Dave A.
New
We just returned from Isla Mujeres, which is a 20 min. ferry ride from Cancun. One of the best vacations I've had in years! I work for a major Airline in the States, and while I haven't been everywhere, over the past 26 yrs., I've visited a few countries.
I needed a location that would satisfy the whole family. My son(15) and I are the only divers in the family, but my wife and daughter found plenty to do while we were diving 3 or 4 hours each day. You can rent golf carts that seat 4, but we chose mopeds. They are faster, quieter and easier to park. The island is small(maybe 5 mi. by 1 mi.) very scenic, great beaches(200 yrds from shore and water is chest high) downtown is clean and the people are very warm and friendly. The food was very good and reasonable most everywhere we went(we just ate where it was crowded). Crime is nearly nonexistent and there are few highrise hotels and no fast food or chain restaurants.
The week after Christmas is the peak week of the peak season and the island was almost completely booked solid. After numerous calls to find a room, Sonia Fuentes, with Aqua Adventures, took care of everything. We booked a 12 tank dive package with her that included all scuba rental gear and 4 nights at Villas Marina Paraiso for a very, very reasonable price. Tom, the proprieter of the Marina, is a wonderful host, and within 24 hrs. felt like we had known him for years. The Villas were clean and simple, but we only slept there as the action was under a outdoor pavillion with a selfserve bar using the honor system of accounting. I enjoyed chatting with the boat captains who would gather at the bar and were passing through to other destinations. Also, you can walk to town in 40 min. and the dive shop is right there at the marina.
I'll wrap up by saying the diving was all I expected and more. Divemaster Will, was very accommodating and Instructor Juan is a hoot(never boring). I've got less than 20 dives under my belt, and while Key Largo,FL was nice, this was much better. We saw 2 sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, groupers, lobsters, dolphins, and more colorful fish and coral than I was expecting. We did a drift dive, and a little cavern exploring(plenty of light shafts). Just visit Aqua Adventures website which contains many pictures, good info, etc.
I needed a location that would satisfy the whole family. My son(15) and I are the only divers in the family, but my wife and daughter found plenty to do while we were diving 3 or 4 hours each day. You can rent golf carts that seat 4, but we chose mopeds. They are faster, quieter and easier to park. The island is small(maybe 5 mi. by 1 mi.) very scenic, great beaches(200 yrds from shore and water is chest high) downtown is clean and the people are very warm and friendly. The food was very good and reasonable most everywhere we went(we just ate where it was crowded). Crime is nearly nonexistent and there are few highrise hotels and no fast food or chain restaurants.
The week after Christmas is the peak week of the peak season and the island was almost completely booked solid. After numerous calls to find a room, Sonia Fuentes, with Aqua Adventures, took care of everything. We booked a 12 tank dive package with her that included all scuba rental gear and 4 nights at Villas Marina Paraiso for a very, very reasonable price. Tom, the proprieter of the Marina, is a wonderful host, and within 24 hrs. felt like we had known him for years. The Villas were clean and simple, but we only slept there as the action was under a outdoor pavillion with a selfserve bar using the honor system of accounting. I enjoyed chatting with the boat captains who would gather at the bar and were passing through to other destinations. Also, you can walk to town in 40 min. and the dive shop is right there at the marina.
I'll wrap up by saying the diving was all I expected and more. Divemaster Will, was very accommodating and Instructor Juan is a hoot(never boring). I've got less than 20 dives under my belt, and while Key Largo,FL was nice, this was much better. We saw 2 sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, groupers, lobsters, dolphins, and more colorful fish and coral than I was expecting. We did a drift dive, and a little cavern exploring(plenty of light shafts). Just visit Aqua Adventures website which contains many pictures, good info, etc.
