DAY TRIP TO COZUMEL FROM AKUMAL FOR SCUBA & SNORKEL

[Jestevens]

We are renting a house in Akumal at end of April and we want know the best way to do a day trip to Cozumel for two of us to Scuba and two of us to Snorkel. We have a car so we can drive to Playa del Carmen. The issue is do we book through a group like Aquaworld that includes boat transportation to/from Cozumel as well as scuba or snorkel tour (we need all equipment) or is it better for us to get to Cozumel on our own then book with a scuba/snorkel place on Cozumel. We are experienced divers but really want to make this an easy trip as we just have one day for Cozumel. Any suggestions on how to do, who to book through and how far in advance we need to book (e.g. before we get to Mexico or a few days in advance). Thank you

 

[kmarks]

Perhaps a Moderator can move this into the Cozumel forum?

I wouldn't bother with any sort of package. Go to PDC and take the ferry across on your own. You can then take a taxi from the ferry port in Cozumel to the marina or the dive shop you are going out with. Contact dive shops directly (there are too many to even start listing) to see what they can do for you. Many of them will be willing to carry along a couple of snorkelers who can float above you, near the boat, while you dive. If you don't mind separating, your snorkelers can head to a beach for the day - I recommend a day at Money Bar, a great restaurant with some pretty good snorkeling and you can ask your dive boat to drop your divers off at their pier to meet back up.

You should book diving now for the end of April. Maybe you should even book yesterday.

 

[DjDiverDan]

I agree completely, get to Cozumel on your own. The Ferry is easy, just get tickets for the next one leaving. I don’t know how much you want to spend, BUT, if budget isn’t an issue, and you really want to stay together as a group, you might think about a charter boat that will take two divers and two snorkelers. You’ll need two DMs as well, one to stick with the divers, one to stick with the snorkelers, but if you go to Columbia Shallows and Palancar Gardens, two fairly shallow but still excellent dives, the snorkelers can snorkel at the surface and follow right along. If that isn’t what you want (and that’s going to be one of the more expensive options), book the dives separately and let the snorkelers either snorkel from shore from one of several beach clubs at the south end, or Chankanaab Park, or Money Bar, or they can book a snorkel tour with any of several tour operators. As to diving, there are, as Kmarks pointed out, hundreds of dive ops on Cozumel, at least a dozen or so very, very good to excellent. Which one is best for you depends entirely on what you want - ultra long dives with HP steel 120 tanks? Then Aldora, or Liquid Blue or (there’s one other operator that uses steel 120s, but now I have forgotten which one). But lots of others come very highly recommended, like Blue XTSea, Dive with Martin, Dive with Allison, Tres Pelicanos, (and so on . . . .). Figure out what exactly you want, then read some of the reviews, make your choice, and book. But do it quickly, space may be limited.

 

[mstevens]

The biggest problem will be finding parking in Playa del Carmen, which isn't that big a problem. There's a lot behind the mall near the ferry landing which is often the best bet.

Everyone else is right - don't bother to get any sort of package that includes the ferry. Book now.

Since you're in Akumal, which is a good place to snorkel with turtles, you could consider renting snorkel gear there for your stay (or taking stuff with you that you know fits) and taking that gear to Cozumel.

 

[kixy1]

Getting to Cozumel from Akumal is easy. Not sure why you'd want to go to Cozumel to snorkel, but there are so many other things to do there, definitely go! Much, much better snorkeling is found off the mainland than in Cozumel. The island is known for Palancar reef, but that's deep and only accessible by boat. If you're diving then there is nowhere else you should go if you're that close! Diving off the mainland doesn't even compare.
If you have a car, there are parking lots between 5th and 10th where you can park your car for $100 and then walk down to the ferry. Better yet, jump on a collectivo or the ADO bus. For a lot more money you could take a taxi, I think they're asking $400-$500 now.
We've left our place in Akumal, parked the car, walked right onto the ferry (lucked out there) and been on Coz in under 90 minutes. Once on the island there are taxis everywhere. Research a nice beach club, then head into town for dinner or hire a driver for the day and hit the east side. You'll have a great day no matter what. The island doesn't disappoint.