Coz and Cenotes: Advice please!

[ShanChan]

I'm going to Cozumel this May, and would like to dive the cenotes. I could use some advice.... I'll write the questions that come to mind, but if I welcome any thoughts Scubaboarders might have on the subject matter.

• I'm diving with Aqua Safari and Hotel Cozumel. Would they be able to set up a trip to the Cenotes for me?
• What are the best cenotes to visit?
• What are the ones I should avoid?
• How many days should I plan for the cenote portion of my trip?
• I'd also like to get my cavern cert, who would you recommend?
• Is it better to fly into/out of Cancun, or should I take the ferry and fly into/out of Coz? I don't mind schlepping gear.

 

[ggunn]

[*]Is it better to fly into/out of Cancun, or should I take the ferry and fly into/out of Coz? I don't mind schlepping gear.

All other things being equal, it is much better to fly directly into Cozumel if Cozumel is your destination (what I quoted from you implies to me that your destination is Cancun, but I don't think that's what you meant). The Cozumel airport is much smaller and has a lot less plane traffic, plus you don't have the ground transport to Playa del Carmen and the ferry to deal with. Flying into Cancun will add three or four hours to your travel time to Cozumel.

But it really depends on where you are coming from. You will have to research plane fares from where you are (and then add the cost of ground transport and the ferry) to see how much money, if any, it would save you to fly into Cancun instead.

 

[CozumelAntonio]

I'm going to Cozumel this May, and would like to dive the cenotes. I could use some advice.... I'll write the questions that come to mind, but if I welcome any thoughts Scubaboarders might have on the subject matter.

• I'm diving with Aqua Safari and Hotel Cozumel. Would they be able to set up a trip to the Cenotes for me?
• What are the best cenotes to visit?
• What are the ones I should avoid?
• How many days should I plan for the cenote portion of my trip?
• I'd also like to get my cavern cert, who would you recommend?
• Is it better to fly into/out of Cancun, or should I take the ferry and fly into/out of Coz? I don't mind schlepping gear.

For diving cenotes in Cozumel, the mainland, or any cave cert. your best bet is German Yañez Of Yucatech Expeditions, by far one of the most experienced operations in Cozumel or the mainland.

http://www.yucatech.net/yucatechmain.htm

 

[EvaL]

Hi. Like ggun says, if you're doing more dives on Cozumel than cenotes on the mainland, then I'd fly into Cozumel and stay there. If you plan on spending more time in the cenotes, then you'd probably want to fly into Cancun, take a bus (from the airport) to Playa Del Carmen and then hop on one of the white vans that ply the north-south route till you get to your hotel.
To get to the cenotes from Cozumel, it's only a ~25 min ferry to Playa Del Carmen and a short van or taxi ride to the cenote. I know most good dive ops on Cozumel will arrange a trip to the cenotes, usually they "outsource" you to a dive op on the mainland and will either arrange everything for your trip (transport, gear, guide) or at least let you know how and when to get there.
Popular cenotes include Car Wash, Gran Cenote, Casa Cenote and Dos Ojos (featured in the IMAX movie, "Caves"). I like them all. I think Dos Ojos has a section lighted up for snorkelers, which might be great if you have a non-diver with you.
You can do cavern dives with a guide/DM if you're AOW-certified. IMHO the cavern certification isn't worth it unless you're want to become cave-certified.
Good luck and dive safely.

 

[ae3753]

Here's a recent thread on Cenotes on Cozumel:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=170178

I'm diving with Aqua Safari and Hotel Cozumel. Would they be able to set up a trip to the Cenotes for me?

I'd be amazed if they were not able to set up a trip to the cenotes. However, I would book from one of the recommended guides. Heard a lot of good things about German Yanez, but I'll throw my vote to Dennis Weeks of Diablo Divers (www.diablodivers.com). We dive with Dennis on every trip, and he's the best dive op we've ever dove with.

What are the best cenotes to visit?

My favorites are Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos, and Taj Mahal.

What are the ones I should avoid?

Depends on what you would like to see. For some, Angelita is amazing. For others, they would rather not have gone.

How many days should I plan for the cenote portion of my trip?

That's up to you

It really depends how much you like the cenotes. If you imagine being back, then 1 day is fine. Especially if you're staying in Cozumel. If you do more than 1 day, then you'll really want to stay on the Mainland.

I'd also like to get my cavern cert, who would you recommend?

Everyone will recommend their instructor so here were mine: Steve Bogaerts (www.aztecdiving.com) and Dennis Weeks (www.diablodivers.com). Steve instructed, and Dennis assisted.

Steve and Dennis are exceptionally thorough and have a very high standard. They don't cut corners, and will give you a great experience.

Our cavern course was 3 days - it was exhausting but very rewarding.

Is it better to fly into/out of Cancun, or should I take the ferry and fly into/out of Coz? I don't mind schlepping gear.

You can fly into Cancun and fly out of Coz.

 

[Augustus]

If you are going to be in Cozumel German is your best bet if he is available for those dates. If you plan on a cavern course then you would be best off staying on the mainland for the class (the cave systems are much better for cavern diving). Try and locate a copy of Steve Gerrards book on the Cenotes of the Rivera Maya http://www.cenotesoftherivieramaya.com/
Still the best source of info around and I have heard it maybe available on the internet soon.

 

[yak]

...
You can do cavern dives with a guide/DM if you're AOW-certified. ...

Actually, you only need your OW card.

 

[Paco]

I bought the book after diving Dos Ojos. It's a good one.

 

[ShanChan]

Thanks everyone! This is great advice!!!

Paco - what book did you buy? One thing I learned from diving in Utila: Read read read BEFORE the trip!

 

[DandyDon]

Looks like you got lots of good advice. My only suggestion: Don't miss it....!

I missed the chance last year, made sure we made a day of it this year, and it was mind boggling. I had camera problems - probly the operator but some of my pics came out if you want to check my album.

The one we visited had a parking lot full of divers from Cancun, it seemed - but hardly saw anyone in the caves. We swam to another Cenote where we saw some snorkelers.

Now I gotta get Paco's book and go back...!!