Presidente Intercontinental - Worth it or Not?

[Portland Diver]

The 80-90' first dive and 50-60' second dive is the norm for most if not all Coz dive ops. I don't think it's at all limiting; there are scads of sites there that fill both orders. What would you do otherwise?

You make a great point. I guess I was comparing to dive operations that are small enough that you can plan your dive profiles as a small group or even just get the pre-dive brief from the DM and then plan the dive with your dive buddy. I dive with my 13 year old son and I like to keep him above the 60' mark. I was still very happy with Scuba-du and will be with them again in 5 days.

PD

 

[docmartin]

i like the hotel but am not crazy about the dive op. I have been there four times - all before wilma. when i dove with them they mixed beginners with advanced divers, manhandled all kinds of sea creatures and told you your dive time was 40 minutes regardless of air. the other thing that really annoyed me about them is that when i asked if there would be an afternoon dive i'd always get a maybe. maybe is useless. if you tell me maybe then i need to look somewhere else because i want to dive - not just maybe. this is probably not an issue during the high season but to me it indicates that I as the customer am not the priority. plenty of other dive ops in cozumel see that differently.

 

[ggunn]

...the other thing that really annoyed me about them is that when i asked if there would be an afternoon dive i'd always get a maybe. maybe is useless. if you tell me maybe then i need to look somewhere else because i want to dive - not just maybe. this is probably not an issue during the high season but to me it indicates that I as the customer am not the priority. plenty of other dive ops in cozumel see that differently.

FWIW, that "maybe" is what you'll get at most/all Coz ops. Generally, morning dives are scheduled, but afternoon dives are demand based.

 

[5615mike]

You're right. Presidente's top end room rates are off the charts! You can rent your own villa for those rates.

Exactly why I have not stayed at Presidente for over 5 years. Yes its nice but I can find NICER condos/homes for the same or less money and have far more privacy. Dove with Scuba Du the first time I stayed there.........that was the last. For experienced divers there are far better choices on the island. I dont get a kick out of diving in groups of 14 or more.

 

[cookies3201]

Dive Paradise picks up from the Presidente and they also have afternoon dives everyday. Check out there website.

 

[mfpikeil]

i like the hotel but am not crazy about the dive op. .

Ditto... the hotel is a world class luxury resort, but Scubadu...not very well run. I tried to use them on 2 previous occasions when I was at Presidente, and their customer service was abysmal. The people running their counter couldn't have cared less if I dived with them or not. I rented some gear from them for a shore dive, and it was pretty shabby, and they didn't seem to care.... Also a classic "cattle boat" operation. I won't bother them again.

 

[docmartin]

FWIW, that "maybe" is what you'll get at most/all Coz ops. Generally, morning dives are scheduled, but afternoon dives are demand based.

i have never heard a "maybe" from any of the other three Coz operations i have used although they sometimes had no one else signed up at the time of my request.

 

[ggunn]

i have never heard a "maybe" from any of the other three Coz operations i have used although they sometimes had no one else signed up at the time of my request.

I would hazard a guess that it depends on when you ask and whether or not they think it's likely that enough divers will sign up to make it worth their while. Then again, it just may be that they'd rather say yes and then just apologize later on if they have to reneg. The operators I have used and many others which I know about from talking to other divers usually schedule afternoon dives only if there are enough divers that want to go. "Maybe" is honest.

 

[evilclown]

any one been here recently? any comments on scubadu?

 

[mstevens]

any one been here recently? any comments on scubadu?

All the comments in the thread still apply. As was pointed out in the thread you started, it's long been thought of as the "top" non-AI hotel on the island through several incarnations and owners.

I've never dived with Scuba Du, but we saw some packed cattle boats going in and out. We picked a small dive operator (there are many - check the sticky at the top of the forum) that allowed us to dive on our schedule and to our preferences. They'll pick you up at the dock right in front of the palapa restaurant.