Just returned from a 10 day dive trip to Maya Palms resort in Mahahual, Mexico with 6 other divers. Four of our group were return guests for the past 5 years. My wife and I have been taking our dive vacations at Maya Palms Resort for 7 years. It feels like our home away from home.
From the time we passed through the impressive Mayan Warrior gates, we immediately felt a sense of security and welcome. It feels good when Ken and staff welcome us home. Mark checked us in and met us at the bar for our complimentary welcome drinks. Walking through the gardens towards the bar gave us a sense of leaving our troubles behind and become consumed by this beautiful property. Ken joins us to discuss dive times and sites.
We opted to have a light breakfast before our dives and return for lunch between dives. After dives, we had snacks and happy hour at the bar, then dinner. A plus is not having to leave the property to look for a place to eat. The food is always outstanding. Never a disappointing meal and very well presented. Meals served are breakfast, lunch, and dinner which seemed to be native to the region.
The diving is spectacular all the reefs are absolutely breathtaking. No matter how much diving you have done the Meso-American reefs will not disappoint you. MPR is a true dive destination for the serious scuba diver who wants great service and true adventure on virgin reefs. The PADI & SSI dive center is next to the beach, where you board the dive boat. The dive center houses fill stations, nitrox ,basic service, rental, rinse tanks and showers.
The boat crew were professional, helpful and attentive. Ken, our instructor and Dive Master for 10 days, has a passion for what he does. Ken is truly a Maverick, as portrayed in the recent Sport Diver magazine article.
Before a dive he would thoroughly brief us on what to expect to see at that site, and true to his word, that is what we would see. He is very professional, attentive, safety conscious, and fun to dive with. He is also the evening chef and cooks as good as he dives. You will need extra weight towards the end of the week because he feeds you so well. A lot of the dive sites we dove were new unnamed sites which he says are exploratory dives. We had the privilege of naming a new site which we called Ruby Do. It is a black coral forest beginning at about 65. The vivid colors of coral and sea creatures are abundant. A special thanks to Ken for fixing my free flowing regulator.
And thank you Mark, for making our groups accommodations so special. The rooms were always clean and fresh when we returned, with fresh cut flowers and amenities. The water from the faucets is purified water, another plus being in Mexico. Hot water showers, air conditioned after 5:00pm, seaside with a billion dollar view. Having no television or phones in the rooms was great, it forced us to enjoy the tranquility nature offered. There was internet throughout the resort, and our cell phones had signals, so you dont need to be out of touch if thats a concern.
Mark was a gracious host, always accommodating and concerned about are comfort. One of our days it was windy and we were not able to dive. Mark helped arrange a day of diving with Ken at the Cenote Azul in Bacalar and tour of the ruins. This turned out to be a fantastic day.
The property and gardens are kept immaculate with much attention to detail. The gardener, Jose, always present wanting to pick you a piece of fruit to try or cut open a coconut, proudly shows you a new plant in bloom, an unusual bird or nest, lets you feed the parrot, or shows you where the iguanas hang out.
The beach cleaners (Samuel, and Pedro) cleaned the beach every morning and put out lounge chairs and umbrellas for our use. On the beaches are fantastic looking seeds (which we were told come from African rain forests) and the beach cleaners would give these to the female guests. The beach cleaners wore them as jewelry around there necks with leather rope. The women were very charmed by this.
After our days dive, we met at the bar for cold cerveza and snacks, checking e-mails, catching up back home with Fox News, or some of us just hung out in the hammocks. The two wives in our group were non divers and thoroughly enjoyed their days on the beach or at the pool, sunbathing, being pampered by the great staff, drinking frozen tropical drinks or taking the kayaks out to snorkel. Try the frozen (Mahahual Mama)... Several days the cruise ships are in town and MPR offers beach excursions, as well as dive and snorkel tours. The women enjoyed meeting the travelers for the day. Dinners were always special with one of Kens gourmet creations that all of us looked so forward to. Mmmm. They were always fresh, well prepared, and well presented dishes. After dinner most of the guests hung out at the bar drinking, telling jokes and dive stories, Ken would show us dive pictures taken that day. A couple of nights we chose to watch movies. Ending the evening we would always wind up on the two seater custom loungers facing the sea and just star gaze. The skies give you quit a show and some great lasting memories.
We were all sad as our trip was coming to an end and feeling like we were leaving family.
All I can say is if you want an all in-house dive trip, feel safe, professional service, staff that goes above and beyond to make you feel like you are part of a dive family, then this is the perfect place to go and your mission has been accomplished. This is definitely the only place to dive, eat, and relax in Mahahual. MPR has set a standard for others to follow but no one can compete.
We always feel valued and pampered the entire time we are there. I speak for all of us and want to say mochas, mochas, gracias MPR for another memorable dive vacation and can not wait to return. If you want bragging rights I highly recommend Maya Palms Resort.
Doug and Catherine Goergens are the owners of MPR and I want to congratulate you both on a great dive resort.
From the time we passed through the impressive Mayan Warrior gates, we immediately felt a sense of security and welcome. It feels good when Ken and staff welcome us home. Mark checked us in and met us at the bar for our complimentary welcome drinks. Walking through the gardens towards the bar gave us a sense of leaving our troubles behind and become consumed by this beautiful property. Ken joins us to discuss dive times and sites.
We opted to have a light breakfast before our dives and return for lunch between dives. After dives, we had snacks and happy hour at the bar, then dinner. A plus is not having to leave the property to look for a place to eat. The food is always outstanding. Never a disappointing meal and very well presented. Meals served are breakfast, lunch, and dinner which seemed to be native to the region.
The diving is spectacular all the reefs are absolutely breathtaking. No matter how much diving you have done the Meso-American reefs will not disappoint you. MPR is a true dive destination for the serious scuba diver who wants great service and true adventure on virgin reefs. The PADI & SSI dive center is next to the beach, where you board the dive boat. The dive center houses fill stations, nitrox ,basic service, rental, rinse tanks and showers.
The boat crew were professional, helpful and attentive. Ken, our instructor and Dive Master for 10 days, has a passion for what he does. Ken is truly a Maverick, as portrayed in the recent Sport Diver magazine article.
Before a dive he would thoroughly brief us on what to expect to see at that site, and true to his word, that is what we would see. He is very professional, attentive, safety conscious, and fun to dive with. He is also the evening chef and cooks as good as he dives. You will need extra weight towards the end of the week because he feeds you so well. A lot of the dive sites we dove were new unnamed sites which he says are exploratory dives. We had the privilege of naming a new site which we called Ruby Do. It is a black coral forest beginning at about 65. The vivid colors of coral and sea creatures are abundant. A special thanks to Ken for fixing my free flowing regulator.
And thank you Mark, for making our groups accommodations so special. The rooms were always clean and fresh when we returned, with fresh cut flowers and amenities. The water from the faucets is purified water, another plus being in Mexico. Hot water showers, air conditioned after 5:00pm, seaside with a billion dollar view. Having no television or phones in the rooms was great, it forced us to enjoy the tranquility nature offered. There was internet throughout the resort, and our cell phones had signals, so you dont need to be out of touch if thats a concern.
Mark was a gracious host, always accommodating and concerned about are comfort. One of our days it was windy and we were not able to dive. Mark helped arrange a day of diving with Ken at the Cenote Azul in Bacalar and tour of the ruins. This turned out to be a fantastic day.
The property and gardens are kept immaculate with much attention to detail. The gardener, Jose, always present wanting to pick you a piece of fruit to try or cut open a coconut, proudly shows you a new plant in bloom, an unusual bird or nest, lets you feed the parrot, or shows you where the iguanas hang out.
The beach cleaners (Samuel, and Pedro) cleaned the beach every morning and put out lounge chairs and umbrellas for our use. On the beaches are fantastic looking seeds (which we were told come from African rain forests) and the beach cleaners would give these to the female guests. The beach cleaners wore them as jewelry around there necks with leather rope. The women were very charmed by this.
After our days dive, we met at the bar for cold cerveza and snacks, checking e-mails, catching up back home with Fox News, or some of us just hung out in the hammocks. The two wives in our group were non divers and thoroughly enjoyed their days on the beach or at the pool, sunbathing, being pampered by the great staff, drinking frozen tropical drinks or taking the kayaks out to snorkel. Try the frozen (Mahahual Mama)... Several days the cruise ships are in town and MPR offers beach excursions, as well as dive and snorkel tours. The women enjoyed meeting the travelers for the day. Dinners were always special with one of Kens gourmet creations that all of us looked so forward to. Mmmm. They were always fresh, well prepared, and well presented dishes. After dinner most of the guests hung out at the bar drinking, telling jokes and dive stories, Ken would show us dive pictures taken that day. A couple of nights we chose to watch movies. Ending the evening we would always wind up on the two seater custom loungers facing the sea and just star gaze. The skies give you quit a show and some great lasting memories.
We were all sad as our trip was coming to an end and feeling like we were leaving family.
All I can say is if you want an all in-house dive trip, feel safe, professional service, staff that goes above and beyond to make you feel like you are part of a dive family, then this is the perfect place to go and your mission has been accomplished. This is definitely the only place to dive, eat, and relax in Mahahual. MPR has set a standard for others to follow but no one can compete.
We always feel valued and pampered the entire time we are there. I speak for all of us and want to say mochas, mochas, gracias MPR for another memorable dive vacation and can not wait to return. If you want bragging rights I highly recommend Maya Palms Resort.
Doug and Catherine Goergens are the owners of MPR and I want to congratulate you both on a great dive resort.
