Costa Maya in August?

[felltoeaston]

Hello all,

Interested in accommodation and snorkeling/diving in Costa Maya this August for a honeymoon trip! Probably around 12 nights.

Have looked at previous posts - very helpful, thank you posters! - but just wanted to check if anyone had recent suggestions about good/not so good experiences with dive operations there, and with little hotels like Balamku, Maya Luna, and Margarita del Sol - such as the quality of snorkeling off the beach, friendliness, day trips, weather, for example.

Many thanks!

 

[3000dives]

I would check out a dive resort that you didn't mention, Maya Palms Resort. I just read an article in the new issue of Sport Diver Magazine titled "Mahahual Maverick". Sport diver chose them as their base of operation when they were in Mahahual.

I have dove with them before and I believe they are the only resort with an on site dive shop. The dive staff Doug, Ken and Mark all American from St. Louis took us on some great dives. Their facilities, service, food and staff were great. The personalized service was as good if not better than anywhere I've been before. The setting was idyllic - very private, very secluded and perfect for a honeymoon.

You can snorkel right off the beach, but the best thing to do is to take a Kayak out to the reef only 200 yards off shore with water depths off 20 to 30 feet. You can do day trips to the Mayan Ruins, Lake Baclar, Cenote Azul and several other places.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gaviota]

You will find most of the small hotels do have their own dive operation or have close contacts with a dive operation. Most will pick you up by boat at your hotel. Even Maya Palms has been 'contrating' their boats for diving.

Price wise - you will most likely find better prices at many of the local hotels, which are about the same size as Maya Palms.

 

[2dive.com]

felltoeaston,
have a look at this

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/mexico/337487-mahahual-costa-maya-options.html?highlight=costa+maya

thanks

 

[novisdiver]

This was a post I posted on another thread that is quite pertinent to your question. Reposting here for you and others.

Ken,

Been back home after the trip to the Maya Palms for a few days and I already want to come back!!! I just wanted to say thanks again to you and Mark for the most amazing dive vacation I have had to date.

For the sake of the other listeners here let me describe my trip. Due to it being off season my wife and I were the only guests at the beautiful resort for the week. Needless to say we were pampered with excellent service, fantastic food, and amazing weather and views. We had sunny skies everyday. Yes it is hot this time of year in Mahahual but with the ocean breeze it was very comfortable.

Lets get to the important details though the diving! That's what this is all about isn't it. Well because it was just Ken, the resident divemaster, and I the kind of diving that was had for the week was just amazing!!!! Every dive was deep and lasted between 65 and 95 minutes on average. Ken and I pushed our computers to the limits. With the two of us being seasoned divers we kept running out of no-deco time when we still had air to burn. On the last day we did our final dive for 115 minutes!!! You won't find these kind of dives at most resorts that's for sure. It was a nice way to end the week.

Lets talk about the reefs a bit. We were diving reefs that are the healthiest I've ever seen. There was no sign of coral bleeching or damage whatsoever. I was seeing barrel sponges 5 to 6 feet tall. Just incredible!!! We dove on a couple of undived reefs that haven't ever seen a diver before. Where in the world can you dive a virgin reef!!!! I gave some input into names, one Ken named Roca Mesa and Ken is still debating about the second one. Ken let me know what you decide to name the other one I would love to know so I can update my divelog. It was kind of a joke because Ken kept asking me what I kept writing in my divelog all week.

Lets add up all the stuff I saw for the week. In no particular order spotted eagle rays, many hawksbill turtles close up, green moray eels, barracuda, one school was several hundred thick. There were stingrays, a nurse shark, a bazillian different schools of smaller tropical fish, some of my favorites are angel fish, cleaning shrimp, a squid, and grouper. The one downside to the reefs was all the lionfish invading everywhere, but Ken and I made this into a positive as well. Ken is an accomplished spear fisherman and well, we rid the reef of somewhere between 20 and 30 lionfish for the week. After spearing them we would find a nice spinny lobster to feed them too. It was amazing because the lobster would immediately tear into the fish and start eating. Very very cool.

Ken got a lot of underwater footage while we were there including lots of lobster eating lionfish. He is making, what I call, a Lynyrd Skynyrd video about hunting lionfish on the reef. Can't wait to see the final cut with music and everything. Hahaha!!!! Anyway it was a blast hunting the fish and just generally diving with Ken. He was one of best dive buddies I've ever had.

So for those who are thinking of doing the Treasure Hunt it's a no brainer. You could win an amazing dive trip!!!!

Thanks again to everyone at the Bonne Terre Mine, owners Doug and Catherine, and everyone at the Maya Palms Resort especially Ken and Mark for an incredible time.

Sincerely