Staying Downtown and diving at a shop 30 min away?

[GirlonFire]

Hello all, I am planning my first trip to CZM and will be with my non diving boyfriend. I would think staying downtown will give us a lot of food choices and bars.
Hotel wise, could be one one of the Casa Mexicana hotels and dive wise I’m looking at a few dive shops walking distance and Dressel.

Is it worth the commute time to dive out of Iberostar? Their pricing is attractive and the free taxi is nice but will I feel stuck during SI’s?
My boyfriend is ok with me doing as much diving as I want but I plan on doing only morning dives, a few days of afternoon dives and maybe one night dive. I have 5 full days to dive.
I prefer smaller groups with divers comfortable and competent with their skills. I will have a small camera rig and am easy going but am unhappy when dives are cut short or in too mixed of a group.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[Christi]

Would not make any sense at all to dive with Dressel - you're looking at a 30+ minute taxi ride each way. There are several shops that will pick you up downtown and will be a much better experience. Dressel also does not have small groups, they are large resort boats with 20+ people

 

[Manatee Diver]

Is it worth the commute time to dive out of Iberostar? Their pricing is attractive and the free taxi is nice but will I feel stuck during SI’s?

The last time I was in Cozumel there was a dude that was staying downtown, but was catching a ride with the boat at the marina down to southern resort I was staying at. It is a long ride, and he was stuck until they went home at the end of the day, with limited options for lunch.

 

[GirlonFire]

Would not make any sense at all to dive with Dressel - you're looking at a 30+ minute taxi ride each way. There are several shops that will pick you up downtown and will be a much better experience. Dressel also does not have small groups, they are large resort boats with 20+ people

Good to know! Thank you.

 

[Streydog]

There are a handful of dive ops that will pick you up and drop you off from a pier a couple blocks from Casa Mexicana. They all store your gear and will have it ready for you. They are all highly rated, dive with smaller groups and have fast boats. You will be able to give your input on what dive sites you are going to too.

 

[MMM]

Nope. Not worth your time, even if they are providing a free taxi. I get picked up at the downtown pier. I enjoy the boat ride to wherever we are going in a small, fast boat that comes with boat coats (you will appreciate those in the winter), snacks, beverages, towels, SI at a beach club, and handling of ALL my gear, including my wetsuit. I leave around 8 a.m. and am usually back between 1 and 2 p.m.

 

[DandyDon]

Is it worth the commute time to dive out of Iberostar? Their pricing is attractive and the free taxi is nice

From Casa Mexicana, that's 11½ miles each way, much of it thru heavy traffic. Yuck! I used to ride 4 miles from CM to the southern marina, but I'd hate to ride that far. Nowadays I use an Op that picks me up across the street from CM, then we ride the boat to wherever we decide to dive. As long as you don't deal with motion sickness, it's more fun to ride the boat I think, as well as not as far usually. Take seasick meds if needed. My Op supplies towels and maybe jackets, but I take my own swim towel & space blanket.

I see that Dressel is offering a 20% discount on prepaid bookings, but they don't post rates? Whatever they're charging, I don't like prepaid packages, especially in the winter when many days are blowouts. My Op offers multi-day discounts, but I like more flexibility as well as paying only for the dives I do. Dressel may offer to take you out on make-up dives on your next trip, but I wouldn't go for that. Too many ways for that to go bad. If you do get blownout some days, spend time in town with your BF and replan your dives without the complications.

but will I feel stuck during SI’s?

Well, SIs are done on the beach close to diving so you're not going to see your BF, regardless of whom you dive - unless your chosen Op has a set diving plan and beach clubs to visit, and he taxis down to meet you. I like more flexibility.

 

[ChuckP]

Casa Mexicana? Great breakfast, have heard good things about the place and best of all - within crawling distance of two piers serviced by many great dive ops!!

I suppose it’s great also that you’re right in town for the sunsets, drinks and dinner

 

[GirlonFire]

Nope. Not worth your time, even if they are providing a free taxi. I get picked up at the downtown pier. I enjoy the boat ride to wherever we are going in a small, fast boat that comes with boat coats (you will appreciate those in the winter), snacks, beverages, towels, SI at a beach club, and handling of ALL my gear, including my wetsuit. I leave around 8 a.m. and am usually back between 1 and 2 p.m.

Can you say which shop?

 

[Streydog]

MMM's dive shop is Living Underwater. The other ops I know of that pick up in town: Christi's Blue XT Sea, the op Dandydon uses is Salty Endeavors and Aldora Divers. I am sure there are others. They all operate a little differently but I don't think you would go wrong with any of them. Read through the FAQ on each of their websites as well as several post on here to help you decide who to use. There are quite a few other dive ops that will leave from the southern marina too.