Cozumel Trip

[ChicoHappy]

Hello! I'm brand new to the world of diving. I want to take a trip to Cozumel withing the next 5 weeks. I have been looking for places and their prices for a 10 stay and, found out most places offer their best deals base on double occupancy. I friend of mine just recommended this forum and suggested to search for a dive buddy who might be looking or would be interested for a similar trip as well. I will appreciate any suggestions from all of you experience peeps so I can make this a fun and safe trip.

 

[Streydog]

I just got back from my first trip to Cozumel. I stayed a Coral Reef Inn, I learned of them on here. It is a small 5 room Inn owned by a Canadian couple that live on the premises. A single room was $55 a night. Basic and clean. It has A/C but no TV. The best part of the is is the third floor open air kitchen. The inn is not on the water, it is about a 10 minute walk to Hotel Baricuda were you can be picked up by a number of dive shops. I used the package deal with Corral reefs website using Dive Paradise. I was was happy with the trip. 3 nights and 2 three day dives cost me 4875 Peso's. The inn is not credit card friendly but takes PayPal. Booked with credit card but payed with Peso's to save more. Biggest downside was the walk but I was given a locker,of sorts, so I didn't have to haul gear.

 

[ChicoHappy]

Nice! thanks Streydog. I'm still looking into many possibilities, I found a couple places so far that offer the Dive packages including hotel and all meals. 10 days hotel with 2 boat dives daily and unlimited shore diving, Wi-Fi and some in house entertainment for around 1600 dollars. 1100 per person if I had a dive buddy, They have a pool like access from their dock right into the Ocean. I will do the math and see where I stand.

 

[Ron Lee]

You do not need a dive buddy/roomie. Look at hotel prices PER NIGHT. You can probably find several under $50 USD per night. Reserve diving separately from the hotel

 

[DjDiverDan]

I've done many solo trips to Cozumel, some very, very cheap. If you don't mind Spartan accommodations, there are several cheap hotels, some as little as $25 a night. Personally, if I were going in July or August (or September), I'd spend more for a hotel with decent AC and a pool, but you can even get that for about $40 a night - check out La Casona Real on Hotels.com - it's just two blocks back from the Main Plaza, easy walking distance to just about all restaurants, and you should be able to find several Dive Ops that will store your gear for you and have it on the boat when you get on. Several will pick you up at a downtown pier, or arrange transportation to the Caleta south of town where most all Dive boats leave from in the morning. And, if you've never been to Cozumel before, get ready for a treat - you can eat very well at many great local restaurants very cheaply. Go to CozumelMyCozumel.com for recommendations on both accommodations and dining.

 

[Ron Lee]

This hotel map may help Cozumel, Mexico map with hotel locations

 

[ChicoHappy]

Thank You for the map Ron, I do have a double handicap on this trip, one its my first time and, second I'm brand new to diving. Like anything else the first time might be just a learning experience but , since I'm planing to continue the trips It all be worth it.

 

[Skittl1321]

It is really only the all inclusives that rate for two people; everyone else just sells the hotel room.

I've stayed AI (though not with a dive package) in Cozumel, and I would strongly recommend NOT doing that. The one we stayed at (Sabor) was good, and a good price; but the food in Cozumel is as good as the diving, and unless you are going really high end, AI food is not. Hotels in Cozumel can be found for really low rates, which leaves you plenty of money for a dining budget.

While I do not have experience with the dive packages you are looking at; there have been a few reviews on the board that make me not interested in them- especially when I hear how limited the sites they take you to are, and how you have to pay more to be on a small fast boat. There are so many affordable ops with valet service (and many who discount when you book multiple days) - that again, I would seek out an op that is the best fit for you, and go to that. The op I dove with last time drove us from town to the marina (we just had to walk a block from the hotel to their office), so we didn't even have to pay cabs to the marina, which was really nice.

 

[Ron Lee]

New to diving: Get a dedicated divemaster your first day. Have them teach you all the subtleties of drift diving. New people dive Cozumel every day and get along just fine. You can too. First time in Cozumel? Perhaps stay in or near town. No need for a car and if you pick your dive op suitably...no need for a taxi. Consider getting the Cozumel map from cancunmap.com There is no need to be apprehensive about this trip.

 

[jbjclj]

Call Jeannie at Tres Pelicanos. 5 nights 3 days of diving $359 at Suites Bahia (includes breakfast at Casa Mexicana. Right around the corner from the dive shop. They take you to the Caleta. It is within walking distance of all the good reastaurants