for four persons to ride a cab into town.

We got an incredable deal on short notice last July.

 

[DandyDon]

Allegro Cozumel is far from town but it is only minutes from all the park dive sites. This saves you up to two hours a day in travel time.

Compared to the slowest boat in town? I don't know that any take an hour from town to southern reefs, but the fast 8-packs me it in 20 minutes or so. The Allegro is a popular place and close enough to the reefs that the return to dock between dives which also adds flexibility if one wants to add one dive, but I doubt that it'll save two hours a day.