Need advice: First Cozumel 3-day weekend trip

[Jarrett]

I am planning on doing one of the 3-day weekend getaways to Cozumel that I see dive shops offering periodically. The thing is, I don't know when is the best time to go, where to stay on the island, which hotel is best suited for diving, which dive op to use, all that good stuff. I am leaning towards using Christi's company since heave emailed with her a bit and have heard all good things about her, but I am open to other ideas as well.

It will just be myself and my girlfriend. We should both be PADI AOW certified by then. I have my Nitrox certifcation, but she does not at this point. I am thinking about doing it in January. Is that a good time? Are there some hotels that work better for divers there? I can't imagine needing much more than a place to sleep and eat breakfast for a trip like this. So I would guess that I wouldn't need one of the nicer, all-inclusive places. Also, somewhere that we could do some nice shore diving in the evening when we returned from the boat trips. Would Caribe Blu be the spot for that?

Basically, just interested in any advice the Cozumel regulars can offer for a trip like this. Thanks.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Sounds like Caribe blu fits all your needs. I stay there for the exact reasons you stated, shore diving being the biggest. You can use Blue XTSea (Christi) as she picks up at the Caribe Blue dock or you can use Blue Angel on site as they have a dive package that includes unlimited shore diving in the price of the hotel/dive package. A very good deal. Other dive ops will also pick up there but I have no experience with any other than Papa Hogs down the road, also good IMHO. Have fun. Looks like you are on the right track. Others will chime in soon...

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Check out the Scuba Club Cozumel. Three days isn't enough. Neither is seven for that matter.

 

[ggunn]

Check out the Scuba Club Cozumel. Three days isn't enough. Neither is seven for that matter.

It's OK; they'll be back. ;^)

 

[scubadobadoo]

It's OK; they'll be back. ;^)

LOL!

 

[ch0ppersrule]

ScubaTony is awesome. He uses a 6pk boat which doesn 't have to be filled and gives you max bottoms times. He picks you up anywhere on the island and will take you to any dive spot you want. He will also recommend good dive spots for you to try if you want. We have only stayed at the Occidental Grand. If you like the night life then stay somewhere close to town. I have to agree- 3 days is not enough. We have always spent 10 days on the island and it goes by super fast. Have fun.

 

[caribdiver]

Several good options.

If you are leaning towards BXTS they can do packages with Caribe Blu, Casa Mexicana and a few other hotels and they pick up downtown which is a plus. They also rinse and store your gear so you don't have to lug it around and stick it in a stinky dive locker everyday. I won't tell you how that makes your gear smell by the end fo the week.

Tony as chopper mentioned is a nice enough guy but he doesn't have his own boat. I dove with him once and wasn't real impressed with the procedures which seemed a bit unorganized to me. He rents space from other operators based on who has space, so you takes your chances with what boat you will be on.

Alsion is a good option as well. She gets rave reviews, but I don't think she picks up north of the marina.

I have also dove with and been pleased with Deep Blue, Liquid Blue, and Living Underwater. Liquid Blue and Living Underwater also store your gear.

There is no hotel that is better for diving and you don't have to dive with the onsite shop but I would stay away from the northern hotels because boats won't pick you up there. Stay somewhere close to town so you can enjoy the place and the great restaurants in Cozumel rather than being confined to a resort. Almost any op will pick you up at any hotel pier.

casa Mex, bahia, Hotel Coz, Casa del mar, Fiesta Americana, presidente just to name a few