Options from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel

[uminchu]

Hi,
So... long story short... I'm a middle school teacher that takes kids to DC/NY every year and my "payment" from the travel company is to send me and my wife to cancun/Playa area... I know, rough life... We LOVE to dive and have done 2 cenotes dives (loved them), and an ocean dive (it was OK) with Dive Aventuras (and they were amazing! - absolutely no complaints!). However, my wife and I were thinking about wanting to experience Cozumel's reef without going broke.

Is there a way to get from Playa (or really Riviera Maya at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya) to Cozumel for a day of diving? We'd be willing to stay overnight if that was needed (even though we'd have a hotel paid for) and return the next day. If it isn't possible, just let us know alternatives.

Thanks

 

[JohnnyC]

Scuba Playa offer a package deal, $269 for 2 dives in Playa (meh), 2 dives in Coz (just pay for ferry), and 2 dives in the cenotes. 6 dives, 3 days, don't think it includes gear rental, but if you have your own then no biggie, and transport to the cenotes with a guide.

If you've got your own gear, really the only thing extra you're paying for is the ferry ride. If you buy one way tickets then you can come back whenever you want.

 

[rongoodman]

The other way to do it is to go over from Playa with Tank Ha for a two dive trip, avoiding the hassle of riding the ferry and then hooking up with an operator on the other side. The down side is that the harbor could be closed to small boats because it's too windy, while the ferry would still be in service. Tank Ha is on 10th, just up the street from the Starbucks.

 

[lthomas132]

Contact Jason at Fantasea Dive (Diving Playa Del Carmen, Dive shop, Cenotes, Technical and full Cave diving) in Playa del Carmen. He will set you up for 2 tanks diving at Cozumel, escort you over on the ferry, and be your guide. A highly experienced dive instructor and all-around great guy!

 

[uminchu]

Both Fantasea and Tank-Ha look pretty legit. I'll send them a note. Anyway have any feedback on their rental gear? We'll just be doing the 1 day... so we'll be renting all but mask and fins...

 

[rick00001967]

a second vote for tank ha to take you to coz. i may be mistaken but i believe they have the only boat that runs direct trips to coz. they are excellent to deal with. we were with them last month and have used them previously as well.
rongoodman makes an excellent point however about possible bad winds ruining your plans. the boats in playa are frequently cancelled due to rough seas.
if you do head across, make sure you have some dives under your belt first. the dive conditions can be somewhat difficult there if you are not used to the conditions.

 

[malandterv]

Cab to the ferry pier will run you about $15 and the ferry is $11pp each direction. If you go that route, book one way tickets in each direction as there are now three companies operating and that allows you more schedule options vs booking round trip with one operator.

We just returned Saturday from a work reward stay at HRRM after a short stay down in Tulum. Lunch buffet at Toro is pretty good as far as buffets go. Hand made tortillas were excellent and watch out for the habenero sauces...they are no foolin'.

We found the best use of resort credits were the balinese beach beds (only option for guaranteed shade at the "beach") and the spa which was surprisingly good. If you need the bali beds for shade, book them as soon as you can as they fill up quickly. The only other shade option is at the pool which got pretty obnoxious the week we were there. sorry for the thread drift...

 

[DandyDon]

I don't think Riviera Maya is a precise location, but more of a marketing term for the coast there. Google maps (gawd I hate the new version) thinks that your resort is between PDC & Tulum, or 23 Km/14 miles/26 minutes from PDC. You can go with one of the local Ops mentioned already here who will take care of you, or go on your own.

I think the first ferry from PDC to Coz is at 7am, which would put you into a Coz taxi by 8am - missing many dive boats on their morning runs. Blue Angel has a mid morning run tho, for ferry & cruise customers who want to dive a little later. They have good rental gear and a nice cafe upstairs.

 

[gopbroek]

I don't think Riviera Maya is a precise location, but more of a marketing term for the coast there. Google maps (gawd I hate the new version) thinks that your resort is between PDC & Tulum, or 23 Km/14 miles/26 minutes from PDC. You can go with one of the local Ops mentioned already here who will take care of you, or go on your own.

I think the first ferry from PDC to Coz is at 7am, which would put you into a Coz taxi by 8am - missing many dive boats on their morning runs. Blue Angel has a mid morning run tho, for ferry & cruise customers who want to dive a little later. They have good rental gear and a nice cafe upstairs.

Don the new ferry is supposed to have a run at 6:30 AM which should hit the pier around 7:15, allowing you to make an 8 AM boat. Better yet take a ferry over the night before, grab a room at the Colonial for about $35 which includes the excellent buffet at Casa Mexicana. Wander down about 6:45 to Tres Pelicanos, check in and set up your gear, continue down to breakfast @ CM (take a Pepsid AC if you are having the excellent Chorizo, trust me), wander back and head to the Caleta for a relaxing 70 + minute, excellent dive, relax at the SI, repeat.

 

[DandyDon]

Don the new ferry is supposed to have a run at 6:30 AM which should hit the pier around 7:15, allowing you to make an 8 AM boat. Better yet take a ferry over the night before, grab a room at the Colonial for about $35 which includes the excellent buffet at Casa Mexicana. Wander down about 6:45 to Tres Pelicanos, check in and set up your gear, continue down to breakfast @ CM (take a Pepsid AC if you are having the excellent Chorizo, trust me), wander back and head to the Caleta for a relaxing 70 + minute, excellent dive, relax at the SI, repeat.

I don't know much about the new ferry; thanks, but he needs to rent gear. Going over the night before for dinner, hotel, and breakfast in Coz would be a nice introduction.