Cozumel or Cancun

[ScubaAruba]

Hello!

Just wondering if I can get some opinions on a dive trip to either Cozumel or Cancun. Originally we thought that this was a NO Brainer and were planning for Cozumel. Since we have never been to Mexico we would not only like this to be a dive vacation but we would like to explore land sites as well. Is there enough to see in Cozumel alone or should we just take a day trip to Cozumel? Or vice versa day trip to Cancun? How much and how long is the ferry to/from Cancun/Cozumel?

We are looking at booking a package deal and of course its about $600 cheaper to go to Cancun vs Cozumel, but if we'll be disappointed with the diving then I will gladly pay more to have better diving.

We are looking at July, is this a good time of year to visit this area?

Thanks in advance to anyone that has an opinion on this matter! I'm so happy to find this BB to get first hand advice from divers and not just "beach-goers" ... :14:

 

[tc_rain]

Cozumel for the diving and Cancun for the night life. Thats not saying the diving in Cancun is bad or the night life in Cozumel is bad but the better diving is in Cozumel and the better night life is in Cancun. The question to you is, what is more important?

 

[deborahdelamar]

As far as distance from the land sites goes, they're pretty much the same. The Tulum & Coba ruins (Chichen Itza is a full day no matter where you start from), cenotes and ecoparks are an hour or more south of Cancun by car -- south of Playa del Carmen where the Coz ferry is located. The ferry from Coz takes 40 minutes -- a hour if you include buying tickets, loading & unloading. So Coz is the same as Cancun -- just rent your car in Playa and adventure south.

Or Plan C: Stay in Playa instead of Cancun or Coz. Ferry to Coz a few mornings for diving there & dive ocean & cenotes from Playa.

No comparison between Coz & Cancun diving -- Coz wins hands down. You can fly into either airport -- transfer to Coz from Cancun airport is easy and inexpensive via bus and ferry.

July is low season. It's hot but otherwise great -- few crowds and 84-degree water. It's also the early part of tropical storm season -- if you're risk averse you might want to buy trip insurance.

There is one really good reason to stay in Cancun in July: Isla Holbox and its whale sharks. Cancun is much closer for access to this snorkel adventure but there are regular trips from Playa as well.

 

[ScubaAruba]

Okay thats a good start! Thanks!

When you say Playa, I'm assuming you mean Playa Del Carmen- You'll have to forgive me I know nothing about the lay of the land in Mexico! Maybe I will check into a resort there, wonder if the rates will be better in Playa than in Cozumel? THe resort we are looking into right now is the Fiesta Americana in Cozumel or possibly the Casa Maya in Cancun- any opinions on these 2 places?

You also mentioned the whale sharks, is it just a snorkeling trip that takes you to the area they pass through? That is something I would love to see...

You both sound like experts in this area...if you were going on your first dive trip to Mexico where would you go and where would you stay? Any recmd for dive operators in the area?

Thanks again!
~T

 

[scubacoots3]

Cozumel = diving

 

[deborahdelamar]

Yes, Playa is Playa del Carmen. If your trip is a week or less, you'll have to limit how much you see and do. The best way to research this is to get the appropriate maps from Can-Do Maps and travel guides. The information there is better than you'll find in a guide book. All of the locations you mention have lots of hotel choices to fit any budget.

Fiesta Americana Cozumel has a good reputation and is in a campus-style setting a few miles south of town. IMO, it would be best to reserve an upgraded room class there. Every hotel in Coz will have divers for you to meet. Or just go to any bar or restaurant! But based on your desire for land activities, you may want to stay in town -- Cozumel Palace has water access if you can afford that hotel (AI), Casa Mexicana, Mi Casa en Cozumel, etc.

Casa Maya Cancun is an older hotel along the top of the "7" that is the hotel zone. I've only seen it from the road and remember it because it's an interesting building. Given the location, it should have a nice beach and it's in the middle of a quiet strip -- no significant shopping or restaurants within short walking distance.

Whale sharks are protected and it's a snorkel-only trip. The boats for this leave from the island of Holbox, northwest of Cancun. The trip from Cancun to the Holbox ferry takes a couple of hours. It's a very long, full-day excursion from Playa or Cozumel. Everyone who goes loves it.

Dive op recommendations would depend on what you're looking for. There are plenty of great ops who offer plenty of diving options. Do you prefer three tank deals? Two long dives with big tanks and lunch between? Just you and the divemaster? A social group? Small, backroll-entry boats or giant strides? Some preferences from you would help! But rest assured, diving in this part of Mexico is both a bargain and a treat!

 

[ScubaAruba]

Wow... I think I will get one of those maps it looks like it could be very helpful!!

So if we were to stay at Fiesta Americana are there restaurants nearby or will we need to head into town every night? 5 Star dining isn't on our agenda anymore since we took up diving we tend to spend the $$$ on more dives and equipment! I'm going to check out the other hotels that you mentioned and see if I can find something in the same price range. Same question for Casa Maya can we survive there for a week without going into town nightly?

So if the whale shark snorkel is north of Cancun and its at the top of our list of things to do you think its wise to stay in Cancun or still better to stay where the diving is better in Cozumel?

As for our diving style, I'll tell you what we are used to... we have been diving with the same crew for the last 3 trips to Aruba and have made over 40 dives (each)there in 3 trips. So while we are there we tend to really "DIVE" in!!! We are okay with boats with up to 15-20 divers (including dive leaders), prefer Giant Stride Entry, we are fine with setting up our own equipment and lunch isn't a must as long as I know ahead of time to pack a snack- We normally do 2 tank dives, but we are looking into Nitrox so that 3rd dive isn't so draining on us.

I hope that helps a little more- Thanks for your time you have already been a wealth of info!

~T

 

[deborahdelamar]

I don't know if Casa Maya has a restaurant -- if no, you'd have to go to Cancun centro (the real Cancun) or the hotel zone (the tourist Cancun & more pricey every night.) Fiesta does and cab to town is $5.

If Holbox is important, here's the way I would play it: Fly to Cancun. Book 2 nights Hotel Alux Hotel Alux Cancun in the the heartof downtown Cancun Betsyinczm recommends this place, it looks fine, the price is good and you're close to restaurants and the bus station. Book a Holbox trip (you can do this online with transportation from Cancun) for the next day. Return to Cancun. In the morning, and either dive in Cancun -- leaving Cancun in the afternoon -- or head down to Coz in the am. You can arrive there in time to do an afternoon checkout dive. See if you can get a decent fare flying in to Cancun & out from Coz. (Best of all worlds!)

As far as the ops. I recommend Aqua Safari. The boats are 12 or 16 divers with 2 DM's, and one 8-diver "fast" boat with one DM - all giant stride. Given the season they won't have lots of divers and the 16-person boats are often chartered by dive clubs. Two tanks are $60 ($65 on the 8-person boat), afternoon is $9 when you dive with them in the am. Regular price for an afternoon is $30 or 35. Cozumel Scuba Diving with Aqua Safari Their pier is in town & they can pick you up as they go south -- at Hotel Coz, Casa del Mar, Fiesta, Occidental, or Iberostar. If you stay north, you'll have to taxi to the pier in town.

 

[ScubaAruba]

Awesome thanks for this info...I will check these places out this week! Thanks again!

 

[Spratman]

If you do stay in Cancun, then go with MAD (Mayan Aqua Dive offers Cancun Diving, Snorkeling, Cavern Diving, Cozumel Dives&PADI Courses) Ben is the owner and the whale shark trips are awesome. You'll find no better dive op, no cattle boats (6 to 8 divers max), excellent staff and a fast boat. You'll show up as a customer and leave as a friend.

Coz is great if all you want to do is drift dives. Cancun is highly underrated as the above poster mentioned. I really don't have any hotel recommendations, since I have a time share. Although, you might get a nice package deal if you check out Cheap Caribbean. I saw some really nice all inclusives for under $800.

There is a lot to do in a week, and there is always the next time, once you find your niche. I go back every year (except this one) and dive the reefs off Cancun and the cenotes at PDC. I've never been disappointed.