Help on where to dive and stay for Cozumel first timer!

[Diver Scallop]

I'm currently in Cozumel and my wife and I have been diving with Scuba Tony and they've been great. It's my first time here, first time drift diving, so I have no prior history.

 

[waynel]

Yes, there are some dives I'd steer clear of but the reality is any quality dive op you may select if you advise them you're newer and new to drift diving is not going to send your boat to one of those sites.

As far as your selection of a dive op goes, go with one of the absolute best (Ummm... 3P's comes to mind but there are others). I say you may as well start where you'll eventually end up and it's better to be the newest diver among a small group of more experienced divers than the newest diver among a cattle boat full of inexperienced divers. I know I learned far more and much faster diving with experienced divers, asking questions, and being open to suggestions. 15 years certified now there still isn't a trip in which I don't learn something new from those with more experience.

Absolutely, dead on right! It costs a little more than the cattle boats but man...you will advance your dive education much, much faster. Well said my friend.

 

[suemenglau]

Long boat rides depend on who you're diving with and what boats they use. Then again some think a 20-30 minute boat ride is long I guess. If you're on ones of the big cattle boats from town - then yes, you're going to have a long boat ride of an hour or so just to get to Palancar.

What you don't take into account is that when staying all the way south at Iberostar there are some great sites and opportunities you miss because of your far south location. With that said, I do encourage people staying at Ibeerostar (not other properties) to stick with the onsite operator if you plan on diving multiple days so that other divers on the boat don't miss options of more sites for the second dive due to having to stay south or in front of Iberostar.

Some people don't care about getting into town to experience the culture and don't mind AI buffet food - they are content diving and staying at the resort or paying a $40ish round trip cab fare to get to town and back.

To each is own, and that's perfectly ok. But with all due respect, and just because some prefer to stay in town does not in ANY way indicate they are pinching pennies or being cheap - everyone has their own reasons for choosing who to stay and dive with. Not everyone has the same vacation budget, needs or desires. With that said, I think the Iberostar would be the absolute worst recommendation to the original poster based on the requests he posted.

Everyone has their favorites but its refreshing when people refrain from pushing their personal favorite when it's not a match for the requested criteria. The absolute best for one person could be the absolute worst for another. Different expectations and different strokes for different folks - but there is something for everyone here.

How about Allegro and their onsite dive operator and dock/pier ? Your thoughts

 

[kentmorrdave]

Go with Livingunderwater, great boat, service with a smile and long dives. !0 plus years diving with them