GOING TO COZUMEL! Diving 1/12

[Daylonious]

Okay... going to be doing some diving this holiday season - Taking a Princess Cruise - going to be in Cozumel 1/12 from 10am to 7pm

It's not much, but I plan on doing some diving and throwing my few measly dollars at the dive industry there.

They've got some sort of land-excursion option at Cozumel - "New Waves Scuba" for $99.

Figured I could ask some of you guys and find a local operator and try to squeeze in a two tanker during my day there.

Looking forward to this trip

1/9 - Majahual
1/10 - Belize
1/11 - Grand Cayman
1/12 - Cozumel

Have no friggin' idea where Majahual is, but if it's close to the ocean (and since I'm on a cruise i'm betting it is) could use some tips for diving there as well.

D.

 

[Christi]

Okay... going to be doing some diving this holiday season - Taking a Princess Cruise - going to be in Cozumel 1/12 from 10am to 7pm

It's not much, but I plan on doing some diving and throwing my few measly dollars at the dive industry there.

They've got some sort of land-excursion option at Cozumel - "New Waves Scuba" for $99.

Figured I could ask some of you guys and find a local operator and try to squeeze in a two tanker during my day there.

Looking forward to this trip

1/9 - Majahual
1/10 - Belize
1/11 - Grand Cayman
1/12 - Cozumel

Have no friggin' idea where Majahual is, but if it's close to the ocean (and since I'm on a cruise i'm betting it is) could use some tips for diving there as well.

D.

Majahual is on the Yucatan coast almost to the Belize border. You will be best off diving withthe ship operator there.

Belize - I have no recommendations

Cayman - Neptunes Divers hands down

Cozumel - your time schedule is going to be hard to accommodate if you are by yourself. Virtually every oat leaves before 9:00am...however, it won't hurt to check with a few operators to see if they have a light schedule and can accommodate your schedule...the worst they can do is refer you to another shop or say no

Have fun!!!

 

[diveborg]

Majahual is on the Yucatan coast almost to the Belize border. You will be best off diving with the ship's operator there.

The cruise port there is called Costa Maya. It is a cruise line built facility with as much authentic feel of Mexico as Canada has. It is a big circular building full of t-shirt shops and "duty free stores". In the center are 2 big palapas where local people sell trinkets and do hair braiding. There is a big saltwater pool with a swim up bar and a restaurant where you can pay for food instead of eat the free food on the ship. Mahahual is a small fishing village about 2 miles south of Costa Maya. Really the only dive outfit there with an internet site is www.dreamtimediving.com If you contact them, don't mention cruise or they will tell you that you have to go thru the ship. Just tell them you want to dive one day and if they ask you if you are on a cruise, well I don't know that I would tell them. It is up to you to tell if you want. The price on Princess is $150 for a 2 tank dive, which is outrageous. There was a local guy taking people out diving from his "shop" along the beach, if you are an adventurous sort.

You can see the rest of my Costa Maya/Mahahual Photos here. If you look at the photos, you will see that I didn't dive there. We had a fantastic day just hanging out at the beach, playing in the sand with my kids.

Belize - I have no recommendations

Two choices here, the ship's excursion or Seasports belize (I think is the name).

Cayman - Neptunes Divers hands down

I have gone out with Casey and Keith of Neptunes Divers. Really nice people, with a small boat offering guided or unguided dives, and a flexible schedule. I'd go with them again.

Cozumel - your time schedule is going to be hard to accommodate if you are by yourself. Virtually every oat leaves before 9:00am...however, it won't hurt to check with a few operators to see if they have a light schedule and can accommodate your schedule...the worst they can do is refer you to another shop or say no

Have fun!!!

Christi knows what she is talking about because, if you didn't already know, she owns/runs her own dive operation, www.bluextseadiving.com It will be more work to find a operator willing to work with your schedule, but there are loads of dive operators on Cozumel and they will be happy to have divers. Of the 3 shops I've been out with, 2 of them are small boat operators that leave before 8:00 am. The third is Caribbean Divers who might have a more flexible schedule.
www.eagleraydivers.com is also very popular with cruise divers. They also offer combo scuba/snorkel trips , as does Blue Angel. Be sure to ask for a recommendation if the dive op you contact can't accommodate your schedule. The last choice in Cozumel is to go with the ship's excursion, IMO.

Hope this helps,
Bruce

 

[DIVENH]

If you are looking for a good shop in Cozumel. Scuba Club Cozumel is one of the best operations in the world. They have several boats. Great dive masters. I have been going there for over 15 years. I have been in touch with the guys since the storm (Wilma) and they will be open as of the 15th of November. I will be going back just before Christmas and can not wait.

 

[loudives]

It will be hard to go out for the am dives in Cozumel docking at 10 am. However many shops will do 2-tank afternoon dives that leave the piers about 1-1:30 and are back at 4. The price for the 2-tank dives run from $60 to $85 depends on the shop. I'm sure that this is a much more reasonable price than the ship charges. Three operators I recommend are:

www.bottomtimedivers.net
www.liquidbluedivers.com
www.bluextseadivers.com

All have small fast boats, great divemasters, give personalized service. Make sure you tell them of your plans and ask that if you book with them and it turns out you are their only diver that day that they make sure you will go out even if they have to give you to another dive shop. Many operators have a minimum number of divers they need to go out. If by the time you leave for your trip they have no other divers for that day try to recruit some on the ship and e-mail the dive shop. The 3 operators I have recommended here will work together to get you in the water!

Lou

 

[halocline]

I'd add Roberta's Dive Eco Cozumel to the list; aka bluebubble divers. Usually she has an afternoon boat going out around 12:30-1:00 that would fit your schedule. There are lots of cruise ship clients that dive while in port at Cozumel, so I imagine you'll find a decent dive op to accomodate you.

With a little luck I'll be in Cozumel around the same time. If you've never dove there you're in for a real treat, and you might find yourself looking to trade the rest of your cruise for a few extra days of diving!

 

[divadiver]

Regarding diving in Belize, I would recommend Belize Diving Services on Caye Caulker. It's a 30 min water taxi over to Caulker from Belize City. Depending on weather, the better diving is 40 mins by boat south. We ended up diving Sargent's Caye and inner reef dive sites as viz was down. The dive shop had a professional staff who accommodated different diver needs. It was pretty cold one day on the boat so be prepared for less than tropical temps!

 

[Bo Danker]

Majahual (pronounced 'Ma-Ha-Wall')
Try a ship sponsered shore escursion or stay on the boat. Check the tide tables. If it's high tide when you get there go diving! The prices are not worth the trip into town if you go shopping. Get the discovery tour coupons for $20 and the natives will give you some trinkets. They have put alot into the doc area. It reminded me of Saint Thomas Dock. Overall we were disapointed in Majahual. Too bad it is the only cruise dock left standing in the west carribean.

Belize
Go on the diving excursion with Hugh Parkeys Team. It was amazing and tell Alex to bring plenty of weights and try not to poke a whole in the boat! LOL He will know what that means. We were the first crew aboard Hughs new boat. I forgot the name of it but it had a leak and I swear this was a brand new boat. There will probably be newbies and you will end up at Elkins Bay and Chas Bo's Corner but it will absolutely amaze you!

Grand Cayman
Get your tendering tickets as soon as they begin handing them out. The night before if possible. Stand in line if you have to

Buddy up with another diving pair if you can. All 4 of you can grab a van south but you are gonna run outa time. Princess ships are just not there very long it seems like.
Or do what we did. Went shopping for an hour or two and hopped into Devils Grotto. The fish are real cool there. Made it back just in time. Eden Rock (the second shop on your right NOT the first one) is got everything ya need to do the Grotto with a tank or 2. There is mostly just snorkling at the rock it self.

Cozumel.
Once again if you been cruising grab that tender ticket early and get a taxi as soon as you hit land. With a party of 4 you can get a van to take you for $15 a person toa good spot and they will even wait for you to finish eating and diving and take you back to the ship in plenty of time. The town and the reef are great. Your landing spot is really beat up. Becuase of the way things are you have to use local tenders that may add a hour or 2 to your time. Ship excursions get priority on all tenders so get a good low number when they hand out tickets. Cozumel is still alive and well though and it was our favorite spot.