Advice for diving and fun near Puerto Adventuras

[cddfamily]

For our 1st time on the Yucatan, we will be staying at an AI - Playa del Barcero near Puerto Adventuras. The AI was a compromise for the nondivers: wife, 10yr & 14 yr daughters. I've been diving for 25 yrs, and seriously back into N2 for the past 5yrs. Our 21 yr old (certified last year) and boy friend (hoping to get him to try an discovery class) will also be there.

I am in contact with Aquanauts - any input +/- is appreciated. They seem to have a good rep and have been great with the communication.

The Plan:
Dive 5 days:
1st will be easy day to familiarize my daughter who hasn't dove in a year.
2nd - Turtles. She wants turtles - Akumal/suggestions?
3rd - local reef + night dive for me. Depending on her comfort and skills, she might join in.
4th - open to any suggestions?
5th -Cenotes, again for me. Daughter depending on comfort and buoyancy control.

What to do with the nondivers?
Can we combine any of these with diving/nondiving?
Tulum?
Akumal?
Dolphin swim?
Whale sharks?
Eco park Xel Ha?

thank you for your help
cddfamily

 

[TSandM]

Well, if it were me, I'd do cenotes on the fourth day

I don't know about your resort, but the beach at Puerto Aventuras is beautiful and the swimming in the bay is fun if the surf isn't up. My husband has done the ruins in Tulum, and really enjoyed them. As he was advised to do, he hired a guide, and he said that was absolutely the right thing to do.

Although the dolphin swims are kind of touristy and hokey, they look like a ton of fun -- I've watched them quite a few times, as we stay in PA when we're down there.

You won't go wrong with Aquanauts. Dennis runs a good operation -- my husband has been out on their boat, and liked his experience (you can't drag ME out of the caves when I'm there). He's also an experienced and safety-conscious cavern guide.

If you have non-divers and divers, I do think you'll probably want to rent a car.

 

[Spratman]

I agree with TS. Dennis runs a top notch operation and you should do the cenotes your last dive. You get to wash all the salt out of your gear.

Good luck and great weather! It should be awesome!

Oh yeah, post a trip report, too!

 

[Diver Lori]

Hi cdd!

You might want to check out this forum for excellent suggestions for your non-divers. Frequent visitors to the area, 99% of which are non-divers, frequent this site and have the skinny on all there is to do in the area. What the tourist traps are and what the worthwhile places are. Most are avid snorklers and can also tell you the best places to snorkle for your non-divers.

Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts, Rentals: Mexican Caribbean Vacation

Look at the right side of the screen to the button for "Forums", on the drop down select the "Akumal & Riviera Maya" option.

 

[docmartin]

aquanauts is top notch. no need to plan for turtles. you'll see them on most dives anyway. if you want to see them in akumal just snorkel in akumal bay and you will soon stop counting.
excpet for the whale sharks all the activities you list can be combined with a day of diving. the whale sharks are a unique opportunity and if you are going in july and august you should reserve a full day for it (out of punta sam or puerto juarez - not holbox). dolphins are easy, they are right in front of aquanauts and you can arrange a swim. i find xel-ha overpriced. go to yal-ku lagoon in akumal. much cheaper and also pretty snorkeling. are you staying at the barcelo? i have never heard of a barcero. if yes, you are right by xpu-ha. that's an absolutely incredible beach.

 

[tommydz]

one day after diving take everyone to akumal. just out from lo-ha restuarant you can snorkel off the beach. you can see many turtles feeding on the sea grass. you will not be dissapointed. have fun.

 

[Ed Hatfield]

I also agree that Dennis and the Aquanauts are a good coice. I haven't had the opportunity to dive with Dennis recently as he was an independent (Diablo Divers) when I went with him. He is an excellent diver. For an off day I recommend the whale shark snorkel trip. I just did it last week and it was fantastic. I booked directly with Ecocolors and they picked me up at my condo in Playa at 0600 and we were back 1530. The excursion went out of Punta Sam. It was very well run and the boat was fast. There were between 40 to 60 whale sharks and we were allowed three turns of 2 snorkellers at a time in the water. We were exhausted and I probably could have done a 4th but it was getting choppy. FYI - don't forget the Gravol - even if you don't think it will happen to you there is no ppoint in taking the chance and ruining a good trip. One guy on our boat was so sea sick he had to be removed and taken to Isla Mujeres and wait until we returned and picked him up on the way to Punta Sam.

 

[driftwood]

There are two tour companies that we have used and really like, Altournatives and Yucatreks. Both run around $100pp for a full day tour. You can find links to both of them at Playa del Carmen info (another must visit site to get questions answered). Another site that I have found useful is Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts, Rentals: Mexican Caribbean Vacation (the aerial photos are great). My final tip is to get the Riviera Maya map from www.cancunmap.com. Pure gold and a must for the first time you visit the Yucatan. Have a great trip!

 

[cddfamily]

We will be diving with Aquanauts. They certainly have a good reputation and plenty of friends on the SB

I also want to thank you for your advice and suggestions for our other activities.
Akumal will definitely be on the list.
With a family of six, whale sharks may need to wait; still discussing.
The older ones want to do Tulum; Natalie from Aquanauts has been great in answering our questions and offered to recommend a guide/driver.
The younger ones may do the dolphins; will depend on whether it looks safe for the kids and looks good for the dolphins.

Again to all of you on the board - thank you for the goodwill and suggestions. It is a great community

cddfamily

 

[TSandM]

The dolphin thing seems to be managed well for kids. They wear pretty substantial flotation vests, and are attended by staff in the water at all times.

I don't, at heart, like the idea of confined dolphins, but I have to say these seem pretty cheerful. I've been down at the pens at night, when everybody has gone home, and watched them playing, jumping and spinning and slapping their tails on the water. And they are breeding in captivity, which usually indicates a reasonably content animal.