Need advice about booking with a dive operator

[rockn4u]

What is the best way to make reservations with a dive operator in Cozumel?? Do you contact them directly by phone or what??? Can you get a better rate dealing with them directly? Do they give any discount if you book multiple days of diving? I just booked 5 nights at Hotel Cozumel AI thru Tripadvisor in July. I have stayed here before, used Dive Paradise but would like to do some different dives that I have not done. I also want to be on smaller, faster boats with complete overhead cover. I want to do 2 tank dives in the morning and 1 tank dive in the afternoon. I am posting this message on Tripadvisor also.
Thanks

 

[Sue Sue]

Hi rockn4u,
To answer your questions first;
How to contact? -Email is usually the best, However, many do have toll free 800 numbers

Discounts for multiple dives? - Many dive ops offer discount packages for multiple days of diving.


The recommendation I always give is to first Research and read Dive OP reviews here on Scubaboard as well as other sites such as Tripadvisor. Once you are satisfied you have a handle on your wants and needs, make a short list of 3-5 dive ops that appeal to you. Check out their websites and review their policies such as payment methods, refunds, cancellations and pick up locations. Then contact each of them with your information and questions and reservation request.

Include: Dates of your arrival/departure, Number of dives you wish to have, Dates of dives, You can also request what time of day you wish to dive-(Morning,afternoon, evening), Nitrox certified and if you want Nitrox on any of your dives and rental equipment if needed. If it is important to you also be very clear as to what type of boat you are seeking as well as your Divemaster/Captain if you have a preference. You should also provide your Hotel/Lodging name, and brief diving history ie: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced.

Give the Dive ops 2 -3 days to respond and then make a decision on your #1 choice. Once you confirm a dive op offer, your reservation should be set to go.
Remember, be timely in responding to the dive op offers as spots can fill quickly, especially if your dates are during busy times of year.
Regardless of who you choose, Best Wishes for a Fantastic Dive Trip !!

Double S

 

[rockn4u]

thank you for the advice

 

[gopbroek]

The single tank afternoon dives may be a limiting factor. Most dive ops do 2 tank dives which may limit your options. The costs for the boat: gas and wear and tear and crew are the same for a 1 or 2 tank dive and most operators dive the southern sites so its quite a haul for a single tank dive, One OP that does offer a daily walk up afternoon single tank dive is Aldora, but I understand they stay in pretty close to the north of town areas in the afternoons. I keep planning on walking down the street and trying them for an afternoon but last summer for one reason or another I didn't make it, hopefully on one of my trips this year I can check it out.
I usually try to do a schedule of 4 tanks one day followed by 2 tanks the next and then repeat. If I try 4 tanks continuously (5 hours a day) my computer (Oceanic) gets mad at me. I enjoy diving with Tres Pelicanos and they do run fast covered small (8-10 Max) boats. Jeanie at dive@trespelicanos.com can give you pricing details for multiple dives

 

[deepsea21]

+ another for Tres Pelicanos.

Without a doubt, If you're staying at Hotel Cozumel and are looking for a dive op that addresses all of your wants (with the exception of an afternoon 1-tank dive as they run another 2-tank dive in the afternoon) you should put Tres Pelicanos Dive Center on your list and, in my opinion, at the top of that list. Read my latest review of Tres Pelicanos posted on Trip Advisor from our Dec 2015 trip. After diving coz for 14 years of Diving coz I can't tell you 3P's the absolute best as we haven't been diving with all 100+ dive ops on the island but I can tell you it's the best we've ever found and certainly aren't looking for another.

As far as planning, you just vist their website and send an inquiry with all your questions/concerns/dates/whatever... Jeanie will immediately respond... usually in just a few hours! Yes, the more days you book the cheaper it is per day.

If you go back a page on this forum and read the replies to "Cozumel-going solo where to stay" you can kind of start where someone else left off and see all the responses to his post regarding places to stay (although you're already booked) but more important the dive op recommendations that showed up in that thread. He ended up selecting 3P's.

I think you'll find 3P's shows up everywhere as a top recommendation that should be on your list.

Wish we were going to be there when you are but Coz isn't on our schedule again until December.

Stay wet!

 

[DandyDon]

The single tank afternoon dives may be a limiting factor. Most dive ops do 2 tank dives which may limit your options. The costs for the boat: gas and wear and tear and crew are the same for a 1 or 2 tank dive and most operators dive the southern sites so its quite a haul for a single tank dive,

Yeah, about the same I think. Another option is to do 2 morning dives, then 2 at sunset - a twilight dive followed by a night dive. Do both of them on the same site to compare the differences. Afternoon & evening trips may all be closer sites, but it's all good.

 

[AZjohn]

I really liked Sue Sue's post as usually everyone will post about their favorite dive op (there are many to be sure). Internet is your friend and I always enjoy reading someone's personal experience and also checking out web sites that usually will have any package specials (for OP it would be multi dives).

My first time diving at Cozumel I also stayed at Hotel Cozumel and dove with their in house dive op. Since then I have enjoyed trying different ops as well as hotels. Like rocjn4u, I enjoy both morning and afternoon dives there.

Have fun with your searching and also with your diving!
John

 

[rockn4u]

The single tank afternoon dives may be a limiting factor. Most dive ops do 2 tank dives which may limit your options. The costs for the boat: gas and wear and tear and crew are the same for a 1 or 2 tank dive and most operators dive the southern sites so its quite a haul for a single tank dive, One OP that does offer a daily walk up afternoon single tank dive is Aldora, but I understand they stay in pretty close to the north of town areas in the afternoons. I keep planning on walking down the street and trying them for an afternoon but last summer for one reason or another I didn't make it, hopefully on one of my trips this year I can check it out.
I usually try to do a schedule of 4 tanks one day followed by 2 tanks the next and then repeat. If I try 4 tanks continuously (5 hours a day) my computer (Oceanic) gets mad at me. I enjoy diving with Tres Pelicanos and they do run fast covered small (8-10 Max) boats. Jeanie at dive@trespelicanos.com can give you pricing details for multiple dives

I just booked with Jeanie...thanks so much for the advice....especially the 4 tank/2 tank dive schedule.

 

[rockn4u]

+ another for Tres Pelicanos.

Without a doubt, If you're staying at Hotel Cozumel and are looking for a dive op that addresses all of your wants (with the exception of an afternoon 1-tank dive as they run another 2-tank dive in the afternoon) you should put Tres Pelicanos Dive Center on your list and, in my opinion, at the top of that list. Read my latest review of Tres Pelicanos posted on Trip Advisor from our Dec 2015 trip. After diving coz for 14 years of Diving coz I can't tell you 3P's the absolute best as we haven't been diving with all 100+ dive ops on the island but I can tell you it's the best we've ever found and certainly aren't looking for another.

As far as planning, you just vist their website and send an inquiry with all your questions/concerns/dates/whatever... Jeanie will immediately respond... usually in just a few hours! Yes, the more days you book the cheaper it is per day.

If you go back a page on this forum and read the replies to "Cozumel-going solo where to stay" you can kind of start where someone else left off and see all the responses to his post regarding places to stay (although you're already booked) but more important the dive op recommendations that showed up in that thread. He ended up selecting 3P's.

I think you'll find 3P's shows up everywhere as a top recommendation that should be on your list.

Wish we were going to be there when you are but Coz isn't on our schedule again until December.

Stay wet!

I took your wonderful advice and just booked with 3P!!

 

[gopbroek]

Yeah, about the same I think. Another option is to do 2 morning dives, then 2 at sunset - a twilight dive followed by a night dive. Do both of them on the same site to compare the differences. Afternoon & evening trips may all be closer sites, but it's all good.

A very good idea, once I did just that at Palancar Gardens, both dives were excellent but the difference was, well......like night and day