Isla Mujeres Dive Shop recommendations?

[happytraveler]

We're going to be on Isla Mujeres for about a week in August and are looking for a dive shop recommendation. We'd like to go with an operator that does guided dives with a dive plan (not just have you do your own thing and see you at the surface) and guides who point out interesting things to see. We'd like to do not only the shallow dives and MUSA, but also Cave of the Sleeping Sharks and maybe some of the ocean side dives like the wreck with the eagle rays. In reading reviews on Trip Advisor, it seems some of the shops cater more to snorkelers or very new divers. We also notice that most of the boats are small and don't have a bathroom--if there is a shop with a bigger boat w/toilet please advise. Also a plus if the dive shop staff helps with equipment check and tanks. Thank you for any recommedations!

 

[AlexL]

f there is a shop with a bigger boat w/toilet please advise.

wife and i are heading to Isla Mujeres end of July, booked a few months ago. the island is tiny, nothing we saw ever made mention of a larger boat. dunno.

We're diving and staying with Sea Hawk in their suites, and confirmed they do the 'advanced' dives before booking. unfortunately, that’s not much lead time to give a follow up review before you book your travel.

This will be our first trip to Isla, but in coz you couldn’t keep the dive ops from 'helping' set up your gear.

 

[mmmbelows]

Home - Scuba Diving on Isla Mujeres with Squalo Adventures

The Natalie has a head, but I doubt you'll be diving off of it. Diving in IM is by panga, or sometimes row boat, canoe, wooden raft, etc....

Just so you know cave of the sleeping sharks is a snoozer, a long, long, long ago mythical legend, still an okay ocean side dive, but don't expect to see any sharks unless things have suddenly changed again. The wreck with the eagle rays isn't ocean side, it's called the c-55 its closer to cancun, a beautiful ride and view of the hotel zone, but usually a wet ride if the conditions aren't ideal.

All the dives will be guided, if you get to do your own thing where they say see you back at the boat, please let me know, I'd prefer that, but alas it's really not available.

They will also possibly take you on a specific lion fish hunting dive if you want, based on your abilities of course.

 

[happytraveler]

Thank you both for the recommendations. If anyone else is reading, I'd like to get a few more dive operator recommendations. Squalo sounds good, but I think I read somewhere that they don't take credit cards. Can anyone vouch for some of the other operators, like Casa del Buceo, Mundaca, and Scuba Garrido? Paradise Divers also sounds promising. Thank you!

 

[mmmbelows]

You're going to run into the no credit card thing a lot in a place like that. Not to say you have to always use cash, but just curious what the big deal is and why you would have to use credit cards to pay for diving? Typcially you'll be ahead of the game when you pay any vendor in Mexico in the currency they are charging you in since this eliminates the crazy exchange rate games that get played. When they are figuring things in US dollars we pay in US dollars, when they are figuring things in Pesos we pay in Pesos, the savings is usually 15%. We just pull cash out of the ATM when we need Pesos, which gives you the best exchange rate and no games with your vendor trying to make another 10-25% on you.

 

[htatton]

I have made 2 trips with Casa del Buceo. I have been absolutely delighted with the professionalism, quality of equipment and training they provide. I did the open water dives of the OW PADI training with them. They were excellent. I have friends that also have done their Whale Shark trips and were more than satisfied. If you are looking for a small shop that gives personal service and knows what they are doing I recommend them most highly.

I'm going back for a week of diving with them in early October.

 

[ifsixwas9]

I can vouch for Mundaca Divers. Everyone there is friendly and professional. Alfonso was a great guide. They accepted credit cards when I was there last July. I'll be diving with them again in July this year.