Leejnd
Contributor
I know you probably hate seeing yet another one of these "tell me where to go!" threads, but I'm in a crunch and just don't have time to do a full search of the vast amounts of information in this forum. And it is VAST! I have done at least some cursory searching, and I will take the trouble to tell you exactly what I'm looking for, so hopefully you won't be too annoyed at another one of these threads to offer to help me.
I'm considering taking a trip to Cozumel during the week of July 4. (I suddenly found myself with that week open, and want to get in some diving.) So I'm trying to figure out where to stay, and what dive op to use. (Sound familiar so far?)
Here's where hopefully my thread differs - I've got some specific needs and desires:
Hotel Criteria
1. I am going to take my senior-citizen mother with me, who will just relax at the pool/beach while I dive. So I need to stay some place where she will be comfortable, treated well and not bored to tears. Hence, a larger resort will probably work better than a tiny hotel. And a place with activities and an onsite spa would be terrific.
2. I ain't broke so I'm willing to spend if it's truly worth it - but don't want to blow cash on a so-called five-star resort if it will leave me disappointed. I've stayed at some awesome high-end resorts around the world, but have enjoyed myself equally at quaint boutique hotels and well-run budget inns. I'd rather spend less at a decent place with fab service and amenities and feel like I got my money's worth, if the high-end resorts are not a good value for the spend. I've looked at the Presidente InterContinental - I stayed at the InterContinental in Tahiti, and loved it! - but I'm not sure this one is up to the same standards. Thoughts?
3. An all-inclusive would be great - took a peek at Cozumel Palace Resort - but not if the food is cruise-ship-buffet quality and the booze is cheap crap poured into name-brand bottles. I've never actually stayed at an AI, but would definitely be willing to try it, especially with Mom along - it would be nice not to have to worry about meals. But I tend to be a foodie, so if the food sucks I'd rather just deal with the meals separately.
Dive Op Criteria
1. Just to set the stage: I am a reasonably advanced diver - 200+ dives, PADI AOW & GUE-Fundies trained, have dived in some very challenging locations around the world, and will be bringing my own gear. Want to dive steel & Nitrox, if possible.
2. Since I will be alone, I will need a dive op that will either insta-buddy me with another diver, or a DM. I'm from SoCal where, on our boats, the DMs don't generally even get in the water and divers are expected to bring their own buddies and dive on their own...but I assume that Cozumel is a typical resort-diving destination where you are expected to dive in a herd with a DM. Normally I detest this, but since I'm solo I need an op that will dive with me.
3. No cattle boats! Small boat, small group would be great, and I don't want to be forced to end my dive cuz of noobie hoovers. Would love a dive op that is willing and able to work with a mix of skills (assuming there will be noobs on the boat) and won't force-fit to the lowest common denominator.
4. Now for the real complication: I had major back surgery a few months ago, and while I've been doing physical therapy and am doing great, I have to be careful with the gear on my back - no shore dives for me, and I will need some help gearing up and stepping off, and getting back on the boat. So I need a dive op that is full-service and willing to pamper, and willing to work with me given my special needs.
5. While it would be awesome to use a dive op onsite at the resort, I strongly suspect this is a fantasy. I have yet to find an onsite dive op that didn't violate most of the criteria I listed above. BUT hey, maybe I'll be surprised - if y'all come back and tell me a particular onsite dive op is the bomb, I would consider staying there. (One can dream, right?)
So I hope I gave enough details to elicit some real advice...and thank you all in advance! I know Coz is a much loved dive location, and I look forward to experiencing it myself.
I'm considering taking a trip to Cozumel during the week of July 4. (I suddenly found myself with that week open, and want to get in some diving.) So I'm trying to figure out where to stay, and what dive op to use. (Sound familiar so far?)
Here's where hopefully my thread differs - I've got some specific needs and desires:
Hotel Criteria
1. I am going to take my senior-citizen mother with me, who will just relax at the pool/beach while I dive. So I need to stay some place where she will be comfortable, treated well and not bored to tears. Hence, a larger resort will probably work better than a tiny hotel. And a place with activities and an onsite spa would be terrific.
2. I ain't broke so I'm willing to spend if it's truly worth it - but don't want to blow cash on a so-called five-star resort if it will leave me disappointed. I've stayed at some awesome high-end resorts around the world, but have enjoyed myself equally at quaint boutique hotels and well-run budget inns. I'd rather spend less at a decent place with fab service and amenities and feel like I got my money's worth, if the high-end resorts are not a good value for the spend. I've looked at the Presidente InterContinental - I stayed at the InterContinental in Tahiti, and loved it! - but I'm not sure this one is up to the same standards. Thoughts?
3. An all-inclusive would be great - took a peek at Cozumel Palace Resort - but not if the food is cruise-ship-buffet quality and the booze is cheap crap poured into name-brand bottles. I've never actually stayed at an AI, but would definitely be willing to try it, especially with Mom along - it would be nice not to have to worry about meals. But I tend to be a foodie, so if the food sucks I'd rather just deal with the meals separately.
Dive Op Criteria
1. Just to set the stage: I am a reasonably advanced diver - 200+ dives, PADI AOW & GUE-Fundies trained, have dived in some very challenging locations around the world, and will be bringing my own gear. Want to dive steel & Nitrox, if possible.
2. Since I will be alone, I will need a dive op that will either insta-buddy me with another diver, or a DM. I'm from SoCal where, on our boats, the DMs don't generally even get in the water and divers are expected to bring their own buddies and dive on their own...but I assume that Cozumel is a typical resort-diving destination where you are expected to dive in a herd with a DM. Normally I detest this, but since I'm solo I need an op that will dive with me.
3. No cattle boats! Small boat, small group would be great, and I don't want to be forced to end my dive cuz of noobie hoovers. Would love a dive op that is willing and able to work with a mix of skills (assuming there will be noobs on the boat) and won't force-fit to the lowest common denominator.
4. Now for the real complication: I had major back surgery a few months ago, and while I've been doing physical therapy and am doing great, I have to be careful with the gear on my back - no shore dives for me, and I will need some help gearing up and stepping off, and getting back on the boat. So I need a dive op that is full-service and willing to pamper, and willing to work with me given my special needs.
5. While it would be awesome to use a dive op onsite at the resort, I strongly suspect this is a fantasy. I have yet to find an onsite dive op that didn't violate most of the criteria I listed above. BUT hey, maybe I'll be surprised - if y'all come back and tell me a particular onsite dive op is the bomb, I would consider staying there. (One can dream, right?)
So I hope I gave enough details to elicit some real advice...and thank you all in advance! I know Coz is a much loved dive location, and I look forward to experiencing it myself.