OWD cert in Playa - DS recommendations

[galvanf]

The gf and me will be in Playa the first week of April, and she really wants to try diving. She has no prior diving experience, but has done a lot of snorkeling. Should she do DS first or just go straight for OWD? Also I'm thinking of doing AOW or Nitrox, not sure which yet.

What dive shop do you guys recommend for the training? I'm looking for a place with excellent instructors and not outrageous prices. I did OWD referral with Scuba Playa and really enjoyed it, but I'm pretty sure the instructors are not the same ones that were there 3 years ago.

Thanks in advance for your input.

---------- Post added March 24th, 2015 at 08:21 PM ----------

So, 42 views and not a single comment?

 

[GimmeSome]

I strongly recommend CenoteXperience. CenoteXperience

Nico, Martin and team run the best dive op I know of in Playa (for us, in the world!). We've done several different certifications with them over the years. I can't recommend them highly enough.

 

[Asteve]

Couple thoughts:
If the GF is a water baby skip the DS, if for some reason not sure do DS at home.
Next we just did 3 days in PC and had so much fun I sure would not want to do book learning there, I would get all the book learning at home and do the water part in PC.

 

[galvanf]

Thanks GimmeSome I'll send them an email. Not really interested in diving cenotes though.

Asteve I thought about having her do the book and pool here in Monterrey, but the only dive shop here is really out of their mind with the prices close to $600USD and I'd still have to pay referral. So decided against that. My idea behind having her do DSD is that I'm not sure on refund policies in case she drops out.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I also recommend Nico and Martin from CenoteXperience They don't just do cenote dives, they do ocean dives as well. Nico and Martin are great guys and excellent dive guides. They love what they do. They get excellent reviews here on scubaboard and T/A Cenote Xperience Reviews - Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya Attractions - TripAdvisor

 

[Dhboner]

Erik Rosenstein of Beyond Diving! Small boutique, family run business with the best rental gear I have seen. Erik will keep you safe and thoroughly entertained.