Please recommend a dive operator

[robint]

Hi Robin.

Looks like BlueXTsea is a big favorite so far. I do recall them and a few others as being very popular on SB. Just not sure which others do downtown pickups and SI on a beach.

Not sure SCC is for us. I do like the "dive camp" style. Similar to Cocoview in Roatan. However, in Cozumel, I enjoy eating, spending time and having my hotel in town.

yeah, SCC is very similar experience to CCV. It isn't for everybody.

Ron Lee - he is married now, not a dive dive dive fanatic like before as his wife is not a dive dive dive fanatic. He is looking for something that will let them dive together and have a pleasant experience for a couple of dives every day, then have other things to do. I am guessing he feels his experiences with Aldora and LU is a bit more intense than the new wife would enjoy.

Call Christi... you will both love her.

robin

 

[Sue Sue]

Ah yes !! Pedro Pablo and Nivo, the dynamic duo !! Since someone mentioned their names in this thread I just had to echo just how wonderful these two gentlemen are. Professional, Experienced and Friendly. They are in a league of their own ! Diving with them is Awesome !!!

 

[redacted]

If Christi is booked up, try Cozumel Scuba Diving | Go diving in Cozumel with BottomTimeDivers dive operator. They are very similar operations.

 

[Prop Joe]

Not sure why you would switch from Aldora to save $2 a day? They have eight boats. All you have to do is ask to not be put on the advanced boat(s) and they will take care of you. I just dove with Aldora with my 70+ year old pilot buddy in October and had a wonderful time. He wants to do it again with the same group of divers, same time, same everything. The other divers and myself felt the same way. We did not go to any of the advanced sites because I asked them not to. Before I had my last hip replaced (2009) I was in mega pain and hardly able to kick with my one leg and we stayed/went to the easier sites and DM Javier watched me like a hawk but still let me do my own thing. I'm not sure when your planning your trip but they also offer east side trips if there is a Norte blowing. Want to skip a couple morning dives to sleep in? No problem, they have afternoon dives to see the Eagle Rays which is not to be missed. They also do private charters if you want to be the only ones on the boat to do exactly whatever you and your wife would like to dive along with a private DM.
Its your vacation but I think you should just communicate your wishes when you make the reservation and tell Memo or Julian when you check in. They will do their best to make you happy.
Be well and have fun (what ever you decide)!

 

[macado]

Is this a loaded statement from the OP? "I used to dive with Aldora, but I no longer need all the extra's they provide."

I hate to say this begs the question for the curious among us of what "extras" Aldora provides that Blue XTSea doesn't? Those furry boat coats? Blue XTSea has larger tanks available (not standard), and they don't limit your bottom time. I am curious what the story is with Aldora, as I've heard nothing but great things about them, just as I have about Blue XTSea.

No disrespect to either dive op. I have never personally dove with Blue XTSea but her reputation is great and I wouldn't hesitate to dive with her. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Aldora provides larger capacity steel tanks (HP100s or HP120s). Them and I believe Living Underwater and LiquidBlue also the only shops to provide steel tanks on the island.

I'm fairly certain what Blue XTSea and most other dive ops uses for larger tanks are AL100s. There is quite a difference for people that are used to diving steel tanks. A lot of people prefer steel. I won't get into fill pressures of AL100s which sometimes do not get filled to 3300psi which makes them true 100cu ft.

Blue XTSea has two boats while Aldora has more (I'm not sure the exact number). They are able to effectively split groups into experience levels and move people to other boats if they don't want to do advanced sites like Barracuda or Punta Sur.

It can sometimes be hard to work out logistics if you have some divers who want to go to different places. Aldora also offers diving on east side of Cozumel when the port is closed due to nortes; I dont believe other dive ops have boats that dive on this side.

Aldora also typically does long surface intervals at beach clubs, offers jackets for cold surface intervals, their DMs are equipped with long hoses for air sharing in the event it's needed.

They frequently go to northern sites whereas a lot of other site ops like to stick to southern end of island where there is more boat support in the event of problems and usually currents can be less.

Sorry if this sounds like a pro-Aldora rant but those are just some of the differences off the top of my head. Not saying other dive operators don't offer similar experiences/services. I'm fairly laid back and will dive with almost any dive op on Cozumel but like everyone else I have my favorites.

One other thing, the price. Aldora is a bit more expensive than other dive ops on the island. Not saying that is a bad thing but it matters to some people, just saying.

---------- Post added January 29th, 2013 at 07:43 PM ----------

I will also play devil's advocate and throw a recommendation for Aqua Safari in the mix. They have their own private dock downtown and their fast boat, the Belinda only takes 8 people max.

While they don't do surface intervals on shore, their boats have heads and the dive shop offers gear storage and rinse stations. None of my dives have typically been limited with them.

They also offer very cheap 15USD afternoon dive charters leaving at 2pm if you are on the morning boat. Typically Paradise Reef due to location but sometimes to other locations.

 

[Ron Lee]

robint, two other posts after mine have pointed out that with multiple boats, the OP and his bride can dive more sedately. Most of my dives with Aldora are to the normal sites with occasional jaunts to Barracuda/San Juan or Maracaibo.

I have heard the comment for years that Aldora is for "experienced" divers yet they have newly certified and lower experienced divers as well.

If it is a boat issue as far as water entry/exit, then identify that as the real issue and ask for the right boat. If there is a hard limit of 60 minutes dive time, then choose another dive op than Aldora.

 

[ronscuba]

No loaded question, no desire to stir up drama. I am a long time SB member. Longer than my join date states because I changed my board name. Off the top of my head I've been to Coz around 6 times and dove with Aldora around 3 times. Bottom times averaged 75+ minutes. Twice the boat was all advanced, diving advanced sights. Once the boat was mixed and one of the less experienced divers was in a little over her head at Maracaibo. The woman had a few problems and was a little intimidated being around a boat full of advanced divers.

My wife and I are both good on air and are looking for nice relaxed easy going diving. No desire to dive more than 60 minutes, no need for a bigger heavier tank. Not sure of the exact price differences between the various operators, but I do recall Aldora did charge a premium for what I thought was the cost for longer bottom times because of the bigger tanks and more fuel costs to get to advanced farther south sites because they attracted advanced divers.

Robin hit the nail on the head. My experiences with Aldora and LU were great. Advanced remote dive sites, long bottom times. If I was diving by myself or with my experienced dive buddies I would dive with Aldora. My wife enjoys diving, is very comfortable in the water, but she is a casual diver. 50-60 minute dives is more than enough for her. At this point in her diving, I don't think Aldora is the right fit.

BTW, after reading the recommendations in this thread I have emailed BlueXTsea to inquire about booking a hotel dive package. Also read some older threads and Deep Blue also sounds like a good option.

 

[djanni]

Blue~XT~Sea can provide you with a 100CF tank if you need that. Slight up charge I think. Anyway, another vote for Blue~XT~Sea. Best crew on the island.

 

[njones259]

Another great dive op that hardly anyone ever mentions is Aquatic Sports owned and operated by Sergio SR an JR.They have been around forever and offer some of the most relaxed diving ever.They also serve a mean lunch on tour service interval.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I have dove with Aldora and Living Underwater. Both great dive operators for people wanting larger tanks and longer bottom times. In my experience, Aldora also attracted the more advanced diver crowd. All great features in exchange for a little higher pricing. If I were diving by myself, I would go with Aldora. Since I am diving with my wife and we don't need or want these extra features, it does not make much sense to pay the Aldora premium.

Ah, if that's what you meant by "extras" that Aldora provides that you no longer want, I don't think Blue XT Sea is going to suit your needs any better than Aldora, though I have to join the others who say they like Blue XT Sea. According to their respective web sites, Aldora charges $89 for a 2-tank dive, and Blue XT Sea charges $85. Not much of a savings. As far as I can tell, and unless someone wants to explain why this isn't so, Blue XT Sea is in the same class of operation as Aldora. I have no knowledge as to whether Blue XT Sea similarly "attract the more advanced diver crowd," but they do let you dive to your NDL/air limits and offer larger tanks as an option. They seem to do their best to take you to the sites you wish and within your experience level, so I would assume you could simply say no thanks to Maracaibo, etc., and they would gladly oblige.