casa del mar questions

[ASA400]

Hi guys!

I'll be staying at Casa Del Mar in January and using their dive shop for 5 days-worth of diving (7-day stay). I've got a few questions about the hotel and dive operation.

First, I know the dive shop has gear lockers. Are these big enough for all your dive gear, with the exception of a wet suit? Also, how secure are they?

Second, does the hotel have wi-fi and is it usable from the guest rooms?

Finally, we are on the meal plan. How often is seafood offered at dinner? If it isn't on the meal plan, can you purchase seafood at the restaurant to supplement the evening meal?

Thanks a lot!

Jerry

 

[DjDiverDan]

I can answer your questions about Casa Del Mar, but not their Dive Op, as I've stayed several times (each of the last 4 Decembers, and I'll be there again in just 30 days), but have never used their Dive Op. Casa Del Mar has two Wi-Fi networks, a free Wi-Fi that is available only in the Lobby Area, and a separate network, on a different password, that is available in the rooms for an extra charge. I've never done the Casa Del Mar meal plan. I usually eat breakfast there, as breakfast was included in the room rate, but I was always with a bigger group, and we shared Taxis downtown for most lunches and dinners. Not that the food is bad at CDM, I have eaten lunch there, and the Sopa de Lima is pretty decent. But for GOOD seafood, you need to go elsewhere. Try Pescatoria San Carlos for lunch someday - on Sturdays, it has a Sopa Mariscos (Seafood Soup) which is very tasty, and grilled grouper in garlic sauce which is excellent. Also, try La Perlta - Thursdays they have a 2-for1 Lionfish special, try the coconut crusted Lionfish. For Lobster, try Casa Mission, La Lobsteria, or Gustos. Casa Mission is in town, way back around 65, La Lobsteria is on Ave 5 at about 7th Street (South of the Plaza, one block back from Melgar), and Gustos is about 2 Km south of the International Pier, on the left side of the road. Re Dive Ops, have you thought about trying Dive with Martin? It is at the end of the International Pier, a short walk from Casa Del Mar. Also, it will keep your gear for you and pick you up and drop you off at the Casa Del Mar Pier.

 

[ASA400]

Thanks for your response Dan, I'll be on an organized trip by the LDS, so they set up who we will dive with. Sounds like for seafood, I need to get into town.

 

[nodakdive]

On the CDM all inclusive plan, there is an up charge for lobster and for the seafood platter. I think I've stayed there a dozen times or so but have never gone AI. Breakfast has always been included in my trip like DJDiverDan. I've eaten the bulk of my lunches there and lots of dinners, though we almost always go downtown for dinner. They have separate menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, though breakfast is buffet when the hotel reaches a certain occupancy level. I love their whole fried fish for lunch. As previously mentioned, the food there isn't bad, in fact I have several favorite things. They have a great queso fundido. (cheese fondue). I've had great fish, shrimp, chicken, etc there. I love their club sandwich. That said, the menu would get a little old if you're there for a week or longer. Also, I could stay on the island for 2 weeks and not get to all the restaurants on my "list". The taxi to the square is 80 pesos one way or about $4 per person, round trip. Less if you have enough for a full van or if you can get 4 people in a taxi. heh. I've had the seafood platter. It was great. I've had the lobster. It was fine, but I'd go out for that. My last amazing lobster in Cozumel was at La Terraza.

I consider the lockers really secure and they are plenty large. Bring a paddle lock. I could bite through mine. It's mostly to keep a claim on the locker while you're there.

I'm not an AI guy, but what I like about CDM's AI is that it's not buffet, it's off menu. Also, it's only about 100 rooms. I've been there when it's empty and when it's full. Their breakfast buffet is small and fresh. I've seen buffets at night, but I think they are for special occasions.

Drying tip - Bring some of those over sized, black and orange plastic clothes pins. The balconies have 3 pegs to hang things and the water drips right on the bench. If you have clothes pins you can put your stuff over the rails securely. If you have two divers, I'd say they're a must. It can get breezy.

If you don't mind stairs, a 3rd floor, facing north, room has an unobstructed ocean view. If you're on the south, you're looking at trees, the main walkways and the cruise ships.

Wifi tip - Last trip I was on the second floor facing north, almost directly across the stairs and I was able to us the lobby connection.

-Blair

 

[ASA400]

Thanks Blair!

 

[DjDiverDan]

Have a great time. I know about the organized dive group thing. If I'm on my own, my first choice for a dive op is Aldora - I LOVE the Steel 120 tanks, and I'm willing to pay extra for a real valet dive service. But my December trips are group trips with Mensa Scuba group, and we have a long term relationship with Dive with Martin, and, other than the lack of steel tanks (I pay extra for AL 100s), I've got no complaints, and I really like the DM, Miguel Estrella. Do try to get to town for a couple of meals. I've been going to Cozumel for about 24 years now, and one of the things I love, besides the diving, is the variety of great restaurants, especially the little locally owned places with really good food at very reasonable prices.

P.S. If you go to Pescatoria San Carlos and get the Sopa Mariscos, ask the waiter for some of the hot sauce - I forget what it's called, but it has habanero pepper, and it's VERY hot. Put a little in the Sopa Mariscos, but GO EASY, a few drops, maybe 1/4 spoonful, is plenty to bump up the flavor of the soup. Unless you like really hot food, a full spoonful will make the soup like a hot & spicy Thai Soup - delicious, but your mouth will burn and you WILL sweat!

 

[driftwood]

Big thumbs up for Pescatroia San Carlos. I love the ceviche. One tip is to ask your waiter to call you a cab for the ride back to CDM. PSC is off the beaten tourist trail and mostly caters to locals. BTW, they are only open till mid afternoon.

We have lunch and dinner at CDM. Not bad but you can do a lot better in town.

 

[K3]

The house dive op is Cozumel Marine World (Cozumel Scuba Diving, Certifications, Instructor Training, Customize Diving, Computer Diving, Multilevel Diving, Small Groups Diving, Padi Pro, Advanced Diving, Specialty Dives.). I've done 6 trips to Cozumel each lasting 3 weeks with a school group staying at Casa Del Mar. You can imagine the food gets to you after eating the same thing, but I've had no complaints about Cozumel Marine World. I've found them very accomodating. I do know that they have steel tanks, but I imagine you'll have to request them in advance.