Aqua Safari or Dive With Martin?

[JessH]

I am trying to decide between these two dive shops. I am currently leaning towards Aqua Safari but would like some input.

My girlfriend and I are thinking about going to Coz in January. We are thinking about staying at the Safari Inn due to the convenience of being downtown and the inexpensive price. I have heard great things about Dive With Martin but since Aqua Safari is in the same building it seems like a much more convenient option. If we were just going to do boat dives it wouldn't really be a problem but I am thinking it would be nice to have the option of doing some shore dives as well, which will be much more convenient if we are close to the shop.

We could always do boat dives with DWM and shore dives with aqua safari but it seems like that could become more expensive due to rental gear and things.

Anyone have any input on which dive shop we should use?

~Jess

 

[alcina]

It would be helpful, perhaps, to know what kind of diving you prefer and what your experience in diving is.

 

[JessH]

Good point. I actually meant to include that. I have been diving for about 3 years and am currently working on becoming a DM. My girlfriend will be newly certified and they will probably be some of the first dives she will do after certification. So we won't be looking for anything very advanced. I do want to throw a night dive or two in.

I am thinking about going with the fast boat option from Aqua Safari if we go with them so that we don't have to deal with as large of groups.

We will be staying in Cozumel 5 days, and 2 in Tulum. I am thinking I will plan 3 days of diving on Cozumel and possibly add some when we are there if my girlfriend feels like it (I know I will). I also want to dive the Cenotes while in Tulum if my girlfriend is up to it. I have been to the cenotes before and to the reefs off of Akumal. Never to Cozumel.

 

[Christi]

If staying at Safari Inn, I would definitely go with Aqua Safari. The pier is literally across the street from the shop and hotel. If you dive with Martin, they will not pick you up downtown.

I wouldn't let shore diving be a deciding factor, because shore diving is non-existent in front of Aqua Safari (or most places for that matter).

Aqua Safari has an impecable safety record, great full-time DM's and staff (who have been there for years) and if doing the fast boat option, I think you'll be very happy. If diving the standard package, from the larger baots, you will find that they are very conservative with regards to bottom times and profiles.

All things said, Aqua Safari is an excellent dive operation.

 

[Paco]

I dove with them (Aqua Safari) on the fast boat and our dives were conservative as well. We were told never to go below 80' on any of our fifteen dives with them.

We stayed at the Safari Inn as well and got lucky with the front rooms. Large, comfy beds and a balcony overlooking the water and downtown. We really liked it there and what a bargain price.

 

[JessH]

I dove with them (Aqua Safari) on the fast boat and our dives were conservative as well. We were told never to go below 80' on any of our fifteen dives with them.

This would normally bother me but since my girlfriend will be newly certified it is probably for the best.

I am thinking we will stick with Aqua Safari for this trip, but I can definitely see myself using dive with martin in the future.

Thank you everyone for the info!

~Jess

 

[wwu123]

Last year we stayed downtown for the first time, at Casa Mexicana right next to Safari Inn. Unless you've got some huge objection to Aqua Safari, I don't see how you can beat the convenience of their downtown pier.

That all said, we only dive with Martin, except one X-mas day when we arrived and couldn't reach them by phone in the shop. That one day we ended up with Dive Paradise, which only further convinced us to stick with DWM in the future. It was a pain to take a cab back and forth to DWM's shop though, as usually we stay further south in their boat pickup zone. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend DWM.

DWM used to have a decent (for Cozumel) and convenient shore dive next to their shop, a small plane wreck in front of the La Ceiba hotel and a reasonable and varied set of fish and critters around. It had a nice gradual and sandy shore entry. If they've re-allowed shore diving there, perhaps the big attraction would now be the post-hurricane wreckage of the old DWM shop, which is now underwater rubble

 

[Christi]

That all said, we only dive with Martin, except one X-mas day when we arrived and couldn't reach them by phone in the shop. That one day we ended up with Dive Paradise, which only further convinced us to stick with DWM in the future.

Dive Paradise is the only shop I know of that runs boats on Christmas Day.

 

[cabio]

DWM used to have a decent (for Cozumel) and convenient shore dive next to their shop, a small plane wreck in front of the La Ceiba hotel and a reasonable and varied set of fish and critters around. It had a nice gradual and sandy shore entry. If they've re-allowed shore diving there, perhaps the big attraction would now be the post-hurricane wreckage of the old DWM shop, which is now underwater rubble

Shore dives are still not allowed ? Does anyone know for sure ?

 

[Cacia]

I love Dive with Martin but they are less conservative.

Sounds like you might be making a good choice. I explore options available without locking in. Peak season may not be possible, but I like to see how I can leave my options open and decide day to day...For example, recently I went to a resort where the "package" actually came out to more than the web prices al a carte diving!

Print any negotiations (e-mails) and throw in your suitcase.

I have found operators much more accomodating when you are free to "re-up" or not daily. Usually this involves sites, for us. They say one thing and then you get there and get stuck doing whatever is convenient for them, etc.

An option you might consider because DM's are very affordable in Coz..is hiring your own the first couple days as your GF gets acclimated to drift procedures, etc. Or..tip one early on and explain your needs.