Cancun and Cozumel - 1st timer - PLEASE ADVISE - Best Resort w Diving......??????

[diveprof]

Hey All,


Planning a trip to Cancun and Cozumel in just a few weeks, kind of spur of moment but due to an airfare opprtny. must go. I have never been to Cancun or Cozumel. My dive partner however has, once. We are thinking about staying in in Cancun, diving some there both from shore and boat trips, and then taking a ferry to Cozumel for a couple days and diving there as well. I would like to receive peoples honest opinions on where to stay..... We are open and down for an adventure but here are a couple stipulations our potential resort must have:

--Access to Easy Shore Diving - Is this readily available in Cancun ?
--Decent Accomodations -We are NOT looking for a $500 a night suite. Decent, middle-to-lower rated/price hotels/resorts - OK. We are more about a budget and having some fun rather than a 46" flat panel in our room.
--On the beach (hence shore diving)
--Airfare is NOT needed, no package needed
--Inclusive Resorts OK - Food, Beverage, etc.
--Due to my work, I MUST have internet at the hotel/resort.

Thank you in advance to everyone who replies. I don't have a lot of time to put this together, so please be blunt and honest about your good AND bad experiences....

Thank you,

Scubeneath

A couple of other options I'd recommend. Cozumel Palace for an All Inclusive or El Cantil for a condo (mega grocery is within a block). Check them out on the web. I'd use one of the small fast boat operators for diving (Aldora or Dive with Martin, plenty of others). Both of these are within easy walking distance of town (for diniing out if staying in the condo). Both are in Cozumel. Cancun is for beaching, not diving....

 

[cbm32]

My wife and I spent several days in Playa Del Carmen and we enjoyed it, but it was our first trip to Mexico too. I only dove the Cenotes one day while we were there. We are glad we did experience Playa and I am glad I did the Cenotes so that I know what that is about, but we/I wont bother with either of those now that we have experienced them....from now on we will go straight to Coz.

IF there is availability at The El Cid La Ceiba, I can get you a great deal on a room or rooms there with my timeshare points. Right on the beach with a pool and a small beach as well as a couple of places you can snorkel and one area you can shore dive....but the shore diving is in a pretty small area. Mostly used for check out dives, lessons, and stuff like that. AI is available but optional.

I have only dove with about four of the dive ops on Coz but of those four the one I like was Tres Pelicanos, and it wasnt even close. Servando is a great DM. He is safety conscious but also laid back and really goes the extra mile to make sure you enjoy yourself. He is really good at finding critters too....especially seahorses. Tres Pelicanos is a small operation and just closing in on their first year in business, although everyone involved has been in and around Coz for many many years. Their boat on the smaller side, fast and extremely easy to dive out of. If you are open to it, they make you feel like family. They will pick you up at the El Cid dock, or provide transportation to the Caletta.

Lots and Lots of good restaurants in every price range to choose from if you dont go AI and the El Cid has a small kitchen in every room in case you feel like cooking a meal or two (actually since my wife doesn't dive we did a lot of meals in the room)

Probably not a very good chance of them having availability at this short notice but if you want me to check I would be happy too. Oh, I should add that if El Cid does not have openings, Jeanie at Tres Pelicanos would be happy to help you arrange accommodations. Tres Pelicanos office is actually in a space attached to a hotel that is very very nice.

 

[finecut]

I have been to Iberostar in Cozumel 2X. It's pretty cheap $940/week for two all inclusive food and drinks. The diving is extra. The diving op is Dressel Divers. They are not cheap but I find them to be professional and they are closest to Palancar. I typically ask for a room near the dock and walk down in my wetsuit with my bc mask and regulator. You can make 4 dives a day, getting back between each dive for sodas snacks lunch etc. My girlfriend and I did 15 dives total (10 and 5) the last time for about $600.00. My son and I did 24 dives (12each). the time before foe about$1000.00. If your interested email Dressel directly, they have package deals.

I have flown into Cozumel and Cancun. Cancun can be a 1hr flight from FTL or MIA. Then there is a 45 minute cab ride to Playa Del Carmen ($75-$95 up to 4people) a 1hr ferry ride to Cozumel ($13 pp) then a 15 minute ($20 up to 4) cab ride to Iberostar. Cozumel is easier, but there are not flights every day. There is a bus service to Iberostar from the airport for $15 pp.

Have Fun!