Cornbread O'Malley
Contributor
Three-week stay on Cozumel from mid-February to early March 2025 on my most recent trip to the island. Water temperature mid-February to early March averaged 81° Fahrenheit. Air temperatures reached highs of mid-80s, lows of mid-70s on most days. A front did come through that cooled air temperatures down to mid-60s for a few days. I dived and sampled a lot of the restaurants and eateries on the island.
This time around I chartered my boat dives through a family-run operation via divemaster Geiser (pics 1 & 2). Geiser was a DM at Scuba Club Cozumel for many years before Scuba Club folded. He now runs independent charters with family-owned boats.
I thoroughly enjoyed the charters for several reasons: 1) maximum 5 or 6 divers per charter, 2) Geiser has an incredible knack of finding the smaller marine life, 3) Geiser has extensive knowledge of each dive site’s topography, 4) he uses his knowledge of the conditions to recommend and lead dives to sites to increase the chances of seeing certain marine life.
Geiser asked $110 USD for my first 2-tank charter with him. He asked $100 USD for all subsequent charters. Nitrox 32% cost $12 USD per cylinder. I tipped after each charter; all my monetary transactions were in cash. I dived air for all my dives except for the last two charters when I needed to factor off-gassing considerations prior to my airplane ride; I dived nitrox 32%. The biggest monetary advantage of chartering with Geiser was that I did not pay the $12 USD marine park fee for each day of diving. No wrist bands needed!
Each charter had a boat captain whose sole job is to command the boat. Also, two deck hands to assist with the divers and equipment handling. Geiser as the divemaster. The limited amount of divers combined with swift handling of equipment and boat ensured a very efficient departure each day that I dived. The charter stopped at Cozumel Palace to board and drop off two divers on each charter that I went on.
During service intervals, fresh fruit, sandwiches (pic 3), and fresh guacamole (pic 4) and chips were offered. A large cooler with ice kept soft drinks and water beverages cold. Beer of the Superior brand was offered after the dives.
I found departure and return times to the marina to be advantageous. The days started early. I was solo on island, and Geiser offered complimentary rides to Caleta marina in his car. He picked me up each day at 715AM. The boat departed the marina around 8AM with whoever divers chose to meet there. Some divers chose to rent a car, drive to the marina, and park. At the early morning hours parking posed no problem. I thought this more advantageous than the parking situation at marina Fonatur. The boat returned to Caleta marina around noon. I really enjoyed this because Geiser dropped me off at my hotel at around 1230PM, which left me more time in the day to do whatever I wanted to.
As for the boat, it was comfortable, had a marine head in the bow with some storage space, and offered some protection from the sun and wind. Divers can opt to enter the water via giant stride off the platform at the stern (pic 5) or backroll off the sides.
I noted some disadvantages with going with Geiser’s charters. Geiser will not run charters on days when he does not have enough divers. This may be negotiable, and I am not exactly sure what his minimums are. All the charters I went on had at least three divers. The other disadvantage is that no analyzer was on the boat to analyze the nitrox cylinders. I just trusted the fill and rolled with it. Another disadvantage is getting to Caleta marina. Geiser can accommodate single pickups, but he only has so much space in his car. Divers can rent a car or scooter and get themselves to the marina; parking is not an issue at 730AM. Taxis are another option, but that can get costly. Pier pickups cost money depending on the hotel.
If you want to charter Geiser’s boat, you can contact him via Facebook. He is on there as Scuba Geiser.
This time around I chartered my boat dives through a family-run operation via divemaster Geiser (pics 1 & 2). Geiser was a DM at Scuba Club Cozumel for many years before Scuba Club folded. He now runs independent charters with family-owned boats.
I thoroughly enjoyed the charters for several reasons: 1) maximum 5 or 6 divers per charter, 2) Geiser has an incredible knack of finding the smaller marine life, 3) Geiser has extensive knowledge of each dive site’s topography, 4) he uses his knowledge of the conditions to recommend and lead dives to sites to increase the chances of seeing certain marine life.
Geiser asked $110 USD for my first 2-tank charter with him. He asked $100 USD for all subsequent charters. Nitrox 32% cost $12 USD per cylinder. I tipped after each charter; all my monetary transactions were in cash. I dived air for all my dives except for the last two charters when I needed to factor off-gassing considerations prior to my airplane ride; I dived nitrox 32%. The biggest monetary advantage of chartering with Geiser was that I did not pay the $12 USD marine park fee for each day of diving. No wrist bands needed!
Each charter had a boat captain whose sole job is to command the boat. Also, two deck hands to assist with the divers and equipment handling. Geiser as the divemaster. The limited amount of divers combined with swift handling of equipment and boat ensured a very efficient departure each day that I dived. The charter stopped at Cozumel Palace to board and drop off two divers on each charter that I went on.
During service intervals, fresh fruit, sandwiches (pic 3), and fresh guacamole (pic 4) and chips were offered. A large cooler with ice kept soft drinks and water beverages cold. Beer of the Superior brand was offered after the dives.
I found departure and return times to the marina to be advantageous. The days started early. I was solo on island, and Geiser offered complimentary rides to Caleta marina in his car. He picked me up each day at 715AM. The boat departed the marina around 8AM with whoever divers chose to meet there. Some divers chose to rent a car, drive to the marina, and park. At the early morning hours parking posed no problem. I thought this more advantageous than the parking situation at marina Fonatur. The boat returned to Caleta marina around noon. I really enjoyed this because Geiser dropped me off at my hotel at around 1230PM, which left me more time in the day to do whatever I wanted to.
As for the boat, it was comfortable, had a marine head in the bow with some storage space, and offered some protection from the sun and wind. Divers can opt to enter the water via giant stride off the platform at the stern (pic 5) or backroll off the sides.
I noted some disadvantages with going with Geiser’s charters. Geiser will not run charters on days when he does not have enough divers. This may be negotiable, and I am not exactly sure what his minimums are. All the charters I went on had at least three divers. The other disadvantage is that no analyzer was on the boat to analyze the nitrox cylinders. I just trusted the fill and rolled with it. Another disadvantage is getting to Caleta marina. Geiser can accommodate single pickups, but he only has so much space in his car. Divers can rent a car or scooter and get themselves to the marina; parking is not an issue at 730AM. Taxis are another option, but that can get costly. Pier pickups cost money depending on the hotel.
If you want to charter Geiser’s boat, you can contact him via Facebook. He is on there as Scuba Geiser.
