Hey guys!
I'm planning my second diving trip in the Caribbeans for December of this year. My first trip was with my brother in January. It was a wonderful, wonderful trip. A trip I could never have planned were it not for the INVALUABLE help of the SB posters. Special thanks to Annlaur and DandyDon for being incredibly attentive and providing such kickass tips. Because of the advice I received (based on the requirements I laid out), I was able to completely alternate my original plans and we ended up having a blast in Playa del Carmen. Rented a Penthouse through VRBO, dove with Tank Ha all week, ate in fabulous restaurants, etc. However this trip was with my little brother, and this time I'll be going with my girlfriend. I also ended up buying a Halcyon Infinity BCD based on recommendations and couldn't have been happier with the gear I was suggested. This board is made of gold dust.![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I originally researched (for hours and hours) my second trip to be in Belize and though I found many, many great options (I like a little luxury), it's a lot more expensive than Cozumel and since my girlfriend is a brand spanking new diver (she just got certified in the Dominican Republic), I thought of another trip idea that may be easier on the bank and still provide oh so much fun. My best January dives while in PDC were the ones when Tank Ha took us to Cozumel directly. My favorite dive site was Santa Rosa, where we saw a Hammerhead!
Because the Cozumel diving was so much better, I thought we could stay on Cozumel for four nights/five days, dive with Blue XT Sea (Christi looks like an awesome person), then stay in PDC for three nights (probably Tortuga) so we may enjoy the Cenotes and the night life (Coco Bongo). In short, combine both of best worlds.
I would like to ask advice about Cozumel island. I found a kickass condo on San Francisco Beach @ Residencias. I know they have a pier and I believe from my research Blue XT Sea will pick us up there for our dives.
My questions/concerns about our Cozumel stay are as follow:
-The condo is fully furnished with a kitchen. Is there a Mega on the island, like the one in PDC, where we could stock up on liquor and some breakfast items so we may eat in in the morning?
-We relied on cheap cab fares (and the advice from the playa.info forums), or walking, while in PDC for transportation. However, it appears renting a car while on Cozumel, especially if we stay at the Residencias at San Francisco Beach, would be a good idea. Nine miles to San Miguel is a long walk and I like going in town to eat lunch or dinner. Car rental in PDC wasn't necessary at all, but is it recommended for Coz? Is Thrifty still the best choice? The condo provides free parking so it's already a big plus. Is parking easily found in the city?
-If diving with Blue XT Sea, how is gear handled if we dive with them for three or four days in a row? Can they keep it for us (valet diving) and pick us up at the pier in Residencias with our stuff already on board, or would we have to haul it from the condo to the pier and back after each day?
Thanks in advance!
I'm planning my second diving trip in the Caribbeans for December of this year. My first trip was with my brother in January. It was a wonderful, wonderful trip. A trip I could never have planned were it not for the INVALUABLE help of the SB posters. Special thanks to Annlaur and DandyDon for being incredibly attentive and providing such kickass tips. Because of the advice I received (based on the requirements I laid out), I was able to completely alternate my original plans and we ended up having a blast in Playa del Carmen. Rented a Penthouse through VRBO, dove with Tank Ha all week, ate in fabulous restaurants, etc. However this trip was with my little brother, and this time I'll be going with my girlfriend. I also ended up buying a Halcyon Infinity BCD based on recommendations and couldn't have been happier with the gear I was suggested. This board is made of gold dust.
I originally researched (for hours and hours) my second trip to be in Belize and though I found many, many great options (I like a little luxury), it's a lot more expensive than Cozumel and since my girlfriend is a brand spanking new diver (she just got certified in the Dominican Republic), I thought of another trip idea that may be easier on the bank and still provide oh so much fun. My best January dives while in PDC were the ones when Tank Ha took us to Cozumel directly. My favorite dive site was Santa Rosa, where we saw a Hammerhead!
![Eyebrow :eyebrow: :eyebrow:](/community/styles/scubaboard/smilies/eyebrow.gif)
I would like to ask advice about Cozumel island. I found a kickass condo on San Francisco Beach @ Residencias. I know they have a pier and I believe from my research Blue XT Sea will pick us up there for our dives.
My questions/concerns about our Cozumel stay are as follow:
-The condo is fully furnished with a kitchen. Is there a Mega on the island, like the one in PDC, where we could stock up on liquor and some breakfast items so we may eat in in the morning?
-We relied on cheap cab fares (and the advice from the playa.info forums), or walking, while in PDC for transportation. However, it appears renting a car while on Cozumel, especially if we stay at the Residencias at San Francisco Beach, would be a good idea. Nine miles to San Miguel is a long walk and I like going in town to eat lunch or dinner. Car rental in PDC wasn't necessary at all, but is it recommended for Coz? Is Thrifty still the best choice? The condo provides free parking so it's already a big plus. Is parking easily found in the city?
-If diving with Blue XT Sea, how is gear handled if we dive with them for three or four days in a row? Can they keep it for us (valet diving) and pick us up at the pier in Residencias with our stuff already on board, or would we have to haul it from the condo to the pier and back after each day?
Thanks in advance!