Open water referral and week stay in october

[ReefZombie]

I am planning my first ever scuba venture to cozumel in mid October with my girlfriend for our anniversary. We are doing our PADI certification (minus the open water dives) in town next month and want to do our open water dives in cozumel to complete our certification. My rough plan so far is to fly in on Saturday and hang out, do our certification dives on Sunday and monday, do some 2 tank boat dives on Tuesday and Wednesday, head inland to see the ruins on Thursday and Friday (tuluum and ek balam were both highly recommended by family) and then fly back on Saturday. I do not know anyone who has dived in cozumel so I could use some help figuring out where to stay, eat, and who to dive with.

Keep in mind I would like to keep the price below $3000 for the week (excluding airfare I have miles for it) including hotel, meals, drinks (I don't drink a ton), equipment rental (I only own mask fins and snorkel), dives, ruin tours, taxi/ferry, etc.

What dive ops would you recommend that have high quality instructors that will prep me well for drift diving for the final two dive days?

What resorts/hotels would you recommend and are there any all inclusive options that have good food? It would be a huge plus if there is off beach snorkeling to keep us busy if we aren't exhausted from the scuba dives.

What are some excellent restaurants to eat for dinner? If I go AI that is taken care of but regardless I want to eat somewhere exceptional on Wednesday for our actual anniversary.

 

[Ron Lee]

Get the Cozumel map/guide from Cancunmap.com

You can see hotel locations there as well.

Cozumel, Mexico map with hotel locations

You have so many options for places to stay and dive ops that you need to understand the layout of the place to help you decide.

Aldora had a promotion...dive and stay free at Villa Aldora. I am not sure what rooms if any are still available.

Check at at aldora.com

Or stay closer to town.

 

[Dogbowl]

My rough plan so far is to fly in on Saturday and hang out, do our certification dives on Sunday and monday, do some 2 tank boat dives on Tuesday and Wednesday, head inland to see the ruins on Thursday and Friday (tuluum and ek balam were both highly recommended by family) and then fly back on Saturday.

Are you planning to take the ferry back and forth on both Thursday and Friday? If so, you might want to reconsider that. You could consider flying into Coz, stay 5 nights, ferry to Playa, stay 2 nights, and fly out of Cancun. Seems like a much better use of time and energy.

 

[ReefZombie]

Are you planning to take the ferry back and forth on both Thursday and Friday? If so, you might want to reconsider that. You could consider flying into Coz, stay 5 nights, ferry to Playa, stay 2 nights, and fly out of Cancun. Seems like a much better use of time and energy.

That was my thought as well although I need to fly back from coz so I would just take the morning ferry back over on Saturday

 

[Dogbowl]

That was my thought as well although I need to fly back from coz so I would just take the morning ferry back over on Saturday

That'll work too!

Lots of info here: First time to Cozumel help needed!

 

[MMM]

FWIW, I have been to both Tulum and Ek Balam and far preferred the latter over the former.

 

[sharky60]

Are you planning to take the ferry back and forth on both Thursday and Friday? If so, you might want to reconsider that. You could consider flying into Coz, stay 5 nights, ferry to Playa, stay 2 nights, and fly out of Cancun. Seems like a much better use of time and energy.

...and money, the ferry is $10.50 each way. 2 people, 4 times = $84 quite a lot on a tight budget.

 

[Ron Lee]

One day: Chichen Itza, Ik Kil cenote and Ek Balam.

Next day: Coba, Gran cenote and Tulum.

Mayan Adventures map/guide from cancunmap.com might be useful.

 

[ReefZombie]

Has anyone used dive paradise or stayed at hotel cozemel all inclusive? I got a pretty decent price quoted for the dive and stay package

 

[diverokc]

I have stayed at hotel and dove with dp. For the price the all inclusive is a great price. Breakfast is great lunch is decent and dinner hit or miss. With the cheap price we walk to town for at least one meal a day. Dive paradise is a good op. They have slow boats that have cover and a bathroom get back around 1-2 pm from 2 tank morning dive. Fast boat is $4 more if u book at the start. It has no cover no bathroom and back by 12-1230. I prefer fast boats. Enjoy