Mix of shore/boat diving - 3 nights

[gadelhak.ali]

Hi everyone!

What do you think about staying at a dive hotel that has a house reef to shore dive like Blue Angel or Scuba Shack (website is down?), and then do a boat dive with another op? I previously dove with Tres Pelicanos and want to dive with them again, but I'm travelling with a buddy whose not experienced and wants to do shallower shore diving. Our trip is very short (only 3 nights). I figured we could do a boat dive, then dive all we want from the hotel shore.

I'm not bringing any gear other than my mask, torch, and computer so I'd have to rent everything out - which is another consideration. Like will 3Ps let me use the rented gear for our shore dives (or vice versa)? How do the tanks work? Planning this has given me a headache lol I know there might be "free" shore diving outside of the various dive resorts...but given the time crunch and lack of gear I'd rather take a couple steps to shore dive. I've read a bunch of stuff on this already but figured I'd ask again as things might've changed.

Thanks in advance for your input! SB never disappoints!

 

[Karloss]

IMHO, I would just stick with one outfit for this particular trip. One stop shopping, I like to keep things simple.

 

[nodakdive]

Took a look and found that the website is down. Facebook is going though.

Village Tan Kah

At either Blue Angel or Village Tan Kah (Scuba Shack), I think Tres Pelicanos will pick you up on land and take you to the marina to board the boat, though they might just whip around the cruise ships to pick you up at Scuba Shack. I don't know their policy, and I'm not sure of Village Tan Kah/Scuba Shack's, but I suspect you wouldn't be charged a dock fee.

Personally, I'd just stay at either place and dive with either op. Never been diving with Blue Angel, but you'll hear really good reports on them. I've been diving with Scuba Shack, and I'll vouch for them. I just commented on another thread that staying at Village Tan Kah and diving with Scuba Shack couldn't be easier. There are no tvs in the rooms at Village Tan Kah. If you inquire with Village Tan Kah/Scuba Shack, make sure you're talking/emailing with Roberta. I think there's another Scuba Shack on Cozumel that isn't Roberta's. You want to work with her.

If you stay and dive with either of the places you mentioned, it'll require much less coordination.

 

[MMM]

If it were me...I'd book at Blue Angel Resort. There is shore diving and an on-site dive op if you want to venture further afield to the ocean. But shore diving is Ok.

 

[ggunn]

If it were me...I'd book at Blue Angel Resort. There is shore diving and an on-site dive op if you want to venture further afield to the ocean. But shore diving is Ok.

I agree. The stingray cage next to Blue Angel is a sort of artificial reef; there is a lot of life around the base of the pen. Also, there is a group of small coral heads south of the pen that warrant a look. Also, BA has another dive shop at the Villablanca complex where you can get tanks and weights; you can get in there and drift to BA proper.

 

[robint]

Scuba Club Cozumel......... we always do the morning dives, then eat lunch there (included in price), then an afternoon /andor night shore dive.
look them up online, or check out all my photos and videos.

 

[BRT]

Scuba Club Cozumel......... we always do the morning dives, then eat lunch there (included in price), then an afternoon /andor night shore dive.
look them up online, or check out all my photos and videos.

I have walked into SCC 3 times (each of the last 3 years) interested in shore diving there. Each time I was treated like a potential criminal. No other place has given me that impression. I will never darken their door again.

 

[ggunn]

I have walked into SCC 3 times (each of the last 3 years) interested in shore diving there. Each time I was treated like a potential criminal. No other place has given me that impression. I will never darken their door again.

I'm not surprised; how did you get in? The security guy at the gate usually stops non-guests at the street. They really don't want you hanging around the premises if you are not staying there.

 

[okcdiver123]

If you stay in the blue angel hotel coz area you can shore dive at blue angel and hotel coz. You can also walk down to tikila bar by park royal and shore dive there. Tikila is by far the best shore dive I have done. Theres a little wall and some coral heads. Ask for Mario Ceh.

 

[BRT]

I'm not surprised; how did you get in? The security guy at the gate usually stops non-guests at the street. They really don't want you hanging around the premises if you are not staying there.

Security guard at the gate, nasty to talk to, once inside others treat you the same. Somehow every other place we have gone into has avoided treating us like criminals. Not going back for any reason.