Returning to Cozumel 8 Feb. Where to Stay?

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JamesBon92007:
Can you give us some numbers? I've stayed at Scuba Club Cozumel twice so far and when I add up the room rates and a dive package elsewhere it always comes out cheaper at SCC. I keep reading about Casa Mexicana but their rooms are around $100/night and four days of diving is an additional $300. So, for five nights and four days of diving that's $800. SCC usually has a deal for around $540-$580 for five nights and four days of two-tank dives and that includes breakfast and lunch and unlimited shore diving. True that's for double occupancy so if you are a couple and only one dives it's perhaps not such a great deal. Plus SCC is only a couple of blocks from Chedraui, another block to MEGA, and a few blocks from lots of restaurants. The 3Ps don't appear to post their hotel/diving package deals. SCC's dinner package is not so great with only three choices and $20/meal, especially when you can get a lobster dinner a few blocks away at Jeanie's for $23 or eat just about anywhere else for 150 pesos (or less)!
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I don't know much about SCC, but I think you're mistaken about the costs of Casa Mexicana. Sure, the website may say $100 a night, but you can do better. I think the last time I stayed there, I paid about $75 a night, and you can get a room there on Hotels.com for $83 a night (I just checked), while Suites Bahia was about $60 a night, Hotel Plaza Cozumel maybe a few bucks less. I've also stayed at some cheaper places in downtown, like La Casona Real, about 2 blocks back from the Plaza, and a real bargain at about $40 a night (it even has a pool!). If you don't mind spartan conditions, you can find spots in Cozumel for as lie as $25 a night. What I have heard about SCC is that the diving operation is sort of old school - everyone dives as a group, first dive, 85-90 feet, 45-50 minutes, SI on boat for 45 minutes, second dive to 60 feet, 50 minutes. I prefer to may more and get more bottom time. But you can do better on dive packages - I think that Dive with Martin will give you 5 days of 2-tank dives for $305.00
 
DjDiverDan:
I don't know much about SCC, but I think you're mistaken about the costs of Casa Mexicana. Sure, the website may say $100 a night, but you can do better. I think the last time I stayed there, I paid about $75 a night, and you can get a room there on Hotels.com for $83 a night (I just checked), while Suites Bahia was about $60 a night, Hotel Plaza Cozumel maybe a few bucks less. I've also stayed at some cheaper places in downtown, like La Casona Real, about 2 blocks back from the Plaza, and a real bargain at about $40 a night (it even has a pool!). If you don't mind spartan conditions, you can find spots in Cozumel for as lie as $25 a night. What I have heard about SCC is that the diving operation is sort of old school - everyone dives as a group, first dive, 85-90 feet, 45-50 minutes, SI on boat for 45 minutes, second dive to 60 feet, 50 minutes. I prefer to may more and get more bottom time. But you can do better on dive packages - I think that Dive with Martin will give you 5 days of 2-tank dives for $305.00
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I noticed that the street view rooms at Mexicana were less but they didn't sound very appealing :) Even at $75 per night and the Dive with Martin package that's still around $690. I'm not trying to quibble, I'm just trying to find cheaper than SCC with it still being decent and convenient. Right now they have five nights and four days of diving plus a boat night dive for $575. They'll knock about $100 of if you are with a non-diver. And since lunch in also included that saves you another 80 pesos a day at Crazy King or Gorditos ;) The rooms next to the street at SCC have a very nice ocean view, at least the room I stayed in. I agree that most All-Inclusive resorts are not a good deal and I refuse to stay at any place that makes you wear an arm band. And then there's the Time Share people, if you can call them people.

Your description of the dive operation at SCC is accurate. This only annoys me occasionally when I'm under a ledge taking videos and when I emerge the group has drifted away. Sometimes there as so many divers down there it's not easy to find the right group. As appealing as their package deal is at SCC I may consider less-crowded options next time so I can take my time and take my pictures without having to fight for position for a moray in a hole etc., at least for a couple of dives. Who would you recommend for that?

The only thing I saw for $25/night was hostels but, like I mentioned, I found a nice place for $41 with AC, fridge, coffee maker, and a pool. I only did one dive while staying there but with the dive packages you mentioned it still comes to about $665 for five nights, including buying lunch, taxis (if it's too far to walk with your gear), hotel tax, etc. However, when you add another diver the hotel price does not always go up so that can reduce the overall cost. But in spite of the few negatives it's sure nice to have all your gear stored in an outdoor locker next to the rinse tanks, walk a few feet to the dock, get on the boat, go diving, come back, and eat lunch right there.
 
Guitarcrazy:
Thanks for all the input. Has anyone done a stay at Coral Princess and Pepe's Dive shop? They were recommended by a friend. J
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I dunno. To me it looks like one of those big, noisy resorts that makes you wear an arm band. But it comes with a T-Shirt.
 
It has been a few years, but I have stayed at Coral Princess twice. It was very peaceful and had some of the best snorkeling on the island. It is not an all inclusive alas no armbands, not sure about the T shirt lol. Their in house dive shop Scuba Pepe has a very loyal following. Many of the divers staying at The Coral Princess used them and had nothing but positive feedback. My reason for not using Scuba Pepe is the necessity of the shortest boat rides possible. Sadly, my seasickness is not the kind that is resolved after one purge. Instead I am like the guy in Team America(it goes on and on). Staying on the southern end of the island provides the shortest, most direct boat rides.

If you book at The Coral princess, look into renting a one bedroom timeshare. The rooms and patio are quite a bit larger and the price was the same as one of the hotel units..
 
Just FYI, remember that you would be staying in your room looking out the window very much at all. I get Waterfront view for my wifes sake when we stay at Casa Mexicana, but when we stay elsewhere, like Plaza Cozumel, we grab the street view. Not real appealing, but we just simply arent in the room except to sleep! And as mentioned above, the rate for Casa Mexicana is much lower if purchased thru a site like orbitz, or the like. Plus, its hard to beat location wise for being right in town by all the places you want to go. The north and south hotel zones require a taxi ride to get into town, and that becomes a pain in the arse for me.
 
On the Coral Princess web site is says if you book during Scuba Fest you get an "official Scuba Fest logbook and T-shirt."

Cozumel Hotel Deals | Coral Princess Hotel | Cozumel Hotel Packages

For just under $2000 US (plus taxes) you can get a jungle view and nine dives for two people and it comes with breakfast (and, of course, the T-shirt). That's not too bad but I somehow doubt that you will have the dining options that you would get closer to town, unless you take a taxi or rent a scooter (no, I'm not trying to start another San Miguel scooter thread ;) )

I wonder if the 8 T-shirts for $20 people will be adding Scuba Fest shirts to their piles.

Meanwhile, it appears that my girlfriend is already booking our next trip to Cozumel. We haven't been there since last month and she's getting anxious ;) I think I have created a monster.
 
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You can book the Pro Diver Package and they offer 5 nights lodging, 4 days of 2 tank dives per day, unlimited golf (I don't golf, but some may want that), and breakfast for $1084 plus tax. Seems like a pretty decent deal. We use taxis a lot in PDC and they are always pretty cheap so not too worried about that aspect. Thanks for the input. J
 
Guitarcrazy:
You can book the Pro Diver Package and they offer 5 nights lodging, 4 days of 2 tank dives per day, unlimited golf (I don't golf, but some may want that), and breakfast for $1084 plus tax. Seems like a pretty decent deal. We use taxis a lot in PDC and they are always pretty cheap so not too worried about that aspect. Thanks for the input. J
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That sounds pretty decent but I'm still leaning toward Scuba Club's $575 pp for five nights and four days of diving which includes breakfast, lunch, a boat night dive, and is very close to shopping and restaurants.
 
I was just checking using Kayak, and I can stay at Casa Mexica for $61/night in June when I am trying to go. And I love Dive With Martin, so I think I may do that. I dove with them once and loved it. I dove with SCC two times since then because of their special and it was okay, but I think DWM is better for the diving, which is the whole point of going, right?
 
Pro Dive includes Nitrox too:)
 
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