best learning experience in cozumel

[Mariner11]

Hi,
Im a newer diver and have just finished my AOW course. I wanted to go down to cozumel in the spring but wanted to get some more certs like night diving, drift diving etc done so I feel more comfortable. I was wondering if you guys had any opinions about the best instructors in cozumel or the dive shops who have a good instructor staff. Also would be good if they were good at teaching about the various corals and animals etc as well as one of the reasons I got into diving is to really try and learn the various marine environments Ill be visiting.

Thanks for all your help

 

[krbailey]

I have taken the Peak Performance Buoyancy, Nitrox & Deep Diving specialties with Blue Angel. Very pleased with all aspects of the training. The PPB course greatly improved my diving.

 

[olphart]

Hi,
Im a newer diver and have just finished my AOW course. I wanted to go down to cozumel in the spring but wanted to get some more certs like night diving, drift diving etc done so I feel more comfortable. I was wondering if you guys had any opinions about the best instructors in cozumel or the dive shops who have a good instructor staff. Also would be good if they were good at teaching about the various corals and animals etc as well as one of the reasons I got into diving is to really try and learn the various marine environments Ill be visiting.

Thanks for all your help

I have been diving a number of times with Pelagic Ventures and been very impressed with this small operation. Alex is the best DM I've dived with.

 

[robint]

Hi,
Im a newer diver and have just finished my AOW course. I wanted to go down to cozumel in the spring but wanted to get some more certs like night diving, drift diving etc done so I feel more comfortable. I was wondering if you guys had any opinions about the best instructors in cozumel or the dive shops who have a good instructor staff. Also would be good if they were good at teaching about the various corals and animals etc as well as one of the reasons I got into diving is to really try and learn the various marine environments Ill be visiting.

Thanks for all your help

When are you going to Cozumel?
Where are you staying?
Have you booked yet?
These are important considerations before you get too far in your research. If you have never been to Cozumel, you need to know that most dive ops are independent of hotels. There are some with package deals. Many dive ops have an instructor on staff.
So are you planning to book after you pick a dive op OR are you already booked at a hotel?

we all have our favorites.... so you may get dozens of recommendations here.

 

[DandyDon]

wanted to get some more certs

Very few certs are worth the cost of the cards. Don't fall for that gimmick. Some courses may be valuable to your knowledge base and experiences, but ask if you can save money by not getting the cards.

Just hiring a private DM for your first couple of dives in Coz is a good idea. You can learn from those, and drift diving can have challenges.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

Cozumel is designed for all skill levels for diving. Your dive op will customize your dives to your experience level. The certifications are really not necessary. Drift diving is awesome, just relax and make like superman. It is easy to get separated from your buddy though so keep and eye on that. By all means, do a night dive. You will thank me later. It is just like diving for the first time all over again. Aldora and Blue XTSea are huge supporters of this forum. I will be diving with Aldora in November because of their support. blue XTSea did not have any morning times available so maybe January for them. I love Blue Magic and their sleep and dive packages are very reasonable...had it not been for Aldora and Blue Xtsea's support of this site, I would be going with them again. dive With Martin is great as well and provides the same level of service as the rest....which is top notch. DWM may be the oldest op on the island for good reason. Certifications are good, but absolutely not necessary for Cozumel diving. Your DM will take care of you if you have any issues. Between dives, you can discuss anything necessary during the surface interval, and you WILL leave a better diver, no instructor necessary. Some call Cozumel Diving "babysitting diving" and to some extent that is true. dive plans are basically limited to depth maximums and dive so you surface with 500psi. If you run low, most will let you surface and your buddy takes the DM for the rest of the dive. My daughters and wife went on their first dive after ow cert in Coz, no problems and the DM took care of them like they were his own. Main rule would be stay away from the cattle boats, go with an op that uses 6-pack boats, and each will do something a little different. Aldora dives steel 120's so you will get longer bottom times, especially if your an air hog like me. Most will valet your gear if you bring your own. Surface intervals will range from boat, beach, or club. Pick up point will vary as well. Bottom line, you're going to have a great time, certs or not. After the back roll, prepare to be amazed. Relax and have fun!! Please post your review when you get back and don't forget to do a night dive!! Jay

 

[cvchief]

Very few certs are worth the cost of the cards. Don't fall for that gimmick. Some courses may be valuable to your knowledge base and experiences, but ask if you can save money by not getting the cards.

Just hiring a private DM for your first couple of dives in Coz is a good idea. You can learn from those, and drift diving can have challenges.

View attachment 216754

While that is very true. You WILL get the drift diving and boat diving specialty training by just coming to Coz. No actual certificate.

On the other hand, I still want to take rescue. I actually bought a certificate for a class in the auction for the girl that was hurt. Once I have that, I might grab a couple 'specialties' and then buy some "MASTER SCUBA DIVER" patches and sew them on everything I own......

 

[mstevens]

Very few certs are worth the cost of the cards. Don't fall for that gimmick. Some courses may be valuable to your knowledge base and experiences, but ask if you can save money by not getting the cards.

Just hiring a private DM for your first couple of dives in Coz is a good idea. You can learn from those, and drift diving can have challenges.

View attachment 216754

While that is very true. You WILL get the drift diving and boat diving specialty training by just coming to Coz. No actual certificate.

On the other hand, I still want to take rescue. I actually bought a certificate for a class in the auction for the girl that was hurt. Once I have that, I might grab a couple 'specialties' and then buy some "MASTER SCUBA DIVER" patches and sew them on everything I own......

We got Advanced Open Water certification from DAN back in the early '80's (scuba for required college PE credits - score!). When my wife's card crumbled she sent in for a replacement and they sent a Master Scuba Diver card as a replacement. Certifications have certainly changed over time.

I'm pretty firmly in the "cards don't matter" camp. I've dived with people who've never gone beyond a resort course who I think are good in the water and supposed instructors who scare me to be near.

I think it's much better to focus on getting experience rather than cards. A private DM is a great idea, and if they know there's something you want to work on (buoyancy control, air consumption, whatever), they'll usually be very helpful in that regard, card or no card.

 

[nodakdive]

A private DM isn't a bad idea to start, and most DM's are willing to help you become a better diver if you're willing to ask for their help. There're many good instructors on the island particularly at the boutique dive ops mentioned on this board. Sandro, at Deep Blue, comes to mind. He's a great DM and Instructor. There's nothing wrong with wanting to do more dive training, imo. You get out of it what you put into it. The extra cards don't mean much, though the AOW and a Nitrox card might. You can read stories from divers out there with 1000's of dives and only an OW card, who get denied more advanced sites because they don't have an AOW card. I've never read about that happening in Cozumel, but elsewhere in the Caribbean at some resorts/dive operations it happens. Also, I'm sure there are ways, in places, that you can get Nitrox fills without the card, but most dive ops will want to see one before they'll give you Nitrox tanks. It doesn't address diving comfort, but it is one card that's nice to have if you have use for it. PADI has some kind of fish id course you can take.

 

[cvchief]

I'm pretty firmly in the "cards don't matter" camp. .

Yea but a lot of people aren't, so need me them "MASTER SCUBA DIVER" patches to wow the newbies.