I just recently got back from a week of diving in Cancun. We stayed at a friends' time share in the Royal Islander. The diving was great (at least the underwater part)
We had, before leaving, booked a number of dives with Manta Divers. We did their extreme diving package + extra dives. I want to say first that I truly liked the people at Manta. Fred was great. Nicole and Alex are very dear people, but I believe too inexperienced to lead dives. John and Mimi the owners are also nice people and I believe that Hurricane Wilma knocked their hearts out along with their boats. They only have a small boat (you have to back roll to enter
). There were a number of problems that built up over the week. We lost a couple (the same couple) 2 times. The first time, not Manta's fault, they were told to go back to the boat and didn't. The second time was on a dive "lead" by Nicole and Alex. They are also the photo team for Manta. They were so involved in their photography and the current was very strong. They swam up current and were near some coral so they didin't feel the current as strongly as those of us "out in the open." I had all I could do to tread water to not be swept away, the couple with us couldn't hold out and were pushed off by the current. The leaders should have been more attentive to the divers and spent less time on their photography. (We did find the couple the first day because they used a bright yellow fin to signal the boat - the second day they had purchased a sausage). There were other agrevations but the final straw was the trip to Cozumel. Because we were staying in Cancun, it was a full day trip, with van ride to the ferry, the ferry ride, then we walked with our dry (but heavy gear) for about 1/4 mile to find out we needed to take a cab to another area because the boats couldn't come into the harbor - too much wind. Well Alex could see that the boats were not there from the Ferry dock. OK that wasn't too bad. Our dives were good, again from smaller boats. We got back to the ferry and rode across to Playa de Carma, and then Alex said "this way" and started walking. We walked what seemed like a mile up hill to the restaurant in the hot sun carrying our wet gear! And again, Alex was way up front, not paying attention to those of us having difficulty. (If he had told up at the ferry dock that it was going to be a hike, we would have hired someone to take our gear (there were those carriages pulled by bikes at the ferry dock). Then the restaurant where we were supposed to eat was full (soccer game) so we had to go elsewhere. At the conclusion of the meal (that was to have been included) Alex announces he doesn't have enough money and that we need to chip in $15. + tip! Then the van to take us back to Cancum was a half hour late.
I know these seem like little things, but I am only telling you the worst of it. We had many other problems with Manta.
We wanted to dive more than Manta had available (this was a good thing) so we went to Aqua World. What a difference!!!! Large boats, step in entry, one dive leader to every 4 or 5 divers. We did probably 8 dives with Aqua World and with each one I was more impressed with their business. On the first dive, one of the divers was nervous. My buddy and I were to dive with her and a dive master. As we entered, my buddy and I immediately went down but the dive master and the woman didin't come down, instead he signaled us to go with the other group. Later they caught up with the group. On the boat I found out that she was having difficulty so the dive master brought her back onto the boat, got her calmed down and took her back in to finish the dive. This is only one of many pleasant experiences with Aqua World.
I know that anytime in the future I dive where Aqua World is I will definately book with them.
There are other dive shops in Cancun, but these were the only 2 I had experience with.
Hope you have a great trip! If you go with Aqua World, tell Gabrielle we sent you.
