Recommended AI for February 2025

[wateraddiction]

We stay at FA all the time. Didn't like Occidental. Would never stay at Allegro. Iberostar is decent and has a great beach until you hit the waterline where it's all ironshore. Cozumel Palace has the best food, followed by Explorean / FA. No dock fees at FA.

Does FA have a kids club? Ours just got certified in Bonaire but I don't know if they'll want to dive 2 tanks everyday. We are at Iberostar for May but now that they're certified, I'm wondering if we should branch out.

 

[Shawn C]

Does FA have a kids club? Ours just got certified in Bonaire but I don't know if they'll want to dive 2 tanks everyday. We are at Iberostar for May but now that they're certified, I'm wondering if we should branch out.

They do. But if you are early morning divers, the kids club likely won't be open early enough. Afternoon dives are ok. How old are your kids?

 

[wateraddiction]

They do. But if you are early morning divers, the kids club likely won't be open early enough. Afternoon dives are ok. How old are your kids?

Currently 10 and 11, will be 11/12 by Dec '25. We want to follow your lead and get a private charter or DM for their initial Coz dives. Thanks for steering us to to IB last year, they loved it and they're looking forward to returning to May.

 

[Shawn C]

Currently 10 and 11, will be 11/12 by Dec '25. We want to follow your lead and get a private charter or DM for their initial Coz dives. Thanks for steering us to to IB last year, they loved it and they're looking forward to returning to May.

We've been bringing our daughter to Cozumel since she was 3 (she's 15 now). We've stayed at 7 AIs on the island and, if our daughter got to choose the resort we stay at, she'd pick Iberostar every time.

Hiring a private DM is an excellent decision as he/she will then be able to focus exclusively on your kids making sure they have great dives. Walter at Sharky's is an amazing instructor/dm and was superb with our daughter. Super patient, kind, knowledgeable, excellent communicator and just a fun guy to be around above and below the surface. Gear is included which can save you a bundle.

 

[MBinDC]

Currently 10 and 11, will be 11/12 by Dec '25. We want to follow your lead and get a private charter or DM for their initial Coz dives. Thanks for steering us to to IB last year, they loved it and they're looking forward to returning to May.

Funny enough, I'm stalking your comments b/c my two of my own kids are right behind yours in terms of our plans (they're now 8 and 10), and I'm very curious to hear about your upcoming experiences with this. We stayed at Aldora while my wife and oldest (14) were getting certified last August. Worked out *very* well, in large part because I skipped diving myself to hang out with the younger two. But next time we come back to Cozumel, I'm going to want to be able to abandon them to get my own diving in

 

[uncfnp]

At FA now and we are very satisfied so far. First AI so no comparison but we are happy with our choice. Came back to our room after our morning dives yesterday and found this on the table. I think the staff knows we are divers!

 

[34109411]

Trying to decide on AI for a February 2025 week of diving. Looking at Fiesta Americana, Occidental, and Allegro. We have diving worked out, so just trying to decide on resort. Pros and cons on the above? Thanks!

i worked at allegro and occidental. Go at Occidental. Aside you should consider Iberostar (better IMO, work there too(.

 

[OregonDM]

Funny enough, I'm stalking your comments b/c my two of my own kids are right behind yours in terms of our plans (they're now 8 and 10), and I'm very curious to hear about your upcoming experiences with this. We stayed at Aldora while my wife and oldest (14) were getting certified last August. Worked out *very* well, in large part because I skipped diving myself to hang out with the younger two. But next time we come back to Cozumel, I'm going to want to be able to abandon them to get my own diving in

We found a wonderful babysitter on our last trip. Her name is Rebecca Uvalde, she is on Facebook as "Cozumel Babysitter". She's an American who has lived on the island for close to 20 years. She watched our 11 year old daughter so my wife could dive my son and I. She is awesome!

 

[lionfish-eater]

People have said the pool tile is cracked and sharp at the fiesta americana. Do your own research if the pool is important.

 

[Shawn C]

People have said the pool tile is cracked and sharp at the fiesta americana. Do your own research if the pool is important.

That's been fixed. In fact, the pool is new.