Finding a (Best) Dive Op in Cozumel

[Shawn C]

It sounds like a good op for mainland business...

But I suggest that's overreaching here. Most members on this forum are Cozumel divers who would not like wading thru Cancun listings.

Could not agree more.

 

[ggunn]

5. Is super convenient and comfortable to cross in the boat than the ferry...

That really depends on the weather. Crossing the channel in a small boat in 4-6 foot seas like we frequently see when we are out fishing near the mainland would not be particularly comfortable.

 

[Charred]

I am taking a solo trip with out my wife/dive partner. I consider myself an experienced diver and rather not get insta buddied with a new/bad/poor air consumption diver. I think I want to dive with an op that dives as a group to avoid this. I was thinking of diving with Aldora since I hear they dive as a group, go to the sites I enjoy and I have never dove with them before.

Is this good logic?

 

[OregonDM]

I am taking a solo trip with out my wife/dive partner. I consider myself an experienced diver and rather not get insta buddied with a new/bad/poor air consumption diver. I think I want to dive with an op that dives as a group to avoid this. I was thinking of diving with Aldora since I hear they dive as a group, go to the sites I enjoy and I have never dove with them before.

Is this good logic?

Yes. Aldora does a really good job of grouping divers by experience level. The odds you will be on a boat of newbies is low IMO. The same cannot be said for the larger cattle boat operations.

 

[OregonDM]

That really depends on the weather. Crossing the channel in a small boat in 4-6 foot seas like we frequently see when we are out fishing near the mainland would not be particularly comfortable.

Can confirm this. Many many years ago we were diving with Dive Paradise and for some reason the DM suggested we go to the mainland and "dive with the turtles" right off PDC. The boat ride over there was pretty uneventful because it was morning and we were going with the wind. The way back though.....I had to keep my wetsuit and mask on the entire time and the whole ride felt like we were riding a mechanical bull going through a car wash.

 

[AdivingBel]

I am taking a solo trip with out my wife/dive partner. I consider myself an experienced diver and rather not get insta buddied with a new/bad/poor air consumption diver. I think I want to dive with an op that dives as a group to avoid this. I was thinking of diving with Aldora since I hear they dive as a group, go to the sites I enjoy and I have never dove with them before.

Is this good logic?

There are lots of valet dive ops that dive "groupish" especially if you're going to dive a with them a day or so, so they can "see you in the water." With those you can hang with the group, buddy up, or dive with the DM. If you are a "no drama" diver, you can have as much autonomy (or not) as you want. Have fun.

 

[rmssetc]

Add Scuba Total is been 23 years diving with them, always
And congratulations this a great project

As they are based in Playa, does Scuba Total have a permit to dive in the marine park?

 

[divingjd]

I am taking a solo trip with out my wife/dive partner. I consider myself an experienced diver and rather not get insta buddied with a new/bad/poor air consumption diver. I think I want to dive with an op that dives as a group to avoid this. I was thinking of diving with Aldora since I hear they dive as a group, go to the sites I enjoy and I have never dove with them before.

Is this good logic?

This is very good logic. I do this all the time. I now know some of the other Aldora regulars. Even with complete strangers, I’m usually with other experienced divers.

 

[Bookworm11]

I dove 6 days with Aldora in April. Although I personally can't comment on how they grouped divers as I dove privately, it seemed everyone was grouped at similar levels. I highly recommend Aldora. No group was bigger than 4. I even got to dive the Cathedral and saw a hammerhead and 2 toadfish! Did some amazing swim thrus, too! I also dove with Dressel for 24 dives and Scuba During for 2. They did not. I have 160 dives and am AOW. I had 2 of the worst organized dives ever with the worst DM ever with Scuba Du. He gave a dive plan and and abandoned it. One of the guys in my group had 9 dives! He stayed way too deep for too long with beginners, went too deep wth them (80 feet or more) and totally mismanaged the extremely strong current for both dives. Scuba Du also lost my flashlight and I had to fight with them to make them pay for it. I would never dive with them again.
Dressel Ive dove with for years. The FT DMs are great and the contract staff is hit and miss. More often now the groups are 6 or 8 people. You aren't always put with the same ability. I got put with a group who only spoke Spanish, and the briefing was done in Spanish! That was enough for me to switch to Aldora.

 

[nwflyboy]

Planning a trip in Spring of 2025. It's been a few years since I was there but we've usually gone with Living Underwater. Are they still around? Anyone here dived with them recently? Thanks for any recent info on them!