I just got back from 4 nights in Akumal and 4 nights in Cozumel. We're usually in Akumal in early Dec, and I have to say that the marine life is more abundant at that time of the year. We did our usual routine in Akumal - stayed in a condo at Vista del Mar on Half Moon Bay and dived with Akumal Dive Adventures. As usually, we were pleased with both. If you book and pre-pay dives and a Vista del Mar condo or hotel room, they offer a good discount package. ADA is a very laid back operation. We're never rushed through dives so they can maintain a schedule. We got in 2 days of 3 tanks. Lots of turtles, stingrays, a couple eagle rays (including in the bay in knee deep water), playful angel fish, large grouper, baracudda, butterfly fish and lots of other. Day 3 was too windy and rough for the boats to go out so we took an afternoon trip down to Tulum.
Day 4 we headed over to Cozumel on the ferry from PDC. The plan was to get a 2pm ferry but when we arrived at 1:30 we were told that there would be no 2:00 due to lack of passengers. So, we took the 3pm Ultramar Fast Ferry. Taxi's were lined up in Coz and we had no problem getting to Fiesta Americana. We had a "Deluxe Grand Class" room on the AI package. The room was a nice size, oceanview on the 4th floor. Next time I think I'd just go with a standard oceanview for a few dollars less. The food was better then I expected, but nothing great. Breakfast, lunch and dinner we always found something that we liked. The last night we ate at Miramar, the reservation restaurant, and enjoyed it. The hotel location was very convenient for a reasonably short ride to the dive sites and a quick $6 taxi to town. I'd probably stay at FA again based on the location, but I could do without the late afternoon pool side bingo, games and loud music which you can't get away from even on your own balcony. We only went into town one late afternoon. I'm really not interested in crowds or touristy shopping so once was plenty. Had dinner at Casa Denis and it was pleasant.
We used Living Underwater for our 3 days of diving in Cozumel and the whole experience was absolutley fantastic! Jeremy came by the hotel in the evening to get our gear and picked us up at the pier at the promised time all 3 mornings. The boat is fast, comfortable and a smooth ride. The service provided by Jeremy and Francisco is first-rate. Water, snacks, towels, jackets, help into your gear and even in and out of your wetsuit. Jeremy also rinses out your gear (including wetsuits) and has everything set up and waiting for you on the boat in the morning. The large steel tanks made for long, slow dives which everyone enjoyed. Sites were chosen based on what the divers wanted. This was my first time diving in Cozumel and the reefs were spectacular and marine life was abundant. We saw everything from pin fish (Jeremy is great at finding the really small stuff) to huge grouper and baracudda, with lots of angels, file fish, trunk fish, triggers, etc. We're planning to go back to Cozumel later in the year and hope to dive with Living Underwater if they are available.
Day 4 we headed over to Cozumel on the ferry from PDC. The plan was to get a 2pm ferry but when we arrived at 1:30 we were told that there would be no 2:00 due to lack of passengers. So, we took the 3pm Ultramar Fast Ferry. Taxi's were lined up in Coz and we had no problem getting to Fiesta Americana. We had a "Deluxe Grand Class" room on the AI package. The room was a nice size, oceanview on the 4th floor. Next time I think I'd just go with a standard oceanview for a few dollars less. The food was better then I expected, but nothing great. Breakfast, lunch and dinner we always found something that we liked. The last night we ate at Miramar, the reservation restaurant, and enjoyed it. The hotel location was very convenient for a reasonably short ride to the dive sites and a quick $6 taxi to town. I'd probably stay at FA again based on the location, but I could do without the late afternoon pool side bingo, games and loud music which you can't get away from even on your own balcony. We only went into town one late afternoon. I'm really not interested in crowds or touristy shopping so once was plenty. Had dinner at Casa Denis and it was pleasant.
We used Living Underwater for our 3 days of diving in Cozumel and the whole experience was absolutley fantastic! Jeremy came by the hotel in the evening to get our gear and picked us up at the pier at the promised time all 3 mornings. The boat is fast, comfortable and a smooth ride. The service provided by Jeremy and Francisco is first-rate. Water, snacks, towels, jackets, help into your gear and even in and out of your wetsuit. Jeremy also rinses out your gear (including wetsuits) and has everything set up and waiting for you on the boat in the morning. The large steel tanks made for long, slow dives which everyone enjoyed. Sites were chosen based on what the divers wanted. This was my first time diving in Cozumel and the reefs were spectacular and marine life was abundant. We saw everything from pin fish (Jeremy is great at finding the really small stuff) to huge grouper and baracudda, with lots of angels, file fish, trunk fish, triggers, etc. We're planning to go back to Cozumel later in the year and hope to dive with Living Underwater if they are available.
