Kind and Patient Dive Shops?

[MMM]

I think your best bet would be to talk to many of the ops here that DO NOT cater to cruise ship clientele (clients here today, gone tomorrow). The goal for the great majority of these small, independent ops, is to establish long-term relationships with clients who will enjoy their dives so much that they will return over and over again. They have attract some very advanced divers, but they also have plenty of new divers also. Contact a couple of them, explain the situation, and see what they can advise. I dive with Living Underwater and they have a LOT of repeat customers.

 

[Christi]

It turns out my wife is interested in swimming with whale sharks, so we're headed to Mexico in a couple of weeks. It also turns out the flights are quite expensive, unless booked as part of a package with some hotel in the middle of industrial tourism, so we're staying in Cancun; I'd have preferred hanging out doing nothing on Isla Holbox, but that isn't going to work. So, as long as we're close to Cozumel, I figured I might should try to get her to go out there too. The thing is, she's dove maybe once in the past couple of decades. So, she'd need a refresher and an easy dive. I know there are dive operations that cater to experienced divers, with big tanks and nitrox and whatnot. Is there anyone know for patient and helpful divemasters who would be good for a person who is somewhat resistant to the idea of diving at all?

Also, we're renting a car, and will probably be inclined to take it to Coz. Any tips on how to get on the ferry without running afoul of all the people in PDC trying to intercept us with advice and deals?

Hi P{aul,

If you are staying in Cancun, you are not really close to Cozumel. It's going to be a minimum of a 2 hour commute each way if you take the passenger ferry (1 hour+ drive to Playa del Carmen + 1 hour for the ferry to load, cross and disembark) and that is assuming your timing is like clockwork and you don't have to wait for the ferry and don't hit a ton of traffic. If you take the car across (not advisable), even longer you will actually need to plan an overnight in Cozumel to have enough time to do anything by the time you spend half the day on the ferry and traveling. The car ferry only runs a few times a day and is a lot more expensive than the passenger ferry.

If you are planning to swim with the whale sharks more than once, then I would stay in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. If you're only planning to do that one day, then I would stay in Cozumel and plan a day trip with an operator to do the whale shark swim.

AS far as your wife - diving in an aquarium 3 years ago after a 17 year hiatus from diving is not exactly a dive that qualifies for maintaining skills and particularly not for open water diving. While technically she doens't need to recertify, at minimum I would require her to do a full refresher course with an instructor and have a private Instructor dive with her for at least the first day or two after that until we were assured she was up to speed and safe to dive on her own in the group.

Have a great trip whatever you decide.

 

[Sallygirl]

Arturo at Blue XTsea is a born instructor, and very patient.

 

[yle]

Paul, if you're just looking to get your wife to do a refresher, why not do it in Cancun? Think about it this way:

Wife does a refresher course one day in Cancun (if she wants to), you and she figure out if she likes it without the 2+ hour commute (each way) over to Coz.

If she does like it, then maybe plan a day (or two or whatever) over to Coz

If she doesn't like it... you just saved yourself a lot of hassle by not taking her to Coz to find out she doesn't like it.

As for bringing the car to Coz, you might want to rethink it. A bus or taxi from Cancun to PDC is pretty cheap, probably less than what you'd pay to bring the car over to Coz. And everything on Coz is easily accessible by walking or a cheap taxi ride. You'll likely find that dragging your own car back and forth to the island is far more hassle than it's worth.

BUT... if the real issue is that YOU want to dive in Coz, whether or not your wife wants to get in the water with you, there are plenty of "hang out at the beach all day while your spouse dives" opportunities available. Win-win for the two of you.

Just my two cents...

 

[pauldw]

Paul, if you're just looking to get your wife to do a refresher, why not do it in Cancun?

That's good advice. I'd just figured that out when I saw your post suggesting the same thing. Took long enough for a Cancun refresher to come to me. My brain is slow, so I'll probably have to boost it some by diving with a nice green and yellow tank full of geritrox.

 

[Sloeber]

Car ferry is 400 or 500 peso one way, depending on which of the two ferries you use. The cost includes the car and both people. The passenger ferry is about 400 peso round trip per person, so the cost won't be much different for you to bring the car. I cross on it at least weekly. It's quite easy, perhaps even enjoyable, but time consuming. You'd want to show up about 30 minutes before - 60 minutes if you want to be extra safe. The crossing is 1hr30min give or take. Normally I'd say take the passenger ferry as it is quicker and easier, but if you already have the car it might actually save you some time, hassle, and expense of not having to taxi and bus to Playa. Not to mention a second rental car in Cozumel, if you so choose.

Ultramar Carga

Transcaribe Conecta | Cozumel, Mexico

 

[pauldw]

Well, I thank everyone for their advice. It seems pretty clear from talking with my sweetheart that she isn't wanting to dive. So, that's OK. Her needs are the important thing. I did discover that there is some diving in Cancun (who knew?), and planned to hit a minesweeper and so forth.

The odd wrinkle in this is, the cheapest airfare was part of a package sold by a local company best known for Disneyland packages. The also have some Mexico stuff, and the affordable package she picked was called the "mystery deal." As in, you find out two days before flying where you're staying (although you know it will be all inclusive, which is not actually something I've ever done or am interested in). So today we got the email, and it's not for a Cancun hotel at all. It's in PDC, just north of town. Huh. So, no diving in Cancun, probably. But maybe in Coz after all, for me. Maybe even down to The Pit. Gotta remember to spend time with my honey, though. Is this kind of diving where instabuddies come in?

 

[MMM]

So today we got the email, and it's not for a Cancun hotel at all. It's in PDC, just north of town. Huh. So, no diving in Cancun, probably. But maybe in Coz after all, for me.

There is diving in Playa del Carmen also.

 

[DandyDon]

the affordable package she picked was called the "mystery deal." As in, you find out two days before flying where you're staying

And what could go wrong with that? My imagination runs wild here.

Those packages are be there or else, so be sure to get trip insurance just in case.

 

[Steve_C]

Was at a conference in Cancun. I like to keep life simple so did three days of diving out of Cancun. Good easy diving. Dove with Manta and another op.