robint
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Thanks Dave. Did not realize that.
Really confused about Kona, Hawaii vs Cozumel???
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I've been to both, as well as many other places around the Caribbean and the world.
What might be enjoyable depends in part on what you like to do/see while diving, and on your experience level.
At my stage now, I'm glad I've been to Cozumel a couple of times (one of those was the SCC), but this Saturday I'm headed back to Kona, this time for the Aggressor.
What might be enjoyable depends in part on what you like to do/see while diving, and on your experience level.
At my stage now, I'm glad I've been to Cozumel a couple of times (one of those was the SCC), but this Saturday I'm headed back to Kona, this time for the Aggressor.
Skittl1321
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Get to, or have to? Does Villa Aldora have kitchens so you don't HAVE to go into town for dinner? To me, that's a huge plus of wherever I'm staying: the ability to not have to go out.
SCC is close enough to town that you can go in for dinner easily. Even if you buy the AI plan (and I don't think you have to, our dive shop's trip only included breakfast and lunch) you don't have to eat there, you could go into town.
Heck, I stayed really far South and we managed to get into town for dinner- cab fare sucks though, so I wouldn't recommend that to someone who wanted to eat in town a lot.
jfcl01
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Hi,
We are planning to take a 1 week diving trip from San Francisco mid April, and we were considering either Kona or Cozumel. Looking at the comments / posts here (people saying Cozumel is much better), we have started looking at hotels / flights / diving packages for Cozumel and I got confused, so let me summarize my thoughts so far:
1. Dive Quality: People say Cozumel is way nicer than Kona for scuba, but looking at the videos posted on Youtube, I could not see the WOW effect for Cozumel? I mean, reefs look washed out, there are different species but you don't see much life (like a few fish here and there), etc. Kona videos have much wider range of corals and again much more lively than Cozumel? I have checked out dozens of videos for each, and as I was saying Cozumel looked pretty bleak to me? Ah, also, not to mention Kona has that spectacular manta dive
2. Prices: Again, people were saying Cozumel is much cheaper / affordable / etc. Again, looking at hotel + dive packages in Cozumel, you can't get anything less than 2.5-3K USD for 6 days dive + 7 days hotel in something like Presidente or Park Royal (basically any 4+ star relatively nice hotel), and diving is around 80 USD per day in Cozumel (2 tank dive) with scuba du or h20. Looking at Kona, you can get Sheraton / Hilton or condos for ~ 200 USD, and dives are a bit more expensive (like 100 USD instead of 80). So, I don't see how Cozumel is cheaper, leave aside much cheaper?
3. Flights: Much more painful for Cozumel and definitely more expensive, i.e. you have to fly thru' Houston, waits between flights are like 5 hours, etc.
Am I missing something obvious here? Would appreciate it if you can shed some light here...
You might consider posting this question over in the Hawaii forum as well, to see what the team Kona has to say.
Dear Skittl1321,
The Villa Aldora has 5 suites with full kitchens, the others have kitchenettes with Refer, microwave, coffee maker, dining area, etc. Furthermore it is just a few steps further to the north from downtown than SCC is to the south. Maybe the best part is that there are no cruise ship weenies up here.
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
The Villa Aldora has 5 suites with full kitchens, the others have kitchenettes with Refer, microwave, coffee maker, dining area, etc. Furthermore it is just a few steps further to the north from downtown than SCC is to the south. Maybe the best part is that there are no cruise ship weenies up here.
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
My 2 cents.
I have been diving the following locations:
Australia (Great Barrier Reef)
Cozumel Island, Mexico
Bahamas
Bonaire
Cayman Islands
Florida Keys
Great Lakes
Greece
Hawaii (Big Island)
Honduras (Roatan)
South Korea (Jeju Is.)
Thailand
Turks & Caicos
Florida caves
I have been to Cozumel many times, and I love it there. The diving is fantastic and cheap. Cozumel is my favorite diving location. After going there for many years, Scuba Club Cozumel is the only place that I will consider.
We spent 3 weeks diving on Kona and Kohala coast of the Big Island about a year ago. The flights to Hawaii were long and expensive and we were packed in like sardines. It is extremely expensive to stay in Hawaii, and we probably won't go back for that reason. Our airline tickets to Hawaii were 3 times what it costs us to fly to Cozumel.
We did all shore diving on the Kona and Kohala coast. It is a totally different ecosystem than Cozumel, and rather boring when compared with Cozumel. Since the islands are shield volcanoes, the ground gently slopes down to great depth. The reefs folow the countour and gradually slope down. Somewhere around 80-100 feet the reefs end and after that there is just an empty sand slope.
The one exception to the shore diving was the Kona manta dive. I have to say that it was utterly spectacular and surreal, and is something that you should do before you die.
Your other option for Coz is to fly into Cancun and transfer. Not worth the hassle in my opinion, but it is another option, sometimes a lot cheaper.
I have been diving the following locations:
Australia (Great Barrier Reef)
Cozumel Island, Mexico
Bahamas
Bonaire
Cayman Islands
Florida Keys
Great Lakes
Greece
Hawaii (Big Island)
Honduras (Roatan)
South Korea (Jeju Is.)
Thailand
Turks & Caicos
Florida caves
I have been to Cozumel many times, and I love it there. The diving is fantastic and cheap. Cozumel is my favorite diving location. After going there for many years, Scuba Club Cozumel is the only place that I will consider.
We spent 3 weeks diving on Kona and Kohala coast of the Big Island about a year ago. The flights to Hawaii were long and expensive and we were packed in like sardines. It is extremely expensive to stay in Hawaii, and we probably won't go back for that reason. Our airline tickets to Hawaii were 3 times what it costs us to fly to Cozumel.
We did all shore diving on the Kona and Kohala coast. It is a totally different ecosystem than Cozumel, and rather boring when compared with Cozumel. Since the islands are shield volcanoes, the ground gently slopes down to great depth. The reefs folow the countour and gradually slope down. Somewhere around 80-100 feet the reefs end and after that there is just an empty sand slope.
The one exception to the shore diving was the Kona manta dive. I have to say that it was utterly spectacular and surreal, and is something that you should do before you die.
Your other option for Coz is to fly into Cancun and transfer. Not worth the hassle in my opinion, but it is another option, sometimes a lot cheaper.
hankthecowdog
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I learned to dive when I lived on Oahu, have done a liveaboard at Kona. Have taken about 20 dive trips to Cozumel.
Dive Quality. In one week at Kona I dove with many turtles, dolphins, and some giant manta rays on most dives. Saw hammerhead sharks, sponge fish, two tiny lion fish, spainish dancers. Some eels who's teeth would give a barracuda nightmares, an eel that looked like a red plastic dragon. Kona diving can be awesome, but in general Cozumel has it so out classed with the colors, the giant coral formations, giant sponges, tons more fish, you will get tired of seeing big lion fish, splendid toad fish, lobster, giant green morey. The fast drift is more of an adventure.
Prices. It's dishonest to compare the best hotel in Cozumel to lower middle of the road Kona. According to trip adviser the cheapest hotel in Cozumel is $35 a night, I have friends who stay there every trip, simple, clean, distinctly Mexican. Cheapest in Kona is about $125 and you know it's gonna be a run down motel 6 far from where you want to be. The place I usually stay in Cozumel is under $100 a night and my patio is 30 yards from the ocean, an easy walk to the main square, I don't even want to guess what that would cost in Kona.
Eating out is great in both places and a simple plate lunch in Kona is reasonable and I just love a plate lunch. But in general eating out in Cozumel is just a little cheaper than the same thing in the US. In Hawaii as you get away from fast food it quickly becomes two or three times mainland prices. Groceries in Cozumel can be quite a bit cheaper than US, in Hawaii way more.
You don't need a car in Cozumel. You really need one in Kona.
Boat diving is about the same price, maybe just a little more in Hawaii. But in Hawaii shore diving and snorkeling are strong less expensive options, not so great at Cozumel.
Flights. You are right.
Topside. Cozumel has Punta Sur national park, some nice backside deserted beaches. Better bang for the buck dining. A culture not so tightly intertwined with the tourist industry. Cozumel has much friendlier non tourist industry employed locals. Much less crime and petty crime. Much less chance of negative encounters with residents. But Hawaii is paradise. Outragous day hikes. Many museums and parks and great private tours and attractions. Whales in the winter, big surf in the winter, smells good, Volcano national park for Christ's sake!!!!! Endless options at any price range and all paradise. Hawaii has Cozumel so outclassed in this aspect.
As you can see I am a big fan of both places, and you should go to both places. But because I dive so much and in the end I spend about 1/3 less I take so many more trips to Cozumel. If you are less into all out diving and have more disposable income Kona may be your better vacation.
Dive Quality. In one week at Kona I dove with many turtles, dolphins, and some giant manta rays on most dives. Saw hammerhead sharks, sponge fish, two tiny lion fish, spainish dancers. Some eels who's teeth would give a barracuda nightmares, an eel that looked like a red plastic dragon. Kona diving can be awesome, but in general Cozumel has it so out classed with the colors, the giant coral formations, giant sponges, tons more fish, you will get tired of seeing big lion fish, splendid toad fish, lobster, giant green morey. The fast drift is more of an adventure.
Prices. It's dishonest to compare the best hotel in Cozumel to lower middle of the road Kona. According to trip adviser the cheapest hotel in Cozumel is $35 a night, I have friends who stay there every trip, simple, clean, distinctly Mexican. Cheapest in Kona is about $125 and you know it's gonna be a run down motel 6 far from where you want to be. The place I usually stay in Cozumel is under $100 a night and my patio is 30 yards from the ocean, an easy walk to the main square, I don't even want to guess what that would cost in Kona.
Eating out is great in both places and a simple plate lunch in Kona is reasonable and I just love a plate lunch. But in general eating out in Cozumel is just a little cheaper than the same thing in the US. In Hawaii as you get away from fast food it quickly becomes two or three times mainland prices. Groceries in Cozumel can be quite a bit cheaper than US, in Hawaii way more.
You don't need a car in Cozumel. You really need one in Kona.
Boat diving is about the same price, maybe just a little more in Hawaii. But in Hawaii shore diving and snorkeling are strong less expensive options, not so great at Cozumel.
Flights. You are right.
Topside. Cozumel has Punta Sur national park, some nice backside deserted beaches. Better bang for the buck dining. A culture not so tightly intertwined with the tourist industry. Cozumel has much friendlier non tourist industry employed locals. Much less crime and petty crime. Much less chance of negative encounters with residents. But Hawaii is paradise. Outragous day hikes. Many museums and parks and great private tours and attractions. Whales in the winter, big surf in the winter, smells good, Volcano national park for Christ's sake!!!!! Endless options at any price range and all paradise. Hawaii has Cozumel so outclassed in this aspect.
As you can see I am a big fan of both places, and you should go to both places. But because I dive so much and in the end I spend about 1/3 less I take so many more trips to Cozumel. If you are less into all out diving and have more disposable income Kona may be your better vacation.
Skittl1321
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That does sound awesome! Thanks for clarifying.
Are there more reasonably priced dive ops in Kona? The ones I've looked at were more than just a little more expensive than Cozumel. Going down the list from my "kona scuba" google:
(prices are quoted without equipment, standard 2-tank morning dive, aluminum 80s)
Kona Honu: $125
Scuba Diving Rates & Packages | Kona Honu Divers
Jack's Diving Locker: $125
2-Tank Morning Boat Dives | Jack's Diving Locker | Jack's Diving Locker
Big Island Divers: $130
Diving Hawaii, Morning Dives off Kona's Coast with Manta Ray Night Scuba Snorker
Kona Diving Company: $130
2 Tank AM Boat Dive
Kohala Divers: $139
Scuba Diving in Hawaii with Kohala Divers
Given that I pay $85 for one of the most expensive dive ops on Cozumel for two steel 120s and one can find reputable dive shops that will charge less then $70 for two aluminum 80s, I believe the difference in the cost of diving can add up substantially over multiple dive days.
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