First diving trip, few questions

[ohad121]

Hi!
I am planning to travel in Mexico (Yucatan - Cancun, Playa, Cozumel, Isla) in October.
I plan to dive and I would like to know details about recommended places for diving in the area.


In addition, I would like to know if I should take before the trip a one star diving course (20 Meters deep), or as a beginner I'll still see enough things (6 Meters deep)?


Thank you very much!!

 

[Roman_66]

I dove one week in Cancun and one in Cozumel.
My personal opinion - Cozumel much much better and interested for diving.
I don't remember even one dive up to 6 meters = 20 ft., all were deeper.
Maybe only Cenotes near Cozumel, but I will NOT suggest you to take Cenote dive as you very begginer diver.
So, yes, I suggest to make at least first star (OWD) before trip, two (AOWD) is better.

 

[divebutt]

Cancun and Playa are fairly flat reefs, nothing at all deep. Cozumel has better reefs. If you are around Playa, consider going to the cenotes one day - absolutely stunning diving.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Debbie and I love diving in Akumal, about 110 km ( 70 miles more or less) south of Cancun. Lots of turtles, good reefs, great people in a very laid back place. But dont tell anyone, we don't want it to get crowded like Cozumel and PDC.
DivemasterDennis

 

[freewillie]

I have dived Cancun but not Isla Mujeres. The reefs in Cancun are relatively shallow and 60-80 feet tops. I didn't do the Museum dive at Isla Mujeres but there are multiple status I the water in an underwater park area. It is a long ferry ride to Cozumel from Cancun and most divers will normally spend their time in Cozumel and dive from the island as opposed to staying in Cancun then going to Cozumel for the day.

I did enjoy my diving in Cancun. We used an dive shop Solo Buceo which had a little area at the Westin Hotel where we stayed. Good service and reasonable prices. You can also arrange to dive cenotes. Most of the time I'm diving I'm with the other non-diving wife and kids so try not to be away from the family all day so taking a bus or ferry for few hours wasn't really possible for me. Maybe next time I'll at least try the cenotes.

 

[industrious95]

I was on a cruise ship that made an unscheduled stop in Cozumel. Myself and 2 other divers on the ship I had met took a taxi into Cozumel and went to a place called "Papa Hogs," which one of the divers knew. We wanted to do 2 boat dives and a beach dive. Papa Hog gave us a price, suggested some dive spots based on our requests (I wanted to try a drift dive and everyone else wanted to see sharks and turtles). It was the best two dives of my cruise. We went back to the shop, had lunch and Papa Hog said "don't waste your time with a beach dive, pay for the gas, promise to tip the guides and we'll take you to a nearby reef for an extra $5 each. The cruise ship was charging $125 for a two tank trip. I think we ended up paying about $70 each for three dives. We did have our own gear, so no rentals were included (except tanks & weights).

Needless to say, I'll go back to Papa Hog's next time I'm in Cozumel.