OP
Sharkygill
Contributor
I did also send off another email to SCC, we'll see what they can do. While I haven't stayed there, those that do certainly love it. Bought my SMB from their dive shop...
Asking for experiences at the Hotel Barracuda
- Thread starter Sharkygill
- Start date
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diverokc
Contributor
I recommend hotel cozumel. It is not on the water side, but has a tunnel under road to the manmade beach. Decent sore diving. If you go their website they have a special for summer. $70 per room for breakfast only plan. It is walking distance to town and even has bicycles for guests to use free of charge.
Stayed at Barracuda several times, last being 3yrs ago - doubt much has changed. I always liked it when traveling solo. My wife tried it once and was okay with it (read "tolerated it"). Cons are no room safe, doors don't feel all the secure, most bathrooms have a bit of smell to them, beds are hard. But I kinda liked the crew coming in, they get a little crazy but all clear out by about 4pm then it gets pretty quiet. And I'm usually diving in the mornings and sometimes afternoons so their presence hasn't been much of an issue except if you want to get lunch there and all the tables are taken. I have never had any issues with theft and enjoy the usual suspects at the front desk. If traveling along again on a budget I would consider it. I suspect teenage travelers might find the crew "interesting" 
However, the last few times I have stayed at the Casa Mexicana which comes a bit closer to the OP's goals except it is on the other side of the road. Great Hotel! The made to order breakfast is perfect which is the only meal plan I would get at any hotel. If you want to dive with Dive Paradise you can get a locker at the Barracuda, walk down 2 blocks and shore dive there as they have tanks available right by the water. I will definitely stay at the Casa Mexican again when by myself or with my wife. For kids, their pool is not really a pool.
Re: Shore diving at the Barracuda - I have come to really enjoy it. The old sunken pier is awesome to dive around night or day. Last trip I did 2 90 minute dives out there with the camera. Found pretty much everything but the bigger stuff and a frog fish so far. When your done, walk up the nice ladder and order a drink and watch the sunset with about 12 other people as its usually very quiet by dinner time.
However, the last few times I have stayed at the Casa Mexicana which comes a bit closer to the OP's goals except it is on the other side of the road. Great Hotel! The made to order breakfast is perfect which is the only meal plan I would get at any hotel. If you want to dive with Dive Paradise you can get a locker at the Barracuda, walk down 2 blocks and shore dive there as they have tanks available right by the water. I will definitely stay at the Casa Mexican again when by myself or with my wife. For kids, their pool is not really a pool.
Re: Shore diving at the Barracuda - I have come to really enjoy it. The old sunken pier is awesome to dive around night or day. Last trip I did 2 90 minute dives out there with the camera. Found pretty much everything but the bigger stuff and a frog fish so far. When your done, walk up the nice ladder and order a drink and watch the sunset with about 12 other people as its usually very quiet by dinner time.
ccannon707
Contributor
kixy1
Contributor
Good catch diverokc! I forgot about Hotel Coz... That's one I would suggest checking out, they often run some pretty nice deals. Location is pretty convenient too.
diverokc
Contributor
At hotel Cozumel the AI is only about $100 more per person per week. Having 3 teenagers AI is how I would go. That way everytime they want a coke or some nachos- there you go. Also it is nice to be able to get up eat breakfast go diving then eat lunch when you get back and your tired and want to relax. . It is convenient when diving. It is cheap enough to go town for dinner at night. enjoy
robint
Contributor
If you don't want ScubaClub, then I would suggest Hotel Cozumel. It is right next door to SCC, easy walking distance to town, and they have a big pool the kids might enjoy. I agree about AI being a good deal with teens. When my daughter was a teen, she was barely 5' tall and maybe 100 lbs but ate constantly! It was a huge hassle for us to drive or walk to town, sit and wait for food, the whole time she was complaining about starving to death. An AI would have been a much better idea for us. We never tried it with her along on our trips...
robin
robin
kwinter
Contributor
I haven't been back to Barracuda in a few years, but it was my favorite place to stay. Absolute bargain prices, great location, decent relatively clean rooms. I grant you that I never went there with a non-diver. But for serious divers its great.
Get a room on the second floor if you can, and facing the beach would be perfect. You hang your gear over the railing. The shore dive is somewhat interesting with a lot of grassy area holding juveniles. The place next door is the one with the airplane wreck and some other interesting stuff. Very convenient swim over.
The cruise ships leave in the afternoon, so the crowd of crew members around the pool at the bar next door are gone by then. Noise is not a problem after they leave. It can be noisy while they are there, but the cruise ships have some of the hottest women (and men) lying around in skimpy suits. I feel bad for those who posted they didn't like the crew members being there.
The rooms are basic and spartan, and the bathroom issues are the same ones that plague the island in general. You can get the same smell at places costing 5 times as much. It is what it is. Infrastructure on the island needs massive updating.
Best beachfront location, and it is a short walk into town. You don't need AI in Coz with all the great restaurants. Most dive shops will pick you up at the hotel pier. I recommend Deep Blue if you are looking for advanced dives. The dive op at the hotel is Dive Paradise. I don't like them, but they're fine for most OW divers. It's also a fairly short walk to the ferry pier if you want a trip to PDC for some shopping or cenote diving.
All in all I have nothing but fond memories.
Get a room on the second floor if you can, and facing the beach would be perfect. You hang your gear over the railing. The shore dive is somewhat interesting with a lot of grassy area holding juveniles. The place next door is the one with the airplane wreck and some other interesting stuff. Very convenient swim over.
The cruise ships leave in the afternoon, so the crowd of crew members around the pool at the bar next door are gone by then. Noise is not a problem after they leave. It can be noisy while they are there, but the cruise ships have some of the hottest women (and men) lying around in skimpy suits. I feel bad for those who posted they didn't like the crew members being there.
The rooms are basic and spartan, and the bathroom issues are the same ones that plague the island in general. You can get the same smell at places costing 5 times as much. It is what it is. Infrastructure on the island needs massive updating.
Best beachfront location, and it is a short walk into town. You don't need AI in Coz with all the great restaurants. Most dive shops will pick you up at the hotel pier. I recommend Deep Blue if you are looking for advanced dives. The dive op at the hotel is Dive Paradise. I don't like them, but they're fine for most OW divers. It's also a fairly short walk to the ferry pier if you want a trip to PDC for some shopping or cenote diving.
All in all I have nothing but fond memories.
I loved the view at Barracuda and the shore dive wasn't bad for a Cozumel shore dive either. I didn't mind the basic nature of the room but thought it was clean and sufficient, especially since I spent most of the time on the balcony. If I get a good deal on the room I would stay there again, but not at full price as there are nicer options.
Hotel Cozumel could work. I've stayed there a couple of times when my first choices, Blue Angel or Iberostar, were unavailable. The AI is nothing to write to home about, but works with kids and teenagers. And they do know how to make made to order eggs and omlettes for breakfast, and have all the typical breakfast staples. Varied selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. I don't think the AI option was that expensive, so skipping meals and heading in town was easily justifiable.
Found the shore diving at Hotel Coz to be just fine. My son and I did both day and night dives. Nothing really big, but lots of small stuff if you move slowly and look!! Good opportunity to work on skills or do certification dives. Easy shore entry/exit and Dive Paradise very convenient for renting tanks/weights and a number of big rinse tubs. The hotel also has lockers for storing your dive gear. We used another dive op for our reef diving.
Best,
Bill
Found the shore diving at Hotel Coz to be just fine. My son and I did both day and night dives. Nothing really big, but lots of small stuff if you move slowly and look!! Good opportunity to work on skills or do certification dives. Easy shore entry/exit and Dive Paradise very convenient for renting tanks/weights and a number of big rinse tubs. The hotel also has lockers for storing your dive gear. We used another dive op for our reef diving.
Best,
Bill
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