Blue Angel Concerns

[Brodydog]

Thinking about staying at BA for my first trip to Cozumel and have been trying to do some research by looking at previous posts. I was originally looking to stay at SCC, but now leaning more towards BA because of the afternnoon and twilight dives offered. We go on our trips to dive and to get in a lot of dives at different sites so I am not sure SCC offers the variety I am looking for. I am not one to enjoy the same shore dive day after day and I would want more than just the 2 am dives.

So I have a couple of questions to ask those of you who have been to BA. Just how bad is the street noise and is there a room that I could request that would have less noise? Can't tell from photos if the resort is possibly angled away from the street so that some rooms would be further from the street. I am a very light sleeper so I really do like peace and quite at nite.

Also I read in one post that they got low tank fills at BA. Did you find this to be true on your trip? And from photos the boats look covered? Are the boats at BA indeed covered? Lastly are there any places to eat close enough to walk besides the onsite restaurant?

 

[ggunn]

Thinking about staying at BA for my first trip to Cozumel and have been trying to do some research by looking at previous posts. I was originally looking to stay at SCC, but now leaning more towards BA because of the afternnoon and twilight dives offered. We go on our trips to dive and to get in a lot of dives at different sites so I am not sure SCC offers the variety I am looking for. I am not one to enjoy the same shore dive day after day and I would want more than just the 2 am dives.

So I have a couple of questions to ask those of you who have been to BA. Just how bad is the street noise and is there a room that I could request that would have less noise? Can't tell from photos if the resort is possibly angled away from the street so that some rooms would be further from the street. I am a very light sleeper so I really do like peace and quite at nite.

Also I read in one post that they got low tank fills at BA. Did you find this to be true on your trip? And from photos the boats look covered? Are the boats at BA indeed covered? Lastly are there any places to eat close enough to walk besides the onsite restaurant?

The ground floor rooms' streetside doors open to a closed corridor while the rest have an open balcony. That may make them a little quieter. The street noise has never bothered me, though, in any of the rooms I have stayed in. The hotel is parallel to the street.

BA's tanks are filled off site along with tanks for most of the Cozumel ops, so the BA has nothing to do with the fills. I've gotten a bit of a low fill a couple of times, but the DM has always volunteered to take it.

All the BA's boats are covered.

The complex at Villablanca is a short walk away, and La Ceiba/El Cid is just a little farther. There are places to eat at both of them.

 

[BigHarryDiver]

My wife and I spent a week there last January. We were on the 3rd floor and I didn't notice the street noise that some have posted as a complaint. I too am a light sleeper. We saw no issues with light fills on any of our dives. The on-site restaurant is excellent and most of the meals are included with the price of your room. I walked to town a couple times to hit the supermarket for soda and snacks (about a 20 minute walk each way). Not sure about other eateries in the area but I'm sure others will comment about that. All in all a really great place to stay, fast boats and decent Dive Masters and we do plan to return this spring.

 

[Frank Storms]

I agree with Gordon. I have stayed at BA several times, and never been bothered by street
noise. The AC tends to cancel sounds pretty well, and if you have the AC off and the windows
open, the sea does a pretty good job. I have had some short tanks at many locations-never at BA.
I am an 'air sucker', so if I do get a short tank,I do like Gordon, swap with the DM or SO.

 

[pjhansman]

My wife and I spent a week there in November (right before the Ironman) and loved it.

Street noise was not an issue.

We walked downtown to eat four of the seven nights we were there. Takes about 35 minutes at a leisurely pace.

BA's tanks are filled off site along with tanks for most of the Cozumel ops, so the BA has nothing to do with the fills.

Unlike most of the other dive ops, it is my understanding that Blue Angel fill their own tanks (air and Nitrox). Lowest tank I got on 16 dives was 2900psi in an AL80.

 

[DandyDon]

The ground floor rooms' streetside doors open to a closed corridor while the rest have an open balcony. That may make them a little quieter. The street noise has never bothered me, though, in any of the rooms I have stayed in. The hotel is parallel to the street.

BA's tanks are filled off site along with tanks for most of the Cozumel ops, so the BA has nothing to do with the fills. I've gotten a bit of a low fill a couple of times, but the DM has always volunteered to take it.

All the BA's boats are covered.

The complex at Villablanca is a short walk away, and La Ceiba/El Cid is just a little farther. There are places to eat at both of them.

I was never bothered by street noise unless there was a parade. I think BA owns their own compressor now tho, even tho it is off site, yet never had problems with low fills. 100 cf tanks are $5/dive extra I think.

The boats are indeed covered. It's safest to get on and off in front or behind the coverings in case a wave may bounce the boat; this is true with any Op, but seems to be largely unknown to many divers.

There are a half dozen cafes around Villablanca.

Unlike most of the other dive ops, it is my understanding that Blue Angel fill their own tanks (air and Nitrox). Lowest tank I got on 16 dives was 2900psi in an AL80.

Yeah, I think they got their own compressor [-]but doubt that they do their own Nixtrox[/-]. see mjatkins post below...

 

[blue steal]

Thinking about staying at BA for my first trip to Cozumel and have been trying to do some research by looking at previous posts. I was originally looking to stay at SCC, but now leaning more towards BA because of the afternnoon and twilight dives offered. We go on our trips to dive and to get in a lot of dives at different sites so I am not sure SCC offers the variety I am looking for. I am not one to enjoy the same shore dive day after day and I would want more than just the 2 am dives.

So I have a couple of questions to ask those of you who have been to BA. Just how bad is the street noise and is there a room that I could request that would have less noise? Can't tell from photos if the resort is possibly angled away from the street so that some rooms would be further from the street. I am a very light sleeper so I really do like peace and quite at nite.

Also I read in one post that they got low tank fills at BA. Did you find this to be true on your trip? And from photos the boats look covered? Are the boats at BA indeed covered? Lastly are there any places to eat close enough to walk besides the onsite restaurant?

To answer some of your concerns, we stayed there this last October and I always check my tanks before going in and they have been anywhere from 2800-3200psi.
Blue Angel does not fill their tanks, they are taken away each afternoon and delivered back in the morning, thus the morning "clanking of the tanks", which never bothers me.
Street noise is a tough one. I am a pretty light sleeper and never had any problems.
During the day there is traffic up and down the street, but it settles down at night, (and pretty early at that), hardly any vehicles on the road. AC will drown out the noise, but I enjoy leaving the sliding doors all the way open at night to listen to the sounds of the sea. In any event, I don't think any given room would be more quite than another, maybe on the ground floor, but then you will hear the maid, ground keepers in the morning.
As other have said, the boats are covered with a canvas canopy, which provides shade if you want or need that.
The BA is set up for 2-tank am dives and only if enough people sign up for the afternoon or night dives will they go out, so they may not go out every day.
For me, I enjoyed the shore diving there, it is easy, free, with quick access to tanks/weight, and there are lots of critters to see, but the topography isn't as pretty as the off shore reefs.
I am sure others will suggest restaurants, but there are some that are an easy walk, like La Hatch, villablanca, or a longer but still easy walk into town.
Both places SCC and BA are nice, my friends here in LA just love SCC, but they love AI and never leave the place, for me the BA is nice balance, free breakfast, lunch included on dive days, and dinner where ever you decide.
Hope this helps.
Oh and they now have a 2 for 1 happy hour from like 4-6pm, hey can't beat their margaritas after an afternoon of diving.

 

[mjatkins]

Blue Angel does not fill their tanks, they are taken away each afternoon and delivered back in the morning

Just to clarify, yes Blue Angel owns their own fill station. It is back on 65 ave, that is why they get picked up and delivered. The boats now get loaded at the harbour (caleta) before they come to the hotel, so there are no tanks delivered early to the hotel anymore. Only shore dive tanks get delivered (as a norm) and they don't come early.

A nitrox system was added last winter at the fill station, so yes Blue Angel has a reliable source of enriched air from their own facility.

 

[Brodydog]

Thanks to all for your replies! I did not realize Villablanca was that close to BA. Villablanca with Scuba Mau was another option I was highly considering so I am familiar with there being a few food choices there. Just how close is Villablanca?

 

[Tunaman68]

We were there in November and LOVED it! My brother was in the room next door to ours (101 and 102 right by the lobby) and found the noise of the lobby and the workers at the hotel woke him every morning, he asked to be put upstairs, and was moved to the 4th floor. He turned on the AC, and made sure the bathroom door was shut and slept like a baby after that!

The food on site is amazing, but there are so many options walking distance to the north and south, and most anything is about a $7 cab ride from the hotel.

We never had any fills lower than 2900 psi, and I had most at 3200 - the short fill happens with every dive op all over the world!

Boats are all covered, DM's are amazing, and the shore dive is a blast (especially at night!) You have to have a group of three in order to add an afternoon/night boat dive, but we had three in our party and were able to go out 4 out of 6 days for extra dives.


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