Heading to Cancun, need some advice

[mikemath]

I'm heading to Cancun later this month. I'm starting to put together a general itinerary including my diving plans. I've got a couple of constraints:

• My wife and (obviously) my 2-year old daughter will not be diving, so I want to plan out my diving so I can still have a lot of time with them, or find a location where we can dive from shore while they enjoy the beach or a nearby attraction--we did that at Chankanaab on Cozumel last year and it worked great. I'm guessing I'll be able to do 2 days of diving off a beach where they are and 2 days of morning boat dives or trips while still maintaining marital bliss.
• A friend traveling with us is doing a PADI Open Water referral to finish his certification dives while we're there. I'd like to accompany him on those dives even if it means less to see than other dive sites. Where possible, I'd like him to join me for future dives, and would prefer to avoid anything too intense.
• I'm a PADI DiveMaster Candidate, with about 45 dives under my belt, mostly in cold water around Monterey Bay, California. I'd love to dive some wrecks (non-penetration), see some unique life, and get some great pictures.
• I would really like to do some diving in cenotes. I'm fascinated by them, but wondering how intense the diving is. Should I take a Cavern Diving course before going? Do I need to run my own line or is some already laid? Could my soon-to-be-certified friend safely come?

I'm staying at the Royal Mayan. Anyone have a dive shop recommendation, or dive site recommendations to help me accommodate these constraints? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Beyond_Diving]

Howdy Mike (I assume that's your name). In cancun there is no beach diving unfortunately, but there is some great diving all around. there will be plenty for your wife and your daughter to do on land, so you don't need to worry about that. as far as accompanying your friend for his ow dives, that's something you'd have to take up with the instructor he'll be doing his dives with. A lot of instructors don't like to, but since you're a dmc, it will even be good experience for you so explain that him/her.
In cancun we have a really cool wreck, so check with the dive op to see which days they go to it (some shops have scheduled days for the wreck). it lies at about 80ft and can have some pretty good currents, so definitely a fun dive, and you get to see tons of eagle rays on a good day.
The cenotes... what can I say about them. they are beautiful. you don't need a cavern class to go to them because you will be with a guide, what you do need are good buoyancy skills. you don't need to lay line as there is already a cavern line which your group will be following. as far as your friend going, it is possible. personally, I am not a big fan of taking newly certified divers into a cavern for a few reasons... most important of them being 1)it is an overhead environment and 2)their buoyancy skills are seldom all that great 3)their comfort level. again, its something else to take up with the diveop to see if they even allow it. As far as diveops in the area, two of the best are Manta Divers - Miguel (Manta Divers! Cancun Diving! Cozumel Diving! Cavern Diving!) and Mayan Aqua Dive - Ben Mooney (Mayan Aqua Dive offers Cancun Diving, Snorkeling, Cavern Diving, Cozumel Dives&PADI Courses).

I hope this helps and have a great trip!

 

[mikemath]

Very helpful, thanks for the information. I'll make some calls to those dive shops this weekend and see what they recommend for our needs.

 

[macado]

Basically I will echo what vrykolakas said. No shore diving in Cancun but you will see plenty of marine life on the boat dives. The wreck called C-58 is pretty decent dive and I would recommend it. I've always used Manta Divers but heard great things about Ben Mooney. Last month when I was in Cancun I dove with a dive op called Scuba Fred's (formerly Nautilus Diving) and enjoyed their service as well.

When you dive the cenotes in Cancun you're accompanied by a full cave instructor. Lines are already run. When I originally did my Open Water in Cancun in 2003 they let me do a cenote dive after they verified my buoyancy skills and my diving comfort. I'm guessing this is highly the discretion of the divemaster/instructor but it is possible.

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

Hey MikeMath!
Its Jorge on behalf of Ben Mooney; we can offer you 2 wreck in Cancun, reef diving in Cancun, a complete easy penetration wreck in Puerto Morelos, Cozumel and Cenote Diving.

We have the certified diver for the Cenote Diving you need to take you there and we can also help with the certification of you and your friend. Let us know how can we help you and your friend to have an excellent dive time down here in Cancun.

Saludos!

Jorge

 

[Spratman]

I agree with Jorge. I stayed the last time at the Royal Mayan and had a van pick me up every morning for the dive trip. I've only dove with one other shop while in Cancun, but can hardily recommend MAD.

I am staying at VCI this time, which is great since it's a short walk out to the Taurus. So, you own time shares at the Royals or just a rent?

There is plenty to see on the reefs and a short jaunt down to the cenotes. A must do at least once in your life. Totally awesome. My wife and kids are landlubbers as well. Most of the places, if they snorkel, they can float around on the top watching you while you dive.

Also, something else to do as a family trip is a catamaran ride. Check with Al Mason at Cancun Catamarans, Cancun Catamaran Tours, Cancun Sailing, Sailboats in Cancun, Yachts and Deep Sea Fishing Charters..

I wish you good weather and safe diving!

 

[mikemath]

I am staying at VCI this time, which is great since it's a short walk out to the Taurus. So, you own time shares at the Royals or just a rent?

I misspoke in my first post. We originally were planning on staying at the Royal Mayan but my wife reminded me that we ended up getting a larger (two bedroom) suite at VCI when my non-certified friend decided to join us. So I'm actually staying at VCI, so it looks like I'll be diving with MAD. I'm working with Ben via e-mail to work out the specifics.

Is there any impact I should plan for with respect to lower-than-usual tourist volume? I was reading that in May, Cancun hotels were only at 20% capacity. Is there a risk of dive boat trips being canceled because of too few divers? Am I going to be swarmed by 5x the timeshare reps I was last time?

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

mike, vci is at 46% this week so its very laid back, relaxed and quiet! im guessing the last week of june when your in will be a little over 50%. see you on the beach!

 

[Spratman]

Honestly, I much prefer VCI to the other "ant hill" resorts. The water isn't as great as on the sea side, but we spend a lot of time snorkeling around the dock where Ben has his boat. Cuttlefish, barracuda, skates and I hear some seahorses, but never saw them. We like the Palapa bar. My son says they have the best hamburgers he's ever had.

I wouldn't worry about getting out for diving. I'm sure there will be enough people for a boat trip. Smaller the better, at least for diving. Not so great for MAD, but that's his problem, right?!

Let me know how your stay was and the diving. I'm still going to try to dive, even if I have to put my gear on in the water and haul it out again.

Do the whale sharks! I always get down the end of the season. Last time, there was one whale shark and 16 boats....

 

[ChrisMO]

Get ahold of Ben at M.A.D. you wont be sorry.