Finding a (Best) Dive Op in Cozumel

[jonhall]

Received a message that the file in the previous post wouldn't open, so I think, and hope, I have the problem corrected.

 

[cvchief]

Well thats horrible. Let me collect a ton of answers for Scuba with Alison. You make it sound like a pirate op....

 

[morecowbells]

Thank you for undertaking this monumental task. It is interesting seeing the names of dive ops that I have never heard of before. I see there are a couple of ops whom are definitely not the cheapest but carry >12 divers. Sure they are divided into 2 different groups, but still too many people for my taste. If you are looking into more work and headaches in managing this page, I would also add a category of dive times. Do you dive your own profile or ascend in a group? I left a dive op which I had used for several years after we dived for 35 minutes on Paradise Reef and had to ascend as a group. One diver was terrible with his air. I felt ripped off having over 2000 psi, yet penalized due to another diver. Certainly not trying to nit pick, but the dive time enforcement is a deal breaker for me.

 

[jonhall]

Well thats horrible. Let me collect a ton of answers for Scuba with Alison. You make it sound like a pirate op....

Guessing you mean because of the lack of info - I wasn't trying to make any op sound like anything - just posting what info was available. That's why I asked in my first post and I think in a later post for any info to fill in the blanks - I've made 10 changes/updates thanks to some other SB members before posting the last update. I could only draw from what I found here on SB, the op website (some are very good and current and some provide only a small amount of information), FaceBook, and even TripAdvisor. Some of the recent SB trip reports have been helpful.

So to all, if you have info/updates to contribute, please do!!

I would also add a category of dive times. Do you dive your own profile or ascend in a group?

Thanks. I entertained the idea in the beginning, but I was thinking more about the spreadsheet being for first time divers/visitors to Coz and how many would really care about that, but it seems some newer divers on SB do think about things like that and 1st time visitors can be experienced and want to know that info. I had only indicated in my first post that some ops provide larger tanks for longer dive times and some resort ops will have shorter dive times due to staying on a schedule. Will try and incorporate that info - either take something out or put it in with another criterion.

 

[cvchief]

Here is an update for you on Scuba with Alison"

• Pick up on all piers south of FONATUR
• 15 minute walk from La Ceiba/El Cid, Park Royal and Hotel Intercontinental Presidente
• 2 tank dive trip $85. US tax included. Discounts offered for groups of 8 divers or payment in cash.
• Same price regardless of # of diving days
• Marine Park fee included
• No shore diving
• A, T, N – yes but need minimum of 4 divers
• Nitrox $10. USD extra per tank
• Leave FONATUR at 8:00 am and return 1:00 – 1:30 pm
• Tanks 80 cf and 100 cf aluminum
• Boat size 30 feet, fast & shade
• Yes to stores gear
• All rental gear comes with computer included.
• No short dives. Bottom time determined by dive computer limit or air gauge limit.
• Courses offered: DS, Referrals, OW & AOW
• Payment methods: cash, Visa, MasterCard, Venmo & Zelle
• Cancelation policy – 1 day
• Hours of operation 6:00 am – 7:00 pm daily

From our perspective, the Maximus is pretty much one of, if not the fastest and quite large being like converted bertram style fishing boat.

And dive your tank. We did like an hour and 45 minutes in Columbia Shallows last month:

 

[Christi]

I have closed my business and sold the boats - so I have no dog in this fight anymore, but I will continue sharing the truth so that Cozumel visitors know the truth.

JFS - stop telling people that prices must be in pesos and that tax has to be included by law - that is inaccurate and misleading. I've said it before and my accountant who does everything totally by the book confirmed that separating out the tax is 100% legal as long as it is IN the quote or invoice to the customer. In other words, it's illegal to add it without disclosing it - if it is clearly disclosed - it is not illegal. I operating like that for 20 years by the book - I did have my prices listed in BOTH USD and MX Pesos. It's important for people to know how much of what they are paying is taxes to the government.

Shops on this list without permits:
Scuba Mau
Julio Kin
Cozumel Dive School
Scuba Life (1 boat has permits, their second boat does not)
Jungle divers - rents space on various boats, they do not own their own boat

 

[DandyDon]

Shops on this list without permits:
Scuba Mau
Julio Kin
Cozumel Dive School
Scuba Life (1 boat has permits, their second boat does not)

Why do the authorities not bust them and hold their boats?

That's not something that the customer can check, we have to hope that the authorities control pirates, and most of us don't want to support them.

Jungle divers - rents space on various boats, they do not own their own boat

Not a real Op.

By Mexican Law, Tax is included in price. Businesses that charge on top of their pricing are not following tbe law.

I didn't believe that.

A lot of the tour operators price in USD for convenience and to control fixed costs. If people want to pay in pesos then the price is usually adjusted for that days SAT exchange rate.

I'm sure that's no problem.

 

[jonhall]

confirmed that separating out the tax is 100% legal as long as it is IN the quote or invoice to the customer. In other words, it's illegal to add it without disclosing it - if it is clearly disclosed - it is not illegal. I operating like that for 20 years by the book - I did have my prices listed in BOTH USD and MX Pesos. It's important for people to know how much of what they are paying is taxes to the government.

Timing is everything. Just before I posted the 1st spreadsheet, @Christi closed her business. If my memory is correct, hers was the only op I researched that did post in both US and MX and showed the tax separate. Good website!

@JFS Whether or not the tax, by law, has to be included or not is not an issue, IMO, that divers worry about too much, BUT I do think divers want to know what price they will be paying for a dive upfront. As I've found, ops post prices on their websites in one of the 3 following ways: with indication that tax is included, with indication that tax is not included, and those with no indication whether tax is included or not. AND, although price maybe shouldn't be the main factor in determining a dive op on a trip to Coz, it is one of the first things many look at; therefore it would have been nice if every op posted in the same way....but they don't!

As an example, there is an op who currently shows a 2 tank dive as $90 on their website with no indication on if tax is included or not. Other ops show similar prices but indicate that tax is included or not included. The consumer can't really compare prices if the tax issue is unknown. Thanks to a diver just returning from Coz who dove with the op, I was able to update info on the price - it turns out that they do not include tax in their website price (but now people will know from the spreadsheet!)

My intent is to try and update the spreadsheet with what is current (although things are always changing) and post an updated version every so often. Will post an update, as I have filled in quite a bit of info, in another week or so unless someone needs the update now.

Thanks again to those who have recently traveled to Coz and sharied info.

 

[DandyDon]

Jonhall, I wonder if you'd like to work this into your report?
Embarcaciones autorizadas dentro del Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel
Boat name, type of boat, Matricula number (registration on the hull), number of permits on the boat, and the number of times allowed in the park per day. I do like to know about an Op's boat, and that list will confirm it's legal.

 

[jonhall]

I wonder if you'd like to work this into your report

Haha!! No thanks but what a great resource if you're looking for that information. Saw boats on the list I've been on which is a good thing, but now I want to find the one named Brain Damage!!

Except for the boats named Aldora, Pro Dive, etc.., it would take some work to match boats to dive ops. Likewise, just looking at the list doesn't tell you if the boat is a dive op boat (or which op.) As you (Don) indicated earlier, it would be hard for a customer to check this type of info out.

I thought I could possibly add an (L) for "legal boat" in the spreadsheet row I labeled "boat size" but I'm afraid if I left several blank because I didn't know, some people might assume the boat(s) was not legal, so it's probably best I stay away from that type of discussion.