All inclusive resorts with shore diving in Cozumel

[jonhall]

I did not enjoy El Cid, because of the tiny little elevators.

Elevators! I stayed on the non-high rise side of El Cid that was only 2 floors and took the stairs (had 3 small tears in my achilles at the time.) All inclusive was optional and/or you could pay for a shorter number of days of AI. Area off their shore was good for snorkeling. Most nights, saw many doing night dives. Can't vouch for how good the dives would be though; there isn't a reef but there is a small plane wreck. There was a small dive shop located there and a nice pier where other dive ops would pick up from.

 

[nodakdive]

I think the plane has been mostly gone for some time. Did you dive it recently? I never have, but heard that there wasn't much to it back in 2005ish, and then read somewhere that Wilma took care of what was left.

A little more about Casa del Mar: It's resort like, but not really swank. Usually lots of divers there. If you wanted to treat yourself, get a cabana. They're separate from the main building, pool deck level and have small refrigerators and a little kitchen with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Casa del Mar is an 80 peso cab ride, one way, to the square. The food in the Casa del Mar restaurant is just fine. The menu is small, but there are lots of good choices. I've never stayed AI but eat most lunches there and a few suppers during a 2 week stay. If the restaurant is X full they have a breakfast buffet with an omelet station. The "breakfast meat" on the buffet is cut up hot dogs, which I happen to love. BIG fan of the Queso Fundido, the whole fried fish and their Club Sandwich. I've liked everything I've tried.

If you eat breakfast and lunch there, and have 4-5 drinks, you've about paid for the AI.

Ultra convenience? Stay at Tan Kah Village and dive with Scuba Shack. You can put your feet on the ground out of bed, walk across the street, and walk right onto the dive boat. 150 feet total? They have a little cove so it's basically a level step onto their dive boats. If you stay at Casa del Mar, you'd have to go down about 5 or 6 steps from the restaurant and walk about 30 seconds longer. Cake. Actually easier than staying at Casa del Mar and getting picked up from the CDM pier.

Tan Kah Village doesn't have a restaurant. It's very small and rustic, with a pool. I don't think they have TVs in the rooms. I can't remember her last name, but Roberta owns both Tan Kah Village and Scuba Shack. She's there every day and is a great source of information on dining, etc.

Though I stay at Casa del Mar, I get most of my shore tanks at Scuba Shack and dive from their dock/cove. Very nice people. Did a week of boat diving with them years ago. Good dive operation. Nice dive locker room.

 

[cicopo]

If memory serves me right Scuba Shack has relocated.

 

[nodakdive]

If memory serves me right Scuba Shack has relocated.

They're still in the same place. Scuba Shack / Dive ECO-cozumel

In my mind for some reason, the round palapa is bright yellow, not blue...

 

[cicopo]

My mistake. Thanks.

 

[nodakdive]

My mistake. Thanks.

A couple or a few years ago, there was some business restructuring, etc, and I've seen maps that point to some location near the square. She writes about it in the news section of the Scuba Shack website.

 

[sharky60]

Scuba Club would be your best bet.

 

[jonhall]

I think the plane has been mostly gone for some time. Did you dive it recently? I never have, but heard that there wasn't much to it back in 2005ish, and then read somewhere that Wilma took care of what was left.

Was there in 2012. There was still a small pile of some kind of scrap out there. Went again later but stayed elsewhere, so it could be gone.

 

[soonerwink]

there isn't a reef but there is a small plane wreck.

I think the plane has been mostly gone for some time. Did you dive it recently? I never have, but heard that there wasn't much to it back in 2005ish, and then read somewhere that Wilma took care of what was left.

You are correct, what little was left, Wilma took care of that. There are a couple of large reef heads out in front of Park Royal and El Cid. You can enter the water there and if the current is moving north like it usually is you can drift all the way to the sting ray pens. You may need a ride back though it is a long walk carrying gear. It is also an excellent night dive.

 

[El Graduado]

From my book, The True History of Cozumel (available on Amazon.com):

“In 1976, Cardona Jr. had just finished his film Survive, filmed in the mountains near Mexico City. He went on to film El triángulo diabólico de las Bermudas in Cozumel with John Huston and Carol Baker playing bit parts in January of 1977. He filmed Cyclone on the island a month later; the movie was not named Survive II, as reported by many websites and guidebooks.

Cardona Jr. bought the old hulk of the twin-engine plane used in the movie Cyclone from the government of Cozumel, filled it with Styrofoam, and dragged it from the Cozumel airport to the water. From there the plane was towed to a spot offshore in front of La Ceiba Hotel and sunk. This plane was a popular dive spot until Hurricanes Gilbert and Wilma strew its parts all over the seafloor.”