Cert1967
Contributor
Getting To/From
Villa Aldora, our home for 10 days
We like the Villa, having stayed elsewhere.
Chris and Chris are still the on-site managers – doing their usual great job of taking care of their guests.
We had the place to ourselves, the only two rooms booked for our stay – save for one person in a single room for a few days.
The Villa was clean and our maid gave our room a full scrub every day.
It was quiet. There was very little boat traffic. Dive boats were few, most boats passing by were local fisherman wetting a line for dinner.
Aldora Divers – Outstanding
You have probably read the CZM dive boat COVID procedures? Aldora was on top of all the requirements. The whiff of sanitizer spray and hand cleaner hung in the air. Everyone wore a mask. We kept our regs and goggles – as always – Aldora handled the rest.
First day of diving and we had the park to ourselves. After the first dive I counted only four other boats in view. We dove with a rotation of Aldora’s DMs, who were a pleasure to dive with. Aldora DMs all had the same opener – where do you want to dive and what would you like on your dive. And off we went for nine days of diving.
For the first several days we were the only divers and Aldora asked what time we wanted to start. Nine AM worked for everyone. As time went by, the 730AM Villa departure returned.
We dove off the big boat – Felicity – most days. With limited divers, everyone had lots of space. The six-packs were similar – limited spaces for divers. By day 3 Aldora was running both the Felicity and a six-pack boat.
Did I say that the diving was good? Well, it was better than 80/80/80. Far north or south, Aldora took us there – no distance restrictions or upcharges.
As the days passed by the number of dive boats was greater. On our last day I counted 16 boats.
Highlights of the trip were aggressive swimming Morays. Spectacular as they serpentined through our group. We saw several big groupers tucked in the coral.
We like Aldora best. Other boats were filled with what seemed to be happy divers and happy crews.
The Town
Restaurants
Along the waterfront – most were closed. The dive bars, mostly closed.
We were often the only table. There was never a crowd. Old favorites, closed.
Calling ahead was best, even then we showed up only to find doors closed.
The AI Scene
And a New Open Water Diver
Ok, we are Aldora fan-folks.
Lots of happy divers in the water.
Cozumel, it was great – they are open for business and eagerly await your arrival.
FLIGHTS
We flew EGE-DFW-CZM, which necessitated a night in Dallas, both coming and going. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt, conveniently located in terminal D of DFW. Last trip was nonstop from Denver on United – maybe it will return.
Both CZM flights were no more than one-third full, you could choose multiple rows. Masks were 95% in the airports and near 100% on the flights. Most folks wear their masks incorrectly and a few are ready to work in a bio-lab.
DFW was empty, as in deserted. Cleaners were conspicuous. Few shops and restaurants open in terminal D, more in A and E. AMEX club closed, as were most AA club locations. DFW says it is the world’s busiest airport – maybe?
Returning, the CZM-DFW was less than a third full. The DFW-EGE flight was sold out.
Both CZM flights were no more than one-third full, you could choose multiple rows. Masks were 95% in the airports and near 100% on the flights. Most folks wear their masks incorrectly and a few are ready to work in a bio-lab.
DFW was empty, as in deserted. Cleaners were conspicuous. Few shops and restaurants open in terminal D, more in A and E. AMEX club closed, as were most AA club locations. DFW says it is the world’s busiest airport – maybe?
Returning, the CZM-DFW was less than a third full. The DFW-EGE flight was sold out.
DFW Hotel
The Grand Hyatt was booked to about 20% capacity. The front desk told us that our room hadn’t been occupied since March. The room was clean – smelling of a recent good scrubbing.
The Grand Hyatt was booked to about 20% capacity. The front desk told us that our room hadn’t been occupied since March. The room was clean – smelling of a recent good scrubbing.
CZM ArrivalCozumel arrival was interesting. With ~50 folks on the fight we all spaced out nicely on the floor markings. We were the only commercial ‘mainline’ flight for the day. In addition to the IMG and CST forms, we filled out a COVID questionnaire.
After IMG we handed our COVID form to an officer, as we were thermally scanned. Next hand luggage on the floor and a good sniffing by an energetic white dog. He liked my hand-sanitizer storage pocket, but no alert. CST – no red lights, the officers had no interest in digging into your luggage. The process was slow. We were at the front of the line. Our traveling companion near last – almost a half-hour wait on line for her.
Good news – no timeshare counters open and no sales people. Bar at exit door still selling cold beverages.
We took a private van to Villa Aldora. It was clean. The driver seemed happy we had our own hand sanitizer. Most of the taxis have a can of Lysol visible, whether they use it is open to debate. Out the door, into the van, arrival at the Villa about five minutes later. There was a security check-point just prior to the Villa.
The Villa, like everyone else in town, IR our temps, asks questions and welcomed us.
After IMG we handed our COVID form to an officer, as we were thermally scanned. Next hand luggage on the floor and a good sniffing by an energetic white dog. He liked my hand-sanitizer storage pocket, but no alert. CST – no red lights, the officers had no interest in digging into your luggage. The process was slow. We were at the front of the line. Our traveling companion near last – almost a half-hour wait on line for her.
Good news – no timeshare counters open and no sales people. Bar at exit door still selling cold beverages.
We took a private van to Villa Aldora. It was clean. The driver seemed happy we had our own hand sanitizer. Most of the taxis have a can of Lysol visible, whether they use it is open to debate. Out the door, into the van, arrival at the Villa about five minutes later. There was a security check-point just prior to the Villa.
The Villa, like everyone else in town, IR our temps, asks questions and welcomed us.
Villa Aldora, our home for 10 days
We like the Villa, having stayed elsewhere.
Chris and Chris are still the on-site managers – doing their usual great job of taking care of their guests.
We had the place to ourselves, the only two rooms booked for our stay – save for one person in a single room for a few days.
The Villa was clean and our maid gave our room a full scrub every day.
It was quiet. There was very little boat traffic. Dive boats were few, most boats passing by were local fisherman wetting a line for dinner.
Aldora Divers – Outstanding
You have probably read the CZM dive boat COVID procedures? Aldora was on top of all the requirements. The whiff of sanitizer spray and hand cleaner hung in the air. Everyone wore a mask. We kept our regs and goggles – as always – Aldora handled the rest.
First day of diving and we had the park to ourselves. After the first dive I counted only four other boats in view. We dove with a rotation of Aldora’s DMs, who were a pleasure to dive with. Aldora DMs all had the same opener – where do you want to dive and what would you like on your dive. And off we went for nine days of diving.
For the first several days we were the only divers and Aldora asked what time we wanted to start. Nine AM worked for everyone. As time went by, the 730AM Villa departure returned.
We dove off the big boat – Felicity – most days. With limited divers, everyone had lots of space. The six-packs were similar – limited spaces for divers. By day 3 Aldora was running both the Felicity and a six-pack boat.
Did I say that the diving was good? Well, it was better than 80/80/80. Far north or south, Aldora took us there – no distance restrictions or upcharges.
As the days passed by the number of dive boats was greater. On our last day I counted 16 boats.
Highlights of the trip were aggressive swimming Morays. Spectacular as they serpentined through our group. We saw several big groupers tucked in the coral.
We like Aldora best. Other boats were filled with what seemed to be happy divers and happy crews.
The Town
Closed up solid – 95% closed. The main drag, square and first blocks east were shut down hard. And not just shut, many stores were cleaned out to the walls.
The few trinket and tourist shops open had hardly a customer. Most locked up tight. These folks are hard hit. The cruise ship dependency is all too obvious.
Casa Mexicana was closed. Scuba Club closed. Cozumel Palace opened. Presidente open.
Dive Ops - you don't have to be clairvoyant to realize that many will never open again.
The few trinket and tourist shops open had hardly a customer. Most locked up tight. These folks are hard hit. The cruise ship dependency is all too obvious.
Casa Mexicana was closed. Scuba Club closed. Cozumel Palace opened. Presidente open.
Dive Ops - you don't have to be clairvoyant to realize that many will never open again.
Restaurants
Along the waterfront – most were closed. The dive bars, mostly closed.
We were often the only table. There was never a crowd. Old favorites, closed.
Calling ahead was best, even then we showed up only to find doors closed.
The AI Scene
A few opening. Cruising by, few folks wandering about.
And a New Open Water Diver
We had a last-minute tag-along, a good friend of ours, who traveled with us occupying the second room at Villa Aldora. She was going to read, tan and plan her new job search – but …
She jumped full in to the diving world and was certified by Aldora. Who wouldn't - it's Cozumel.
Here, Aldora shinned. They didn’t hesitate for an instant at training a solitary student and assigned Shariff as her instructor. She wasn’t easy. Well, by the end of the course, she had truly earned her certification under Shariff’s tutelage. She looked like a diver. Dives after completing her course? Aldora held up to their claim, similar divers grouped together. And that was her and a DM, no other beginning divers we available to pair with her.
Aldora set the tone with quality instruction. Our friend ended her trip open water and EAN certified. A diver for life and likely an Aldora customer too.
In Colorado, it is common for new divers to cert with pool dives, followed by a trip to the Utah hot-water crater. The result – newly certified divers who have never been in a real-world diving environment.
After seeing the results of both, local training vs. Cozumel – learning in Cozumel would be my recommendation.
Last ThoughtShe jumped full in to the diving world and was certified by Aldora. Who wouldn't - it's Cozumel.
Here, Aldora shinned. They didn’t hesitate for an instant at training a solitary student and assigned Shariff as her instructor. She wasn’t easy. Well, by the end of the course, she had truly earned her certification under Shariff’s tutelage. She looked like a diver. Dives after completing her course? Aldora held up to their claim, similar divers grouped together. And that was her and a DM, no other beginning divers we available to pair with her.
Aldora set the tone with quality instruction. Our friend ended her trip open water and EAN certified. A diver for life and likely an Aldora customer too.
In Colorado, it is common for new divers to cert with pool dives, followed by a trip to the Utah hot-water crater. The result – newly certified divers who have never been in a real-world diving environment.
After seeing the results of both, local training vs. Cozumel – learning in Cozumel would be my recommendation.
Ok, we are Aldora fan-folks.
Lots of happy divers in the water.
Cozumel, it was great – they are open for business and eagerly await your arrival.
