1st trip to Cozumel

[TCooperWFI]

Welcome Jacob to SB!
Have fun in Coz!

 

[Wristshot]

that you request to dive Palancar. And then ask to dive at Palancar. And then if you have more time try to get the Dive Op to take you over to dive at Palancar.

The idea is that there are a lot of places at Palancar Reef to dive, and they are all great. There are other places that are great, but I was really impressed with several dives at Palancar: The Palancar Horsehoe, the Palancar Gardens, and others. Of course I just LOVED diving at the C-53 also, but if I could only dive one place, I would pick Palancar.

Just one man's opinion.

Wristshot

 

[Michael Schlink]

Over 40 trips to Cozumel so I can give you my opinion. Aldora Divers, no one else will come close. They will handle your gear for you so once you hand it over you won't need to shlep it around. They are about 15-20 bucks more per boat dive but you'll get almost twice the bottom time so it's well worth it. Fast boats small groups and they are usually on the reef before everyone else. Palancar is a name for the largest section of the same reef that stretches from the south end of the island and wraps around and heads northeast up the island. Current runs basically north(northeast). Palancar-gardens, caves, deep etc, are just names that have been "labeled" to different sections of the reef. Maracaibo and Barracuda are more advanced reefs at the south and north end. Probably the best reef's to do are Paradise and Chankanab. They are great "second dives" relativley shallow and with a good guide or good eyes you'll see more "critters" than you're going to see in 5 dives on the deeper walls. If your staying in a house there is good grocery store across the street from the Plazas Las glorias hotel on the main road that runs along the water. go north to the traffic light( by the soccer field) and there is a street to the right, go right and about a block up on the left is a very good "panaderia" bakery. Downtown San Miguel has gotten kind of crazy with the influx of the cruise ship crowd but if you go there on a Sunday go to the square in the evening and watch the festivities. A few blocks behind the square is a great little minature golf course, If you have time rent a jeep or car and drive the "loop south" around to the back side of the island and hit some of the little shops and beach bars, head north and when the road turns to the left stop at the bar there, try the ring toss, leave a "T" shirt on the ceiling and follow the road straight into town. Try to allow at least a couple three hours. If you need more info PM me I have numerous friends that live there. Dive Safe-Dive Alot-M

 

[ronrosa]

Over 40 trips to Cozumel so I can give you my opinion. Aldora Divers, no one else will come close.

I like Aldora too, but there are other quality dive ops in Coz.

 

[Michael Schlink]

Of course there are. Tony Castillo runs a good boat. Martin does a pretty good job, most of the time. Apple has done an excellent job running the ops since Tom died. I could go on and on. BUT Aldora offers what few others can and will BOTTOM TIME along with a fast boat, small groups and good personal service. Name an operator that will let you stay in the water for 90 minutes. I was diving with Paradise on Paradise with a LDS trip when the DM thumbed me after 40 min. I still had 1900 and wasn't planning on going anywhere for a while. Aldora wouldn't even have thought about calling a dive that early. Del Mar Aq is a cattle boat op, along with 1/2 the other operations. If anyone aks for a recomendation for a operator on Cozumel, I'm telling them to go with Aldora, for good reason's.

 

[ronrosa]

BUT Aldora offers what few others can and will BOTTOM TIME along with a fast boat, small groups and good personal service. Name an operator that will let you stay in the water for 90 minutes.

Don't get me wrong, I like Aldora, they are my operator of choice in Coz. However, a few ex-Aldora people have opened their own business following the Aldora model of big tanks, advanced dives and long bottom times.

Liquid Blue appears to be going on strong and I may try them next time.