TracyT24:
I'm looking to head down to Cozumel in late October/early November. Would love some feedback on the following:
1. Where to stay - I would really like to stay at the Iberostar Cozumel so let me know what you think of this place! Any other resort suggestions?
2. Does anyone know anything about that time of year and whether it's risky in terms of hurricanes or what the diving conditions/water temperatures are like?
3. I'm taking someone who will be newly certified, is the diving good for beginners?
Any other comments/feedback are definitely welcome!!
1. you may have to check into other places, like Gordon said, Iberostar is on the south end of the island and most of them are going to be closed for a couple months for sure if not longer. I've seen projected openings as late as Nov. 1st.
also from what I've heard about the Iberostar is that it is not very 'diver friendly'. they don't want you to hang your dive equipment on the balcony to dry, but the rooms aren't really big enough to put it anywhere else and they don't have any other facilities for that purpose. Also if you don't use their on site dive operator, they charge other dive ops to use their pier, and I haven't heard much good about their dive op, what I have heard is they cater mostly to people doing 'resort dives', non-certified people wanting to check it out.
We have always stayed at the El Cid La Ceiba, it is currently changing over to a time-share property, don't take the time-share presentation, it's not worth it...trust me.
the hotel is nice, and has always been a 'divers hotel' most rooms have been renovated and the food is good, the location is very good, right next to the international pier, about 2.5 miles out of town, and if you want to try your hand at underwater photography, Island Photo is on the property, they are the only full service photo shop on the island and rent and service both film and digital cameras as well as video equipment. good shore diving on 'airplane flats' where there is what's left of a plane that was sunk in the '70s for a movie, nice shallow dive and a really good night dive.
A couple of other suggestions would be Hotel Cozumel, nice property close to town, beautiful pool area, they offer both all-inclusive and non-AI packages.
If your looking for a nice clean no-frills place Blue Caribe has been very highly recommended by many here. the drawback is that they usually aren't on charter package lists like FunJet and MLT so you have to book hotel and air seperately. But their prices make up for it, something like $85 a night! It is also close to town and good shore diving here also from what i understand.
We prefer not to go AI because there are sooooooooooooooo many good restaurants in town and the list just keeps growning all the time.
2. most hurricanes that form in the western Caribbean form in late season, but having said that, Cozumel rarely gets hit by the big storms. It's really nothing you can predict, but I think the way the Yucatan sits helps push the storms either east twards Cuba or forces them inland along Central America before they hit Coz.
I've never dove there in Oct., but it's a pretty popular time for folks to go so it must be good. I can't imagine there ever being a 'bad' time to dive in Coz, I do know in the winter they get an occational 'northerner' blowing in that will mess things up but usually that is just for a couple of days.
3.
many, many, many divers go to Coz for their certification checkout dives. so yes, it's a good place for novice divers to go. Just be warned...once you set the bar this high, they will be spoiled and want diving to be this great everywhere!!!
Hope this helps, have a great trip and give us all a trip report when you get back
