Casa Del Mar

[DandyDon]

Eh, my experiences are pretty dated and I cannot promise that what I offered before it still accurate...

Tanks and weights for shore diving can be picked up at the dock, and there are a limited number of gear lockers there - BYO lock. When I have stayed there and dived with them on a couple of trips, I still took a lot of my stuff to the room for clean water rinsing and hanging on the balcony to dry. In the morning, I'd take my half full dive bag to the cafe, lay it down out of the way, and enjoy breakfast before crossing the bridge.

I first dived with them about 10 years ago as part of a group. Hated their boats then, with tanks riding in wells along the center of the boat. My last time with them included much more comfortable boats, but I see that was 2007 - the August that I evacuated right before Hurricane Dean was expected to hit, so there's been enough time possible changes.

 

[mike jj]

CB
I've stayed at Casa del Mar 3 or 4 times in the last couple of years, and dove with Del mar aquatics. A couple of times we have been on the big boat but we were with a large group. I've never experienced the one up all up before, and never had more than 6 or 8 per Divemaster. The locker situation isn't the best, I usually took my reg and computer back to the room. But one time I left my camera on the wall outside the dive shop and it was there the next morning. The best place to rinse off after a dive is back across the bridge by the pool, never anyone there Also one of my favorite places to eat is a little cafe called paprikas just north of the hotel.

 

[DjDiverDan]

My experience with Del Mar Aquatics was years ago - probably 1995 or 1996, and I only dove with them 1 time - I hated the cattle boat, so looked for another operator. Maybe they have changed, I'd have no way of knowing (other than still seeing, on occasion, the big cattle boat with "Del Mar Aquatics" on the side out on the reefs while I was diving from another boat. I guess I should have been clearer that my opinion was based on dated info, and may no longer be accurate. Mea culpa.

 

[cb5150]

Thanks for all the advice. As a side note, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Paul Spielvogel, a photographer for "Shark Diver Magazine", last night. In addition to seeing some of his fantastic work, Paul used to live in Cozumel and gave me some great contacts down there.

 

[clevie]

We stay at Casa del Mar, but dive with another op. However, talking with other groups there that were diving with Del Mar, seemed they only had good things to say. Have not done the shore diving out front yet. I like lazy afternoons.