looking to dive in mexico.....

[edb]

Hi!
Me and my brother are looking to go diving in mexico but are not too sure exactly where is best to go! We are looking to go in early Nov for a couple of weeks. Has anyone got any recommendations in terms of good places to dive and also good places to stay?
We've had recommendations that it will work out cheaper (always a consideration!) to just book a flight and sort out diving and accomodation once we get there.

Would appreciate any help.....!

Thanks

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi edb,

Mexico is a very big country with lots of diving possibilities on both the Pacific & Gulf of Mexico sides, like Cancun, Cozumel, La Paz, Sonora, Loretto, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Xcalak, etc., not to mention a couple of liveaboards.

Any chance you could narrow things down a bit?

Cheers,

DocVikingo

 

[MgicTwnger]

You can't go wrong with Cozumel. Diving is fantastic, and the price is right, especially if you shop around a little for your room.

 

[edb]

DocVikingo

We had initially been looking at Cancun area, but have heard a few reports that this is extremely commercialised and touristy and that we'd be better off trying somewhere else, both in terms of cost and quality!! Though I have no idea how true this is.......!!
To be honest, we're pretty much open as to where we go - but a few personal recommendations always help to put your mind to rest that you're going somewhere half decent!

Obviously the most important thing is the quality of the diving (though I'm guessing its all pretty good!) - after that, as long as we can get reasonable accomodation and there are some places to get good food and drink in the locality, then I don't think we'd be too bothereed where we end up.

I think one of the main things I'm wondering, wherever we end up, is whether it would be better to try and sort everything out before we go or just get a flight arranged and sort out the diving and accom when we get there??

Cheers
edb

 

[buff]

Avoid Cancun. Visit there only for the liquor and hot chicas.

Cozumel is where divers go. I like to stay at the "not so luxurious" Hotel Colonial. I like it cause it's close to town and I usually stay in a room that overlooks the walkway. Here I sit on the balcony sipping only the cheapest of rums as I reflect back upon a long day of diving. The hustle and bustle of the street below gently fades as does the sun with the approaching twilight.

AAAhhhhhhhhhhh....Cozumel.

 

[sealskin98]

I agree with Twnger and buff, just got back from Coz day before yesterday. It was great, as always.

As far as hotels, I usually do the charter air/hotel package from Dallas. Usually stay at the economical ones like Days Inn (4 or 5 blocks from the beach, have to put gear in the rental car), or Casa del Mar (a Motel 6 with palm trees thing, but right across the street from their pier). Did Allegro once when it was the Diamond, wasn't real impressed, and too far from the good resteraunts in town (I don't care for all-inclusive things anyway). El Presidente is a luxury hotel, but may not be what you are looking for by your post. La Ceiba, Plaza los Glorias, Casa del Mar, or Barracuda may be more to your liking. Just once you're there do a little investigating and see what's available that you like for the next time (if you go once, you'll be baaack).

I would think you would be better off getting your hotel booked before you leave, booking the diving should not be a problem once you get there.

I don't have a clue what packages (if any, I'm sure no charter flights) are available from the UK. DocVikingo should have an idea. Best bet would be your local travel agent.

My vote is for Coz!!!

 

[sealskin98]

buff once bubbled...
Here I sit on the balcony sipping only the cheapest of rums as I reflect back upon a long day of diving. The hustle and bustle of the street below gently fades as does the sun with the approaching twilight (and I watch it's golden rays dance magically off of the shimmering turquoise waters of the beautiful Caribbean sea as I light the last cigar of the day).

AAAhhhhhhhhhhh....Cozumel.

I like your style buff.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi edb,

For openers, ixnay on Cancun. Topside it's as you describe, and the diving is mostly mediocre to poor.

Coz is among my favorite dive venues in the world, and I've been there nearly 20 times so far. The other posters have already given a cursory orientation to it, so I'll run a few other suggestions by you:

Los Cabos might work for your group. Here's a piece I did for my "Dive Workshop" column of the Sep '01 issue of "Rodale's Scuba Diving:"

“Los Cabos is at the far southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and consists of Cabo San Lucas, the more developed, touristy city commonly referred to as just “Cabo,” and nearby, the much quieter, colonial San Jose del Cabo. Los Cabos is not dedicated to diving in the way that destinations such as Cozumel and Grand Cayman are. Rather, it attracts visitors who are looking for nice beaches (La Playita to La Ribera), excellent fishing (good chance to hook a marlin), golf (a Jack Nicklaus-designed 27-hole golf course), or heavy partying (don’t miss Squid Roe and Latitude 22).

The Diving
This is not Caribbean diving, so don’t expect bathtub-warm water, great vis and dense sponges or coral. Do expect diverse fish life, including a broader variety of butterflyfish and surgeonfish than in the Caribbean.

For a shallow and easy warm up dive, try Chileno Beach. Sites include Chileno Reef, a protected finger reef that starts at the beach and extends out about a half mile, and Santa Maria Cove. Somewhat deeper but easy and still close by are Sand Falls and The Abyss, where you can expect to see sea lions. At times, these sites can be crowded, and are popular with novice divers.

The big draws are Cabo Pulmo Marine Park and Gordo Banks, which are for at least moderately experienced divers due to depth and current. Boat rides to these sites are long, and dive operators charge a premium and require advance booking. You can drive to Cabo Pulmo in about two hours, or fly in on Aero California if you’ve got the bucks. There’s a dive operator that’ll pick you at the landing strip and whisk you off for a day of diving. Cabo Pulmo is a national marine park, and is the only true living coral reef in the area. Sites include El Cantil, The Rock, El Bajo and the more advanced abyssal Los Frailes Trench to the south. There’s a chance you’ll encounter whale sharks and mantas in this region in season. Plan on diving in the 90- to 100-foot range. At Gordo Banks, well off San Jose del Cabo, hammerheads hang out in season, and bull sharks and dolphin can occasionally be sighted. You can easily go to recreational limits and below.

Dive Conditions
January to May is the winter season. Look for air temps ranging between 70F and 80F, water temps between 60F and 75F, and vis between 30 and 60 feet. June to December is summer season, with air temps between 80F and 95F degrees, water temps between 80F and 85F, and vis between 50 and 100 feet.

Dive Operators
Dive ops in Cabo San Lucas include Amigos del Mar, Cabo Diving Services, Cabo Acuadeportes and Land’s End. You may stay at or dive Cabo Pulmo from the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, or go with an independent shop such as Pepe's Dive Center.

Where to Stay
There are plenty of accommodations in a variety of price ranges. Plaza Las Glorias is a nice resort right in town on the marina in Cabo San Lucas. The resort has a ferry to Playa Medano, where it has a hotel beach club. Those preferring to avoid the noise, bustle and incessant time-share sales pitches of downtown Cabo San Lucas will want to stay outside of town at places like the mega-resort Westin, all-suites Solmar, or a personal favorite, the small, intimate and not inexpensive Twin Dolphins."

I also have dived off La Paz, to the north of Cabo on the Sea of Cortez, and have a brief trip report I can supply if the area sounds to your tastes after a brief web search. It's far more laid back than much of Cabo. Be sure to look into Club Cantamar (http://www.clubcantamar.com/general/navigator/intro.htm).

If the group would like a Club Med, which I only very, very rarely recommend, the Sonora club http://all-travel.mondosearch.com/c...Site=973872474&query=sonora&I17.x=28&I17.y=18 is one of the few that that puts scuba to the fore & visits some decent sites..

Feel free to get back with me.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[buff]

As a health care worker I cannot endorse this:

(and I watch it's golden rays dance magically off of the shimmering turquoise waters of the beautiful Caribbean sea as I light the last cigar of the day).

tobbaco smoke and apnea diving don't go hand in hand.....that's why I avoid the evil tobbacco and lean towards the more local offerings: rum and beautiful mexican women-they'll still get you up and ready for the first dive in the morning.

 

[xanji]

I was in Cozumel for 8 days in June, and I would highly recommend. There are packages running out of Texas, I don't know about coming from the UK, but you can check www.gullivers.com for some fantastic rates on flight and hotel coming out of the states. Pay attention to the hotels, some are pretty far out from town and you'll be taxing everywhere or renting vehicles. There are maps that have the hotels on one of the links I will include.

There are a lot of places to dive once you are there, Scuba Shack is where I go. If you dive 3 days there you get reduced prices and you can leave your gear there for the duration so you don't have to lug it around.

Cozumel Scuba Repair is a great shop and can help with any questions you might have. Ask for Javier, he is incredible at repairing anything.

Try not to use your credit card too much in Coz, they charge a horrible rate (like a surcharge or something.) They have ATM's, I used Mexican currency the whole time.

There are a lot of internet cafe's if you want to email people while you are gone and it is a lot cheaper than making calls. An hour for 2 dollars.

There are many reefs and water parks to snorkel and dive in. You can also ferry to Playa and hang out there. I went to Xcaret http://www.xcaretcancun.com
that is an all day event. Simply beautiful.

Here are a couple of links.
http://www.cozumelonline.com/

http://www.cozumel.net/1maps/divemap.htm
http://www.cozumel.net/1maps/hotelmap.htm

Visibility is amazing underwater and the whole experience is great!

Hope this helps.