Please recommend a dive operator

[Ron Lee]

Interesting list Sharky. I don't know all their procedures but my guess is that only Blue XTSea meets all of the posters requirements, with a downtown pier pickup assumed to be non-negotiable.

pickup/drop off from downtown pier
6 pack fast boat
computer diving with 60 minute bottom times
surface intervals on shore with bathrooms and food
gear storage

 

[DandyDon]

...the usual top five list...

Wouldn't you have to dive multiple days with every Op and in the last year to support such a judgement? Your personal reasons for your favorite five are fine, but that's what your list is, right?

So there are dozens of Ops on the island, right? And it's hard to stay in business in this very competitive market essentially diving the same sites unless they deliver & make customers happy, safely. Some better than others sure, some charging more than others & probably well worth it if they deliver the specifics you want, but hard to go wrong generally.

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.

I don't know if I have ever heard of them here? I wonder sometimes if members don't bother mentioning their favs & why as they don't want to compete with other cheerleaders or deal with possible drama.

Interesting list Sharky. I don't know all their procedures but my guess is that only Blue XTSea meets all of the posters requirements, with a downtown pier pickup assumed to be non-negotiable.

pickup/drop off from downtown pier
6 pack fast boat
computer diving with 60 minute bottom times
surface intervals on shore with bathrooms and food
gear storage

Yeah, many Ops will meet 4 of those, but some don't rinse & store gear, and my fav does SIs at a remote beach & pier without bathrooms as do many. If those are the 6 important points being sought, easier to narrow selection down if you don't get side tracked.

 

[ronscuba]

Yes, not too sound like too much of a snob, but this list is considered my non negoitable in my search for an operator. I believe BlueXTsea meets all these requirements and I am currently in contact with Christi to get pricing for a dive & hotel package.


pickup/drop off from downtown pier
6 pack fast boat
computer diving with 60 minute bottom times
surface intervals on shore with bathrooms and food
gear storage

 

[Mossman]

Leaving Aldora off the usual top five list...in (alphabetical order)...

1. Blue Angel - Fast boats (6-packs with new motors), great DM's & Capt'ns

2. Blue XTSea - Christi and crew do an amazing job. from providing towels and jackets/rain gear on the boats to personal hands on service...great op!

3. Bottom Time Divers - Raul is one of the most safety minded DM's I've ever dove with. GREAT at finding little critters and a great guy in general.

4. Dive with Martin - a looooong-time Coz favorite, we dove with them for years before moving to BA and taking advantage of the dive/hotel packages. This is a very good dive op. 6-packs boats, very good DM's

An interesting list considering it leaves out my favorite dive op anywhere, not just in Cozumel. It also happens to be the favorite dive op of both moderators of this forum, AFAIK. But I suppose stealth is good, I wouldn't want to be on a waitlist for my next trip.

---------- Post added January 31st, 2013 at 10:35 PM ----------

Yeah, many Ops will meet 4 of those, but some don't rinse & store gear, and my fav does SIs at a remote beach & pier without bathrooms as do many. If those are the 6 important points being sought, easier to narrow selection down if you don't get side tracked.

Surely you can find a bathroom at those remote beaches? Assuming you don't need a toilet seat nor a toilet

 

[DandyDon]

Surely you can find a bathroom at those remote beaches? Assuming you don't need a toilet seat nor a toilet

Doesn't bother me. Not my criteria. So who is your fav...?

 

[njones259]

I think the great thing about Cozumel is there isn't 1 perfect dive op.There is a variety of good ops that offer different experiences depending on what you are looking for in diving.I know in my case there are 3 or 4 different ops I use depending on the group I am with at that time.

 

[Ron Lee]

Yeah, many Ops will meet 4 of those, but some don't rinse & store gear, and my fav does SIs at a remote beach & pier without bathrooms as do many. If those are the 6 important points being sought, easier to narrow selection down if you don't get side tracked.

What is "sidetracked"?

If your dive op stops at a place without real restrooms, they do not meet his requirements. My guess is that the majority of dive ops do not pick up at a downtown pier. Maybe a long time dive op will know how many dive ops meet these requirements but I would guess that it is a small number once you rule out the dive ops who use steel tanks.

Not long ago someone wanted to come up with a table showing attributes of various dive ops. People moaned and wailed that you could not do it along with various laments of the problems. Yet this is a perfect example where such a table would help people pick a few dive ops to help make their final selection.

---------- Post added February 1st, 2013 at 09:07 AM ----------

Yes, not too sound like too much of a snob, but this list is considered my non negotiable in my search for an operator. I believe BlueXTsea meets all these requirements and I am currently in contact with Christi to get pricing for a dive & hotel package.


pickup/drop off from downtown pier
6 pack fast boat
computer diving with 60 minute bottom times
surface intervals on shore with bathrooms and food
gear storage

Yours are not too much different than mine. I usually express mine as:

Fast boat (could be larger than six pack like the large boat Aldora has)
Surface interval at a beach club (assumes food and restroom)
Boat has shade (otherwise I burn)

 

[Karibelle]

If you're currently discussing a dive/hotel package, it might be good to wait until you know where you're staying before you decide you need to get picked up from downtown pier, no?

Good luck with your plans, and enjoy the stay on the island!

kari

Yes, not too sound like too much of a snob, but this list is considered my non negoitable in my search for an operator. I believe BlueXTsea meets all these requirements and I am currently in contact with Christi to get pricing for a dive & hotel package.


pickup/drop off from downtown pier
6 pack fast boat
computer diving with 60 minute bottom times
surface intervals on shore with bathrooms and food
gear storage

 

[sharky60]

Wouldn't you have to dive multiple days with every Op and in the last year to support such a judgement? Your personal reasons for your favorite five are fine, but that's what your list is, right?...

Gee Don, I thought this forum was a place for personal opinions. YOU seem to have plenty of them.

The poster asked for recommendations...I gave them. Yes, this is a personal list of dive ops that I feel give very good services and run the gambit of price ranges on the island and are well worth checking out. I'm not saying they are "the best on the island", I can't see how ANYONE could make that judgment...and that would just be an opinion anyway as everyone has different needs from a dive op.

I'm simply saying these are one's that I DO have some sort of experience with in one form or another and recommend them.

People aren't asking for dive ops recommendations to get a pat answer "there are a lot of good dive ops on the island"... they already know that, and are looking for specific recommendations.

This is not cheerleading...just recommending ONE dive op and saying how great they are and how you should only dive with them would be cheerleading.

I have very good reasons for recommending these dive ops, and no, I don't HAVE to dive with each of these ops multiple times over the past year to have an opinion about them.

I am a small business man and have been around small businesses all my life...I know when an operation is being run properly by observing it and keeping close tabs with people that DO dive with these ops on regular a basis...

 

[Mike]

Jesus Hortensia Mundo Chupacabra is the best.