Is Shore Diving at the Presidente in Coz worth it?

[ebony111]

Hello eveyone,

I have booked my first trip to cozumel primarily based upon the advice of this board. Thanks for all the information.

We will be staying at the Presidente for 8 nights at the end of August. We plan to do 3-4 days of diving. I am trying to decide whether or not to dive with the onsite DM, Scuba Du. I have read good and bad reviews,with most being positive.

The advantage of diving with Scuba Du is we have unlimited shore diving at the resort. This would be nice as my wife and I are somewhat new to diving and it would be nice to get more underwater time at our own pace.

What do you think? Is the shore diving option worth giving up the option to choose a DM other than Scuba Du?

Thanks in advance,
Josh

BTW, I just booked rountrip from Philly, 8 nights at the presidente on Hotwire for $900 each. I think this is a preatty great deal if anyone is needing a trip.

 

[Charlie99]

ebony111 once bubbled...
The advantage of diving with Scuba Du is we have unlimited shore diving at the resort. This would be nice as my wife and I are somewhat new to diving and it would be nice to get more underwater time at our own pace.

You just posted that you and your wife are "somewhat new to diving". Scuba Du should be an excellent choice of dive operator. I used Scuba Du while staying at El Presidente a couple years ago. A good safe operator. They lean a bit towards the overly protective babysitter sort of mentality, but that's not a bad thing for a diver without a lot of experience.

The shore diving at El Presidente is better than most locations, and definitely better than Plaza Las Glorias and Scuba Club Cozumel, where I have done most of my shore diving.

Have fun searching for seahorses on the 7' and 20' shelfs right in front of the hotel.

You don't need to use the same operator for every dive. I recommend you try Scuba Du for a couple days, then book with someone else in the unlikely event you are unhappy with them.

 

[Natasha]

A "bad" dive operator wouldn't last long in Cozumel.
I think using the onsite operator, for at least part of the time, is a good idea.
The unlimited shore diving is an added bonus.
However, I still think you should hire one of their Dive Masters to go along with you on your shore dives. Do this for at least one, or two dives, until you are a bit more familiar with the reef, and the drift.
Have fun!
Cozumel is my #1 favorite place to dive.. with Bonaire a close second.

 

[ggunn]

In general, the shore diving at Cozumel is not where it's at.

I have never done any shore diving at the Presidente, but I have heard that it's OK but not great. Certainly it's not much to compare to the boat dives, unless maybe if you go out onto Paradise Reef, which is a long swim and out in the current. The current would take you in the direction of the cruise ship dock, and you could find yourself under one of those suckers. You'd have to fight your way back againt the current to take out, at any rate. I don't recommend it.

Anyway, what you'll probably want to consider is the number of shore dives you're likely to do. The going rate for tanks and weights is about six bucks, and you can do that as much as you want without taking the deal from the hotel. Is that enough money to lock you into Scuba Du?

The other thing is, you might want to shore dive somewhere else, like Chankanaab, or Villablanca, or La Ceiba (the airplane), and your unlimited deal wouldn't help you there.

 

[5615mike]

ggun is right about the cost of shore diving. If you have your own gear then shore diving is cake.

Presidente has about as good a shore diving area in Coz. There is a sunken boat on the south side of the hotel. Great for night dives as there are many fish.

Chankanaab will be the best more than likely. You pay a fee to enter the park and you can dive or snorkel. It/s a short taxi from the hotel to the park. You might check with the the hotel to see if the park rents tanks. Otherwise Scuba Du will probably rent you tanks and weights.

Scuba Du is a nice operation but if you do much diving with them they have a very regimented reef schedule. Certain reef for each day of the week and they don't vary.

Have a great time.

 

[HammerNoMore]

ggunn once bubbled...
In general, the shore diving at Cozumel is not where it's at.

I couldn't disagree more. I'll grant that the boat dives are better but some of the shore diving is great. Diving in front of Scuba Club you can find a ton sea life and if Charlie99 is correct then it is even better at the Presidente. And personally I prefer it for the night dives. Doing your two tank morning boat dive then doing 1-3 more dives from shore in the afternoon or evening is the only way to do Coz, IMHO.

The other thing is, you might want to shore dive somewhere else, like Chankanaab, or Villablanca, or La Ceiba (the airplane), and your unlimited deal wouldn't help you there.

Sure it would. Assuming the Scuba Du deal works the same as Scuba Club. At Scuba Club you can grab as many tanks as you think you will need for the day. You sign for the tanks and are responsible for them. You can take them anywhere you want.

James

 

[element]

I just returned from my first trip to Cozumel and am still thinking of better ways where I could have gotten in more diving. The morning boat rides are about and hour each way(maybe a little less depending on the engines on the fast boats). Those dives just can't be missed( I loved them). I remember some of my afternoon dives would have been better spent from shore than the long boat rides down the coast where I could have driven in a quarter of the time the boat got me there. Further down the coast there is no Shore diving(MY RESORT-IBEROSTAR) as it is in the park.

I am allready trying to plan a return trip to Cozumel before the end of the year and plan to do the mix of boat and shore diving.

 

[ggunn]

Maybe so, but I wouldn't class anything you can get to from shore anywhere near what you will find on a boat dive to Columbia, Santa Rosa, Palancar, etc.

As to taking the tanks elsewhere, granted, I had thought one would run into resistance when taking the tanks off site. I stand corrected, though I'd pay the six bucks not to have to do that. ;^)

 

[ebony111]

This board is great! Thanks for all the info. I just sent Scuba Du an email to confirm the cost/transportability of tanks/weights if I decide to go with someone else.

I think the idea of doing morning boat dives and then afternoon shore dives sounds great.

And I will be careful not to catch the current to the cruise ship port!

At a minimum, if i do 3 days with scuba du i get the unlimited shore dive and i can always change up if i am not happy.

Question: Does anyone have experience with DMs that will come pick us up at our hotel (presidente) if we decide to go with another outfit?

Thanks again,
Josh

 

[Charlie99]

ggunn once bubbled...
Maybe so, but I wouldn't class anything you can get to from shore anywhere near what you will find on a boat dive to Columbia, Santa Rosa, Palancar, etc.

I don't think anyone is favorably comparing the shore dives to the reefs you get to by boat. As Element says, "those dives just can't be missed".

Sometimes I'll hop on an afternoon or evening boat, but more often I choose not to schedule my afternoon and evening. If the urge to dive hits, I just wander down, grab a tank, and hop in. That's the advantage of shore diving.