Current Recommendations/Pricing
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Goingforsound
Contributor
I am planning to fly over there end of november and stay in a really cheap place hostel style while waiting for my GF to come join me. We will be there about 13 days together and 5-6 days on my own.
I definetly would like a nice dive operation but that would offer a discount on multiple days... I might dive 13-15 days overall.
Definatly nice to read you guys!
I definetly would like a nice dive operation but that would offer a discount on multiple days... I might dive 13-15 days overall.
Definatly nice to read you guys!
Dave, our next "regular" trip is oct. 27 to nov. 2 staying at the Villa. Diving 28,29,30,31,and 1st. I don't plan on missing the Day of the Dead/Halloween/All Saints festivities ever again but I may need a bike with training wheels!!
Jay
Jay
deepsea21
Contributor
Can't go wrong with gopbroek's ultra cheap vaca's (seems like he spends more time on the island than he does working). I believe he stays at the Suites Colonial (and even knows the best rooms to request) as the Suites Bahia and the Colonial are sister hotels of the Casa Mexicana and are about a 5-10 minute walk to the Casa Mexicana where you get to enjoy the MASSIVE free breakfast buffet that opens at 7AM (because you are staying at a sister hotel). You can go cheaper than the Colonial but you give up way too much in my opinion lose that free breakfast buffet that has value for me.
I know he also dives with Tres Pelicanos (as do I) which offers more-you-dive / more-you-save pricing up to 5, 2-tank dives max discount. I think at the 5, 2-tank max discount you're getting down to about $76 per 2-tank dive with all taxes included which is tough to beat and their dive shop is right at the back of the block the Casa Mexicana sits on so you have 35 minutes to stuff yourself at the Casa's breakfast buffet that opens fully loaded at 7:00AM before a 5 minute walk to the shop for their 7:40AM free transport to the marina and the boats. Free transport back to the shop as well usually puts you back by 1:00PM at the latest. With a breakfast buffet like the Casa has, you won't even think about eating a lunch or SI snacks provided by a dive op (at least I don't).
Suites Colonial in-town and 3P's is my vote... Can't go wrong.
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nodakdive
Contributor
Never dove with them, but have heard/read enough about them to agree --- they'd certainly fit in the list of the 10 posted by deepsea21. Maybe we could make it like a Bakers top 10 rather than a Bakers dozen.
Baker's 10. Lol! I'm in the camp that thinks it would need to be a Baker's 80ish.
Scuba Shack could be on the list. They're a great shop with great personnel from top to bottom and depending on the particulars of your dive vacation and your desires, I could argue that it would be nearly insane to dive with anyone but Scuba Shack.
Babieca could be on the list. Here in the middle of nowhere, I just met a couple that live close to me (30 miles), who've been diving Cozumel the same number of years I have and they do two week trips too. They mostly stay at Suites Bahia. Got a full description of what their dive trips look like and their relationship with Babieca etc. It's all justifiably glowing for them and would be for others I'm sure.
Thus the eternal question/s to these somewhat vague requests for dive op recommendations, "What are your trip details and what are you looking for?".
Top Shelf can mean a lot of different things to different people under different circumstances.
Jay, I am going to miss ya'll the last week of October, couldn't get off that week. I will let you know how it is though because I will be there 10/18-10/25, plan on diving 6 days and taking advantage of the Aldora deal. As far as cheap deals check out the Coral Reef Inn with their Dive Paradise deal, I know but I did it last year and it was a good price and I enjoyed it. Hotel Plaza Cozumel does not get mentioned much here but about the same price as Suites Bahia and I liked it better. What I have been doing, since I have to pay for my airfare, is finding cheap flights first then booking everything else. In Feb I found a RT on AA to Cozumel from DFW for $285. Sun Country had some at the beginning of the Summer for $310. Keep checking MatrixITa and every once in a while you will see a flight you just can't pass up. You can also search multi city trips, fly into CZM and out of CUN- Get a late flight out of CUN so you can dive all day the day prior to leaving and take your time getting to the airport.
mediumone
Contributor
I think Baker's 80 might be a bit of a stretch, but your point is taken; it's a valid one.
As I've posted before, I think it boils down to personalities, particularly between DM and diver, and diving styles. Does either the DM or diver like swim-throughs? Like to go deep? Like to fly? Like to find the tiniest critters? Is quiet during the si? is a boisterous goof-ball? And on, and on, and on.
OP
SunnySpotCpl
Registered
All great replies and insights. Since we only get back to Coz every three years, it is nice hearing the "new" scoop.
Thank you.
Thank you.
nodakdive
Contributor
True. A good DM/diver fit can make a big difference. Same with the shop's personality. "Good fits" there and a diver will climb mountains to dive with that shop/DM. Unfortunately, it would be very hard to match DM/shops with Scubaboard posters asking for a shop recommendation based on personalities. Logistics, on the other hand, do provide a way to narrow down the choices.
This is why I don't bounce up and down and say "DEEP BLUE or SCUBA SHACK" every time someone wants a dive op recommendation. If you called up Scuba Shack and said you're staying downtown and want to dive with them, they'd make it work, somehow, just like Blue Magic or Tres Pelicanos would. I happen to know that Deep Blue leaves from downtown and could pick these divers up on the dock at Hotel Coz or "near Scubaclub". As Scuba Shack was/is more than one dive op, they may be able to do the same, but as far as I know, the divers would have to get down to the Scuba Shack shop by Park Royal. As fine a shop as they are, I wouldn't recommend Scuba Shack to these divers, just because I like the Scuba Shack folks and their dive program. Logistically, there are better shop options.
I've stayed at Casa del Mar almost exclusively. The hotel is considered kind of a "divers hotel". They start serving breakfast at 7am. Trip after trip, I watch all these divers who dive with different ops (CDM doesn't charge a dock fee) wolf down their rushed breakfasts so they can get on their boat. Madness, imo. I'm on a dive vacation and would rather put my energy into diving 4 dives a day. At 10 minutes to 8 I'm still sipping coffee and looking forward to the dives. When I'm good and ready, I take a very short, leisurely stroll back to my room and get my cameras and wetsuits, etc, together. I take my time. I'm relaxed. I have until sometime after 9am until the Deep Blue boat picks me up at the dock. Long ago, I stayed at CDM and was diving with one of the "top ten" shops. The owner would pick me up on the street to get me to the caleta. Good enough shop, pleasant people, excellent boat, great DM, but it was a PITA. I'd rather spend my time whizzing down the coast in a boat with plenty of room than sitting in a cramped vehicle, having to lug my stuff around. Same applies if I were staying downtown, which I've done. YMMV.
But yeah, lol, Baker's 80ish is a little stretch.
mediumone
Contributor
Madness is right.
Two dives per day is enough for us, but your narrative perfectly describes most of our reasons for diving with a shop that offers 2 tank afternoon dives.
Set my alarm for 6:00 am (or earlier), while I'm on vacation??
Uh, No thanks.
Madness.
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