Now Jade Cancun Resort Course?

[kimbalabala]

My sister and family will be staying at the Now Jade Cancun resort and I'm wondering if anyone has any info on dive operations that service the resort. The resort is pretty far south of the normal hotel strip. My nephew is thinking about getting started in scuba while on the trip and I'd like to be able to offer a name (or names) of local dive operation(s). I'm already preparing my "don't get sucked into a "trust me" dive speech! Thanks.

 

[rick00001967]

if they are doing the course at the resort they are at the mercy of the resort as to who the dive operation will be. if on the other hand, they want to do a full open water course outside the resort, i would recommend looking at shops in playa del carmen. i may be wrong but it looks like that resort is about half way from cancun to playa. there is decent reef diving there as well as the famous cenotes.
i would recommend contacting frank@bluelife.com about any diving in that area. i am not sure if they offer this type of beginner training but if they do, you cannot do any better than these guys.

 

[DiveMedMD]

If they haven't left yet, I lived in Cancun for 2 years and logged a couple hundred dives with several different operations there. Actually, I'm here right now too

I don't know the NOW operation at all. But if he really wants to do it in Cancun, consider Thomas Hurtado's operation "Scuba Cancun". They have an excellent location, and one of the best dive boat's in Cancun but I can't say who their current instructors are.

If he can get the certification done in Playa Del Carmen vs Cancun I would highly recommend he contact Martine at Phocea Dive Shop. They are a competent and friendly European couple running a 5 Star PADI operation right near the beach. They have an excellent dive boat and crew / instructors. Request Jean-Paul for instruction - he has well over 5000 logged dives but more importantly he is very competent and patient with new divers. My wife logged her first 20 dives with him. He dives every single day.

 

[kimbalabala]

Thank you both! I'm going to copy both of your recommendations and send them to my sister. If they're going to spend the money on a resort course, in my opinion, they should just go for OW certification. I don't like the idea of my nephew being at the mercy of whoever is around - even though it could be a wonderful operation it's better to go with a known quantity.

Thanks again!

 

[Panama Jones]

there are so many referrals on SB for dive ops in Cancun and Playa that I couldn't choose and I just went with the one that was most convenient to get to. The one right on the resort. Consult your family on what to look for, have them look at the most convenient (in proximity) operator, visit, ask questions, if they are happy, there you go. The NOW resorts are pretty reputable so I'd think they'd vet the operator well.