Hotel / Diving Recommendations - Family of 4 - New to diving

[GoldieVT]

Looking for some advice- we're a family of 4 (kids are 18 and 20) and looking to do a vacation in the first 2 weeks of 2026. My wife and I can't just sit on a beach so we thought doing a diving vacation would be fun. I have my PADI cert, others don't so we'd be using part of our vacation for their shore and open water dives. I'd likely do a refresher and maybe snorkel while they do the course. I think they'd likely do the online eLearning prior to the trip.

Looking for hotel and dive shop recommendations. It would be nice if the hotel had rooms with 2 bedrooms but we could also do 2 separate rooms (kids and parents). It doesn't need to be low budget but also not looking for top of the line hotel either. We'll want some downtime from diving and my daughter would enjoy a hotel with a pool/beach. We also like to get out of a hotel restaurant and get some local food so proximity to other dining would be nice.

While it will be exciting to do some great diving, the goal is to get certified, get comfortable with diving, see some cool stuff and have fun.

I welcome any suggestions and thank you!!

 

[ggunn]

If just being on a beach is enough of an alternative, any dive focused resort will do.

FWIW not all the dive focused resorts on Cozumel are on beaches.

 

[FishWatcher747]

Lots of good ideas about hotels and such.

I would consider getting the 3 people certified at home this summer when Vermont temps warm up. Or at least do the pool work and online learning at home maybe closer to the trip and do the checkout dives on vacation.

OW training is stressful. Better to do it at home and avoid the stress when one is on vacation.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

I'm seeing this a little late, but if your still looking for a dive op, I suggest Living Underwater.

Here is my trip report from a recent trip with them:

Trip Report Thread 'Trip Report - Living Underwater - 3/2-3/29'

Apr 2, 2025

Trip Report - Living Underwater - 3/2-3/29



Just got back from spending four weeks staying at El Cantil and diving with Living Underwater. I’ve been diving off Cozumel for over 20 years and had yet again a great trip.



The weather for the most part was fantastic. It didn’t rain a single day, but we did have some high winds that closed the port for two days out of the month.



I logged 38 dives on this trip and the diving was terrific! Some of the best visibility I can remember, and water temps stayed between 80-82 degrees. The eagle rays were back in force the entire month and I was...

• PARADISE HUNTER
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Cozumel

• 

Good luck and have fun!

 

[GoldieVT]

Angus - Thank you for the thoughtful response. Everyone here has been very helpful. We just need to spend some time on the part of vacations I dislike the most.... planning.

 

[GoldieVT]

Not low budget and not sure if it's top of the line (I haven't stayed enough places in Coz!) but Villa Aldora fits some of what you're looking for. It is a small, quiet resort. There are only 10 units with various configurations. 5 gallon water jugs are provided in all rooms. The 2 suites - Norte and Aldora - are both 2 floors with kitchen, living space, and balcony on the lower level and 2 bedrooms upstairs. These are the 2 units that would fit your family.

We stayed in the Norte Suite with friends in Jan/Feb - my wife and I took the large master suite with king bed and balcony. There were 2 queen beds in 2nd bedroom. Bathtrooms/showers in both.
The Aldora Suite has a king and a queen bed in the large master suite and 2 queens in 2nd bedroom. We had family there just last week and my son, his wife, and 10 year old daughter took the master suite with the nice balcony view.

The Villa is considered to be in north hotel zone but it is only a 20 minute walk to downtown. It is small with only They provide bikes w/locks for guest use (took me about 12-13 minutes to ride to Aldora dive shop in town.) A couple of good restaurants 10-13 minute walk away. The hotel manager can line up whatever you need. The staff is very good. Security is not an issue. Taxis are easy to catch outside the villa.


Here are some of the diving plusses if staying at Villa Aldora:
*All Aldora Divers classes are taught in the Villa Aldora pool.
*There is a nice diving/snorkeling area in front of the Villa. Course work can easily move there.
*The dive boat picks guests up right there.
*Nitrox on the dive boat is free for guests - as long as certified.
*Air tanks and weights are available for certified guests who want to shore dive - day or night.
*Nice area to rinse gear and hang to dry.
*Rental gear isn't an issue for as old as your kids are. (my 10 year old granddaughter could have used smaller wetsuit, bc, and reg.)


Villa Aldora does not have a beach with direct access to the water; only a raised sandy area with some lounge chairs, tables, and chairs. There is also a nice palapa with a couple of tables and lounge chairs.

We enjoyed our stays, but you have to like to relax and/or make your own fun, especially for 2 weeks!

Thanks for the info on Villa Aldora - it does check a number of boxes- suites with 2 BR, we prefer no AI as we like to try local restaurants, good onsite dive shop.

I know my daughter is going to want to sit by a pool - I believe they have one, correct? Can you comment on how nice the pool area is?

thanks!!!

 

[lionfish-eater]

Thanks for the info on Villa Aldora - it does check a number of boxes- suites with 2 BR, we prefer no AI as we like to try local restaurants, good onsite dive shop.

I know my daughter is going to want to sit by a pool - I believe they have one, correct? Can you comment on how nice the pool area is?

thanks!!!

Small

 

[lionfish-eater]

I would recommend Hotel Cozumel with breakfast only and dive with Aldora

 

[GoldieVT]

ok. thanks for the advice.

 

[jonhall]

Can you comment on how nice the pool area is?

It is an infinity salt water pool with in-water seating on the sides and at the infinity end (nice to look out at ocean from infinity end.) You can move lounge chairs/chairs around pool where you want them.

The other side of the coin is that it is small - approximately 18' x 40' (which is okay) and has a smaller deck area. They now teach their diving classes there. The problem with that is they may have a couple people doing lessons when you want to be in the pool - you can still be out around/in the pool. Also, the pool didn't seem as clean (on 2nd trip) which I attribute to more lessons being given there - there was a big difference from when we were there in January to when we were there in April but someone does clean the pool daily.

The pool is by the "beach" area which has nice sunny and covered shady places to sit out. It's convenient to get in the pool or climb down the ladder to get in the ocean to cool off.

 

[lowwall]

Thanks for the info on Villa Aldora - it does check a number of boxes- suites with 2 BR, we prefer no AI as we like to try local restaurants, good onsite dive shop.

I know my daughter is going to want to sit by a pool - I believe they have one, correct? Can you comment on how nice the pool area is?

thanks!!!

I really like Villa Aldora. I was there in February. Here's the pool:

Below it is a ladder to get into the water for snorkelling or shore dives. There is a ton of life as soon as you get in. There's a covered rinse area just behind me where you can leave your gear to dry off you don't want it in your room.

The dive shop is downtown. But the boat picks you up and drops you off at the Villa. The ladder which you can just see at top left is where the boats pick you up and drop you off. If you aren't planning on doing shore dives (which are free if you are staying there and diving with Aldora, there are tanks at the Villa for your use), you can leave your gear on the boat and they will rinse it and have it on the boat the next morning. They also do the pool parts of training in this pool.