Diving and Accommodation - Coz and Akumal

[raina79]

Ok, I'm starting to plan a spring trip to the Yucatan. My trip will be 2 weeks and I'd like to spend about a week (in total) diving and then a week chillin and checking out the sights. I'd like to spend most of that week diving around Cozumel and Playa. I am a budget traveller, and like to stay in hostels, so I'm leaning towards staying in Playa......would I be diving the same areas from Playa that I would if I were to stay in Cozumel? And if not, is the quality of diving par with Cozumel?? What are the differences, if any??

For my second week I'd like to head down to Tulum or Akumal area. Does anyone know if Akumal has any budget accommodations? I know they don't have a hostel, but a somewhat cheap-ish hotel would do - I don't mind splurging a little here. Is it worth doing a few dives in Akumal if I've been diving in Playa/Coz already?? I will definitely be doing a cenotes dive, but wondering about the diving in Akumal Bay.

Also, any recommendations on dive ops or specific dive sites you've loved would be great. I'm a beginner diver - 25 logged dives (have my advanced open water) - but am VERY comfortable in the water, have great bouyancy.

PS - Non dive related - does anyone know if it's possible to do a day trip from Tulum area to Chetumal?? I've heard there is great markets, shopping there.

 

[Divedoggie]

Hi Raina79,
Some answers:
The dives in Playa and Coz are NOT the same. While you will enjoy the Playa dives, you will be blown away by the Coz dives.
Both have wonderful warm, clear Caribbean water.
Playa has staghorn and elkhorn coral formations, plenty of tropical fish and as you head toward Akumal, many turtles.
Coz has HUGE coral formations, 8 to 10 stories high. Beautiful swim throughs and coral canyons, and giant sponges attached to the coral. Most of the dives are drift dives, so you just check your gauges, relax, and enjoy the show.

Some of the Diveshops in Akumal offer lodging and diving packages. Go to www.locogringo.com and look around there for links for lodging, diving, maps, and information.

 

[lilycat]

We're staying at Caribe Blu in Coz and it has been nice (would be better pre-hurricane, but that won't make much of a diff for your trip dates).

Nice people, nice view, everything I wanted at a reasonable price.

We're diving w/ Blue Angel right next door. Jorge has been a great guide. Christi's operation: Blue XT Sea might be worth checking into, too. You could do dives with more than one shop and see who fit you best for future trips...

Bicster and Riotnrrd are out today diving with ProTech from Playa del Carmen...they are diving the cenotes on the mainland.

C

 

[Bicster]

If you want to dive Cenotes in Playa, ask for Bernadette at ProTec. She is very knowledgable about local lore, won't rush the dives, is very safety conscious, and a teriffic guide. You'll learn a lot and see some very cool stuff. If you've never seen a halocline before, it's worth the trip.

http://www.protecdiving.com/

I think we paid about US$120 p/p for two guided cavern dives. It's a lot more expensive than boat diving, but it's just you and the guide, on your own schedule.

 

[Fortunediver]

I would recommend Scuba Club Cozumel, all inclusive and a great operation. The dive operation is excellent and the accomadations are top notch, great food. Only a mile from town, we walked down every evening. I won't stay anywhere else.

 

[Diver Lori]

I *think* there's a hostel in Tulum, if I recall correctly. I'll be there next week and I'll check for sure and post back.

 

[billtodive]

I'll be at Playa Aventura next week. Diving Akumal and some cenotes..will let you know what I found, and what hostels I can find.

 

[billtodive]

Hi Raina79,
Some answers:
The dives in Playa and Coz are NOT the same. While you will enjoy the Playa dives, you will be blown away by the Coz dives.
.

I will make use of you most timely information. As soon as I read it, I decided on another day at coz..

 

[billtodive]

Back from Yucatan.
Coz dives were great.. Jorge from Blue Angel took us some swim-thoughs for the first dive. A shark, a turtle, and numerous smaller fish.....
Cenote dive with Hidden worlds (just south of Akumel, if I remember)
Just the guide and myself for the first dive, three others showed up for second dive.
Nothing like the Bahamas wall dives, or Coz, but a treasure all its own.
Talked with a gent that dove off Akumal; he reported good drift current and turtles
lined up on the reefs. I didn't anthing noteable in the reasonable accomodations, with the exception of a report of beach hotel near Paamul that is a bit less than all the rest.

 

[Diver Lori]

There is a hostel in Tulum....start at the Weary Traveler. Tulum is about 20 minutes further south from Akumal.