Need Coz All-Inclusive Recommendations

[Christi]

For you, its close to the best dive sites. For her, its one of the best resorts on the island.

Ron R.

Not to be a wet blanket, but...

Iberostar (as well as Allegro and Occidental) is closer to some of the great sites making a shorter boat ride, but staying that far south you also miss some of other great dives that are significantly north of these hotels (Yucab, Tormentos, Tunich, San Francisco, C-53, Las Palmas, Bolones, Chankanaab, Paradise, Barracuda, San Juan).

Most dive boats (exceptions are the onsite operators whose boats are moored in front of the hotels) are based at the Caletta, which is north of the southern hotel zone. Going south to your favorite reefs is not a problem at all. However, going south for the first dive, significantly north past the hotel for the second dive, then south again to the hotel to drop you off, then north again to the marina is not economically or time feasible. So, if you ever wonder why you don't dive these sites when staying at a far southern hotel, now you understand why. If you are willing to take a cab back from a different pier after the second dive, you can make some of these dives.

 

[comex]

Your comments are very helpful! We are still considering the alternatives and I will research the suggestions made so far.

I had originally looked at the Iberostar and then changed my mind when I read about the "hassles" involved with using other dive ops. However, most reviews of the hotel, facilities, and food have been favorable. I don't mind paying the extra "fees", but I don't want to be hassled for using another op.

I dove with Dive with Martin during our last cruise to Cozumel and was very pleased with them and with the diving.

-Kile

 

[RHMC66]

Well, things must have changed recently. When we stayed there two years ago, we had no problems with using our dive operator, and I saw several others doing the same. We use Deep Blue, who were great and very professional about using the dock. They expected us to be on the dock and ready when they arrive, pulled in quickly and we jumped on. The Deep Blue captain was very careful to give the Dressel boats priority at the dock and we never heard a bad word about what we were doing. This is too bad, as Dressel seems to cater more to resort divers and newbies, they don't do a lot of the more advanced sites and use huge cattle boats.

If you are thinking of going this route, call Deep Blue or another operator you are thinking of using and see if they have any concerns.

As to the location, I agree with the earlier post that you might miss some of the northern sites, but if this is your first trip and you are only on the island for a week, the sites that the operators hit on the south end should be more than enough to keep you interested.

Best of luck!

 

[Shader]

Iberostar may be a bad idea, tho we're staying there for Thanksgiving, because our fave (PLG) is under renovation. I just read a review from a diver who stayed there in July. He said the Iberostar staff tried to block him from getting on & off of his independent dive operator's boat. Apparently, they are using a bogus 'bond' requirement to protecting their on-site resort-style operator, Dressel, who's reviews have deteriorated over the past year. I read the Dressel reviews at the travelnotes.cc site.

That is funny cause when we stayed at the Grand Occidental the guy on the dock was not allowing our Dive Op(Eco Divers) to dock the boat on the pier. I believe he was doing the same thing and trying to protect the on site op Dive Palancar's business. I had to almost be rude and just jump on the boat with our gear a couple times.

The Grand is a real nice AI though and should suit your needs well. I also found Dive Palancar to be a good Op if you like the bigger boats and less of a say where you want to dive. They say it's up to the divers but they really already have a site in mind usually. I found their service adequate though.

 

[gregpsych]

My son and I just got back from Coz. We stayed at the Fiesta Americana--on the all inclusive. We booked trough Dive Paradise (http://www.diveparadise.com). Had a great time. The hotel has a dive shop on site (dive House) but I heard a lot of complaints from people. Dive Paradise can book your whole stay through them, and they pick you up at the dock at the hotel. If you stay there ask to be in the main hotel as the Villas may be too far to walk for your wife. The food was OK.

Greg

 

[Texas Diver]

That is funny cause when we stayed at the Grand Occidental the guy on the dock was not allowing our Dive Op(Eco Divers) to dock the boat on the pier. I believe he was doing the same thing and trying to protect the on site op Dive Palancar's business. I had to almost be rude and just jump on the boat with our gear a couple times.

My wife and I stayed at the Grand this year and had no problems boarding Blue XT Sea's boat. We got picked up off the beach. It is an easy pick-up.
They just put down the ladder for you to walk up two steps or
if you are old like me and need to continuously test your athletic prowess you can refuse the ladder and climb directly onto the boat - it will make you feel like Lloyd Bridges.

I don't think a resort can stop an operator from picking up divers off the beach because the waterline is government property

Here is something to consider: The much talked about but seldom executed sky dive entry, which I am sure any of us could perform, would also eliminate any hassles at the pier.

 

[scaldwell]

Full gear freefall?

 

[ggunn]

Here is something to consider: The much talked about but seldom executed sky dive entry, which I am sure any of us could perform, would also eliminate any hassles at the pier.

OH, NO!! Not the dreaded Fire Diving thread!! ;^)

 

[ggunn]

Here is something to consider: The much talked about but seldom executed sky dive entry, which I am sure any of us could perform, would also eliminate any hassles at the pier.

A trait that sky diving and SCUBA diving share is that in both sports, it is hazardous to approach the surface too quickly...

Cheers,