Really confused about Kona, Hawaii vs Cozumel???

[Mossman]

Right now, condos look much better in terms of price/performance. Any particular condo recommendation?

El Cantil is the fancy place just south of town. Looks like $150-$175 for a studio, or $225-$275 for a 1 BR with full kitchen. I haven't heard any complaints about the place.

Another option is staying at one of the southern all-inclusive resorts. You're much closer to the dive sites and you get more of a tropical island feel (beach, tropical foliage). I like them because they're much easier to budget, versus dining and drinking in town where prices can vary from cheap to expensive. Of course one downside is that you don't get the variety (and often quality) of the restaurants in town. Another downside is that it can be an expensive cab ride should you want to visit the town (city). That can be an upside too, since you're far away from the noise and traffic of the town (city).

Apart from that, can you guys please recommend some good dive operators?

Living Underwater is one dive op that uses steel 120s and travels to the far south sites at no extra charge, plus full gear storage and a very comfortable fast boat. I've used them on my past three trips.

 

[mstevens]

Right now, condos look much better in terms of price/performance.

Vacation rentals can offer you a LOT more for your buck.

Any particular condo recommendation?

Well, I'm more a proponent of renting an entire villa, but I'm probably prejudiced...

can you guys please recommend some good dive operators?

There are LOTS of operators on the island, and each has its fervent proponents. Possibly the most consistently recommended here are Aldora and Blue XT Sea. The owners of both are very helpful contributors here who don't toot their own horns, mostly because others can be relied upon to do so.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Mossman and others,

As for the far south AIs, remember that Iberostar is one hotel that forces divers to use their in house cattle boat operation.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[Mossman]

As for the far south AIs, remember that Iberostar is one hotel that forces divers to use their in house cattle boat operation.

Yep, just like Scubaclub

My only experiences down south are with the Occidental Grand and Secrets Aura. Both allow outside dive ops to pick up at their convenient dock, so if you're diving with one of the dive ops that store all your gear, you just walk empty handed to the boat, hop in, and you'll be underwater in 15-30 minutes or less depending on the site, whether there are any more southern pickups, and how long-winded the DM's briefing might be.

Definitely preferred Secrets over the Occidental. Both have a very tropical feel, it's almost like you're on a Caribbean island!

 

[robint]

Not true..... Scuba Club does do those sites, I have done Punta Sur on our last trip, and it was offered to us the trip before but the group on our boat (8 of us) wanted something else. So those of you who say ScubaClub doesn't do those sites is dead wrong. As I recall also, another boat was doing Maricaibo one day and were all asked to show up 30 min early since it is so far south.

Mossman - people are not forced to use ScubaClub's house dive op, they go to ScubaClub on purpose, everyone there is a diver or traveling with a diver, so they want to dive with that dive op. It is called a Dive Resort for a reason... and it is the only one on the island. Diving is part of your package when you book, and if you aren't a diver you are listed as a snorkeler. Period. Quit making it sound like a hotel with tourists.... it isn't, it is a Dive Resort.

 

[MMM]

All dive ops have to abide by the same rules.... you must have a DM for all boat diving due to the drift/current. All dive ops dive the same reefs

This is not correct. You don't need a DM outside of the Marine Park. And many ops do NOT dive the far north or far south sites. You need to ask this ops question if you are interested in diving either extreme end. If you don't care, then it doesn't matter.

Another option is staying at one of the southern all-inclusive resorts. You're much closer to the dive sites[/COLOR]

Well, you are much closer to SOME of the dive sites...i.e., those located on the southern part of the island. If you want to dive any of the mid to northern sites, you are either out of luck or looking at a costly cab fare to get you up to the caleta where you will meet the rest of your party (schlepping your gear, most likely unless you are diving with a valet op). This is why I suggest that people book closer to town...just south if not in town...you have a WHOLE lot more options. Not all ops pick up divers staying north of caleta (the main boat harbour) so you need to look into this.

I too dive with Living Underwater and have done so for almost a decade. I don't need or use their 120s, but I like steel tanks. And the service. You are now getting a lesson on the wide variety of ops to choose from and why we all have our particular preferences.

 

[shardison]

Amen Robin!!

A Resort Built by Divers... For Divers:cool2: I personally like the well oiled machine that runs like clockwork. I don't mind being on a bigger boat either.... It might take a little longer to get to where you're going... But the reef will still be there when you step off the boat. 10 out of 12 dives and I never saw any other divers (except the 7 in my group) which isn't a cattle boat in my opinion.

Ohhh.... And that whole "lunch is ready " just after you rinse your gear thing is just terrible... And the guard at the gate that keeps the riff raff out.... Gasp!!

It may lack the "Fluff" of some of the bigger AIs, but it's just what the doctor ordered. My Vacation is ALL about the diving. That's why I'm there.

I too had a million questions about dive ops in Cozumel in 2011.... I read a lot of posts and threads and asked some questions here and there... In the end I decided to listen to the guy that has been going to Coz for more than 20 years!! 20 plus years.... And he uses SCC... And he just happens to be one of the best underwater photographers on the planet...

Thanks Mr. LYLE!!

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear RobinT,

Not true, Scuba Club is not the only exclusive place. You can't stay at the Villa Aldora without diving with Aldora, almost like a land based live-a-board, but you do get to go into town for dinner.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[nodakdive]

This is such a great thread with some really nice detailed posts. The comparison angle is so helpful. To hear from people that have spent lots of time in both places is such a treat. I've wondered about Hawaii and have wanted to go, but just couldn't wrap my head around which island/s to visit. This thread did more to help me decide than all the other reading I'd done about Hawaii or conversations I've had with people who've been there.

I wish there was one of these a week. "Really confused about XXXXXX vs Cozumel"

Thanks to the OP and all who contributed!

-Blair

 

[BettyfromToronto]

I am with Robin & Shardison. We went to SCC 5x in 2 years because we liked to have everything right there for us. You have the option of not getting the dinner plan and then heading into town but we liked having everything so convenient for us.

We fell in love with Cozumel and have recently moved here for good. We are looking at other dive ops to dive with besides SCC and so far have only done one day with Two D's. It was a totally different experience. It was on a small fast boat with only 6 divers and the surface interval was at the Palancar pier where they supplied water, pop, juice & cake. Yummy.

We look forward to trying out many of the other Ops once we get a car.