for cenotes: base in Tulum, Akumal or PDC?

[Lorenzoid]

My wife and I want to dedicate a couple of days to cenote dives, say, four dives in total. I'm trying to figure out the best logistics. I've read many threads here recommending various options and dive ops, and of course I've read TS&M's sticky on this type of dive.

Ten years ago when I was in Tulum for a few days I did a couple of cenote dives. According to my logbook, these were Calaveras and Gran Cenote, with an outfit called Cenote Dive Center. I liked it a LOT but was a fairly inexperienced diver at the time. Now that my wife and I have a firm handle on our buoyancy, etc., I'd like to believe we would really enjoy the cenote experience. My wife--always the skeptic--doubts whether she will enjoy cenote diving. She loves Cozumel. So I think on this trip we will compromise and spend three days diving in Coz, then head over to the mainland for the next 2-3 days and do the cenote dives.

Should we base ourselves in PDC, Akumal, Tulum, or what? My wife has not seen the ruins in Tulum, so that is going to be how we spend our offgassing day before flying home. Is that a good enough reason to base ourselves in Tulum? As I recall, Tulum was small and quiet--just the kind of place we like. We're not interested in a resort and prefer something along the lines of a guesthouse within walkable distance of places to eat great Yucatecan food. I suspect I have answered my own question and that we would do ourselves a favor by basing ourselves in Tulum.

We don't really want to or see a need to rent a car, with the ADO buses being fairly convenient. Does that make sense?

As for the choice of dive op/guide, I see a number of what seem like good recommendations. We're interested in a more personalized experience. Maybe Eric Burgess?--he seems to be based in Tulum. Cave Heaven looks like another option.

Thoughts?

 

[TSandM]

Many of the independent guides will pick you up anywhere from Tulum to Puerto Aventuras. If you like quiet and walking, you might like Akumal the best. Tulum is much more of a town/small city. It has many more restaurant options, but I've heard from others that it can be noisy at night.

I like Budgie. I also like Natalie Gibb, who is great fun, and Ela Bertoni is a high-energy lady as well.

 

[boulderjohn]

I agree with TSand M on all points. You will find Tulum much more built up than you remember, but it is closer to a lot of the diving. PDC is HUGELY built up since you were around last, and it is pretty far from the best cenotes.

 

[gearhound]

I'll throw in another recommendation for Natalie Gibb, but there are a lot of good guides out there. We used to base ourselves out of Puerto Aventuras, but now stay in Tulum. It is so much more convenient and you can find some wonderful food. We didn't find it that noisy at night.
You could also try Lanny at ProtecTulum. He has a brand new condo complex for divers that had very reasonable prices.
Or Bil Phillips at Speleotech. His shop and complex are close to the center, but far enough away to be quiet. And it's gated. Since Bil has done a lot of exploration, he can give you a nice history of the area and the caves that you are diving.

 

[Hintermann]

Maybe Eric Burgess?--he seems to be based in Tulum. Thoughts?

Another 2-thumbs-up for Budgie. When my wife and I went to Tulum (most convenient overall for cenotes IMO) he was most helpful with very good alternative accommodation at short notice when we decided that our independently booked one was unsuitable. Then there was the diving itself; my wife is claustrophobic and up to that time had never even done a night dive, let alone an overhead environment one. But Budgie inspired us with so much confidence that we did 9 cenote dives with him and enjoyed every one of them. The best was the off-beat Angelita.

 

[kwinter]

Should we base ourselves in PDC, Akumal, Tulum, or what?

The answer is "Yes." You won't go wrong with the diving from any of them. Choose based on other considerations.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I agree with TSand M on all points. You will find Tulum much more built up than you remember, but it is closer to a lot of the diving. PDC is HUGELY built up since you were around last, and it is pretty far from the best cenotes.

I've been to PDC more recently, and I think it's best used only as a jumping off point for Cozumel.

When I was in Tulum 10 years ago, my backpack and I slept in a thatched-roof hut on the beach. I'd welcome a little more activity (and comfort) than that this time. I suspect Tulum will give us more options for lodging and food than Akumal.

Sounds like there are many recommended guides, and I probably can't go wrong with any of them.

Yeah, I knew there wasn't a lot of question in my question, but I thought I'd throw it out there to confirm.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Most all dive op's will pick you from south of Playa to Tulum. I would recommend Nicolas from CenoteXperience It is just Nico and his brother Martin, so you will get personalized service. They are great guys and excellent dive guides. They get great reviews here on scubaboard and T/A Cenote Xperience Reviews - Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya Attractions - TripAdvisor

 

[tendi]

A couple years ago we used the dive shop at Dos Ojos. We had a car so we just drove there. I can't speak to the rental gear because we have our own but the guides were great and it was a lot cheaper than the dive shops from Akumal or PDC. There are several cenotes located within the Dos Ojos system and they will take you other places as well. If you are AOW I highly recommend diving The Pit (similar to Angelita which someone mentioned above). It is a completely different experience and totally worth it. YouTube has some good videos of the hydrogen sulfide cloud you experience. I was a skeptic of the cenote diving as well. I really enjoyed it but I'm not sure I need to do more than a few of them.

As for PDC vs. Akumal vs. Tulum, we prefer Akumal. It's just touristy enough to have restaurants and places to stay but still has a local flavor. The beach is public and can get busy but the snorkeling is fun. Big turtles in 8 feet of water that don't seem to mind that you're there.

As for ruins, Tulum is really pretty but if you have time Coba is also cool. We've visited both in one day. There are also interesting cenotes near Coba that are worth a stop...especially if you like jumping off high things into water.