Puerto Aventuras -- suggestions re. dive ops, eats, etc.

[rmssetc]

I'll be in Puerto Aventuras May 30-June 5, traveling by myself. I'm looking at mainly open water diving, including doing my AOW cert, and probably one day at caverns.

I'm considering diving with Aquanauts, Dive Aventuras, or Prodive. I've looked at lots of old threads here suggesting different dive ops, and I'd really appreciate hearing about any recent, first-hand experience with any of those companies (feel free to contact me privately if you prefer).

Any suggestions about places to eat, non-diving stuff in PA, or anyone who'll be there at the same who'd like to meet would be great as well.

 

[Peter Guy]

I've used Dive Aventuras for several years as my primary dive op for when I bring people to Puerto. I have always been pleased with the operation (with one exception when a driver failed to show up -- but communications with the shop fixed the issue). I have a friend who just returned from P.A. and did most of his diving with Planet Scuba and was VERY complimentary.

YMMV

 

[TSandM]

Peter's covered dive ops, so I'll talk about food. There are quite a few restaurants in PA, but in general, the food is undistinguished and some of it is fairly expensive. We are very fond of Latitude 20, where they have great ceviche and fantastic burgers, and the prices are quite reasonable. Café Ole has some very nice live music, and great pies. The Mexican place, whose name I can't recall, is only worth going to for good margaritas (but those can be had almost anywhere). The Pub has a great location for gathering people together, but the food is absolutely uninteresting. Despite many evenings spent there, I have failed to find a single item on the menu that was anything but fuel. They do have WiFi, though.

There is a "fancy" restaurant on the way to Latitude 20, called Pelican Point, if I recall. I have only eaten there once, shortly after they opened. The ambience and service were quite nice, but the food was okay, and the prices were extremely high for the area.

Honestly, we generally try to eat outside of PA and just go out for chips and salsa and margaritas in the evening.

 

[diver42]

I usually eat at the Omni or Dos Chiles.

I only know Zero Gravity, which is now right outside of Puerto, but mostly serves cave divers. However, is it worth traveling to Playa for dive operations?

 

[kwinter]

I took a group and went with Prodive several years ago. I would NOT recommend them. Dive Aventuras is a much better operation.

 

[PACKRMAN]

+1 Dive Aventuras. I did my Rescue class with them. VERY good class.

 

[ibj40]

We've been going to PA for about ten years now, and after doing the research back then, started with Dive Aventuras, and never looked back. They have some of the most personable and professional folks you will ever deal with, and can cover anything you need. Armondo, the on-site equipment specialist, has bailed us out a couple of times when we've had issues with our gear. The dive guides are all excellent, for either open water or cenote, with many of them being at the instructor level in their certifications.

As to dining, TS&M is spot on. A couple of suggestions we'd make, though are Massimo, which offers good quality Italian cuisine, and Paparazzi Pizza, which offers the obvious.

We like the Pub for breakfast, where I always have the Mayan Eggs (scrambled eggs with Chaya). For dinner there, they serve a mean veggie lasagna (my wife is vegetarian), and usually have a nice Polish sausage dish for me. Anything else around the marina is not very noteworthy, however Dos Chiles (the Mexican place TS&M referred to) does have a mean margarita, but their food is average, at best.

We usually rent a condo, with a full kitchen, when we go, and stock up at the Chedraui supermarket across the highway from the front gate, and cook most of our own meals, going out for only a couple of nights during a one week stay.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[rmssetc]

Thanks to all for the suggestions!