hi guys thinking of going to cozumel feb 17, is this a good idea to stay on cozumel or be based at
playa del carmen, going for 10 days, had a chat with pro dive, and they seem to have a good deal,
or what other dive centres are there out there, thanks sam.
A lot would depend on how many days you're going to dive, and what else you want to do.
The cost of the ferry adds up, if expense is a factor, and also the timing of the ferries if your dive op is one of the very early ones.
The appeal to staying on the mainland is really a function of what else interests you. Day trips from Cozumel are difficult and hectic if you want to travel very far. For example, a trip to one of the ruins, (Ek Balam is the cream of the crop), would be a very, very long day if you were based on the island. Some might say that there's plenty of time, but it would require "powering" through, and it's deserving of so much more than that.
Staying In Playa gives you the option of many, many more beaches if sandy beaches are important to you, many, many more restaurants if you're foodies, a lot more entertainment/music options if you need to kick up your heels. Those benefits come with costs; expense, NOISE, and lots of humans.
Cozumel is less expensive, and more relaxing. Yes, there are more options on the mainland, but it's not like Cozumel is in the middle of a desert; you just have to dig a bit more.