Cancun Trip Advice

[Overshoot]

I am staying at the Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe and I am planning to do as much diving as possible during my stay. I was originally planning to dive with Dressel Divers and taking advantage of their PADI Advance Open Water training due to good prices, no additional charge for nitrox, and especially their location on the premises of the resort.

Now I find out that they don't have any nitrox at that location and that I may need to sit on my thumbs on Friday morning staring at the surface of the ocean if I decide to go with them.

Here is what would be ideal for me:

• Convenient to the resort where I am staying - Barcelo Maya Palace

(Puerto Aventuras is just to the north but I don't know if it is within reasonable walking distance) Some places like Dive Aventuras offer hotel transfers.​

• Working on an AOW the first couple days would be great. Due to my work schedule it is impossible for me to make weekend dive trips.

• Nitrox availability - even with a reasonable charge. Want to get as much bottom time as I can (let alone the safety margin of using it in the mid-depths of most dives out of Cancun). Dive Aventuras charges $15 extra a tank which seems excessive.

• Variety of dive sites

I'm sure that there are some more operations in the area that can fit the bill. I appreciate your first-hand insights and experiences.

Thanks for your help,
Paul

 

[Coconut Divers]

Hey Paul

first your hotel is in the middle of nowhere. There are dive shops in Akumal and Puerto Aventuras about 20min in a cab. Your idea of nitrox gives you more bottom time is a dream cause the dive shop will put you together with no nitrox divers and most of the time the boat has to be back at a certain time so you will most likely spend 40-50 min under water no matter what you use.

I recommend do some ocean dives and then go to Cenotes for those trips you will be picked up at the hotel.

Check us out
Coconut Divers Cancun - Scuba Diving in Cancun

Leif Meinert
Coconut Divers Cancun

 

[rongoodman]

If you can hook up with Dive Aventuras, they should be fine. I did my first cenote dives with them, and I see Scuba Shack is still using them for their recreational trips down there.

 

[Overshoot]

Thanks for you help. I've never been to this area before.

Coconut - The bummer about the nitrox is that Dressel promotes it on their website and even encourages divers to get certified for it prior to their trip. Unfortunately, they don't say that the nearest nitrox is Cozumel.

Yeah, the Cenotes are on my "must do" list.

Any advice as to whether it is worth the trip to Cozumel (something like 9-hours round trip for two tanks)?

Thanks again.

 

[Coconut Divers]

Paul don't get mad ! Just enjoy the dives of the coast they are great and you will have fun. Cozumel has some awesome wall dives with great visibility but if you can't make it this trip then enjoy whats in front of your hotel that would be Cenotes again.

Have fun!

wwwcoconutdivers.com

Leif Meinert
Coconut Divers Cancun

 

[Overshoot]

Thanks for the "don't worry. Be happy" reminder Coconut!

I spent years of diving in conditions where anything greater than 10 feet of vis was reason to go diving (Nor Cal). Trust me, my mask will probably be leaking because I will be smiling ear to ear.

 

[Basheirt]

I am also traveling to Barcelo Palace (July) and plan to dive with Dressel. Did my Discovery with them last December and thought they were excellent.

Can't offer anything re: nitrox or the other locals, but I would be curious to know of others' experiences with Dressel. Haven't booked anything with them yet but planning to pre-book online or 20% discount.

Jeff

 

[Coconut Divers]

Paul that is the right attitude ! I like it !


Coconut Divers Cancun - Scuba Diving in Cancun

Leif Meinert
Coconut Divers Cancun

 

[Overshoot]

Basheirt - Dressel's Trip Advisor reviews are very good. I'm sure that I will do some diving with them.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ivers-Puerto_Aventuras_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

---------- Post added May 6th, 2013 at 06:15 PM ----------

Coconut - how far are you from Barcelo Maya?

 

[Coconut Divers]

I am in Cancun Paul that is over 1h drive from you for ocean diving not worth it. We do cavern trips right next to you.


Coconut Divers Cancun - Scuba Diving in Cancun

Leif Meinert
Coconut Divers Cancun