Getting there
Flew direct into Cancun, then a car transfer ($50), arranged via booking.com, to the hotel. About 45 minutes to an hour for the car ride, but it can be a little chaotic finding the driver at the airport. Be sure to have a phone ready to use for texting/calling if you can't find them outside of the terminal. The ride was straightforward after that, air conditioned and uneventful.Accommodations
Angelo's Hotel was a recommendation we got from the dive shop, and it was just right for the job. Inexpensive, simple, decent accommodations for a week of diving. Either a king or two queen beds per room, a mini fridge, A/C, TV. We had an issue with the A/C and the staff promptly tried to fix it and offered to switch us to a different room if needed. There's also a tiny little lobby pool and a slightly bigger rooftop pool, but we had long days and not much time to actually use those.The hotel is right next to the dive shop, and within walking distance to a big grocery store, a good juice bar (Nativo), and various other food options, including a great vegan Mexican spot about a 15 minute walk away (Plantivoros). Even more food towards Avenida 10 Norte if you want to venture out (or take a taxi).
Diving
We had 4 days of diving before our GUE Basic Fundamentals class with Emőke, and 2 more after. The schedule was pretty much the same for all days, except we'd get back to the shop at different hours in the afternoon, depending how far we'd traveled. The cenotes we visited were all south of Playa, with only a couple a little past Tulum.GoDiveMex
We met at the shop daily around 8 AM, and almost immediately someone there would offer to make a coffee or tea, which was really nice. After analyzing cylinders and setting our gear up, we loaded the truck to go to the day's first cenote. It's really convenient they handle the driving in their trucks, no need to worry about renting a car. They also bring a sandwich and water for divers (fill out the form Martin sends out for any specific food requirements or allergies).We did two dives each day in different cenotes, usually relatively close together. It seemed like we were "leveling up" on the complexity/difficulty of the dives each day, e.g., did a Level 1 cenote, then 2, 3, 4, and finally EX (i.e., Taak Bi Ha). I think this was a good way for both the divers and the guide to ensure comfort and ability for the more difficult caverns. After all, it's hard to know for sure how one might react in some of the more narrow places, with the halocline etc. I suspect that it's also to check on the divers' buoyancy and trim, and overall skills/comfort, but I'm just speculating on that part.
We dove with Judith (4 days) and Fede (2 days) and they were both really, really great! We did thorough briefings about the sites, including anything to watch out for that might be surprising (e.g., crossing a halocline and tannic acid layer at the same time - so expect blurry, minimal viz for a bit), tips on how to "take in" the dive, and of course top attention to safety and good diving procedures. Everyone at GDM is GUE-trained, so we executed these dives following protocols (including GUE EDGE at the start, using appropriate gas strategies etc.) and this helped make the entire experience very safe and smooth. I don't think anyone unfamiliar with those protocols would have any issues whatsoever though, the guides made it all seamless.
Dives were 45 - 60 minutes, using a third of available gas. Nitrox 32%, aluminum 11L (Luxfer S80) or 13L (Luxfer S100) available. I believe it's possible to rent doubles from them as well. We dove wet in the 25ºC cenotes, I used a Sharskin Titanium 2 two-piece plus a Sharkskin Chillproof hooded vest; my dive partner had a 5 mm wetsuit.
After getting back, we rinsed gear at the shop and left it there overnight to dry. Of course, diving cenotes might not need a full rinse everyday, but it was nice to be able to leave stuff there.
Sites
I was really impressed by the diversity of the cenotes, and each environment felt pretty unique. Initially I wasn't sure there would be enough to see for so many days, but there was plenty. Cavern dives are defined as 60m from daylight (which doesn't mean entrance) and it turns out there are plenty of cenotes that have long runs of cavern-compliant passage. We never went twice to any one place, although I'd have gladly re-visited many of them. Highlights for me this time around were El Pit, Angelita, Taak Bi Luum and Taak Bi Ha, Dreamgate, Nohoch…Conclusions
I will certainly dive with GDM again anytime I'm in the area (maybe again this year)! I think there are a few more cenotes to see, still, and someday I hope to go on guided cave dives as well (which is something they do).The shop feels 100% like a place you're in with friends, a little club to hangout before/after dives. Everyone (Martin, Fran, Fede, Emőke) was incredibly friendly and laid back socially, yet very professional and on top of things when it came to the diving itself. Highly recommended!
Happy to answer any questions, provide clarifications etc.
