divematt
Contributor
We just returned on Easter Sunday from 10 days in Cozumel. This was our fourth trip in 3 years. Rather than break down the trip report into a daily format, Ill just summarize some of the points of the trip.
Unless there is at least a $300 difference in plane fare, I will never again fly into Cancun, take the bus to Playa del Carmen, and take the ferry into Cozumel. What a waste of two days! I know for some traveling in a family the savings can be significant. I have been used to flying from Charlotte, NC to Cozumel in 2 ½ hours and be diving in early afternoon. It just wears you out.
We dove with Blue XT Sea for 8 days. Christi was great, sent us to the sites we requested, and let us dive three tanks per day whenever possible. We very much enjoyed both Shamu and her new boat, Bandida II. Both are fast 6-pack boats with 200 hp outboards. Mago and Adan were captains, and Pedro and Javier were divemasters. Everyone was helpful and professional. Christi had Nitrox ready when requested, and even with aluminum 80s, we had no problem doing 60 minute dives. Most of the time we would dive air on the first dive, 32% EAN on the second dive, and 36% EAN on the third. Christis crew took very good care of our equipment and had it set-up when they picked us up at our hotel pier.
Some of the sites were in fact sand covered, however that didnt distract from the diving as we found the fish life abundant. Plenty of new coral and sponge growth was apparent. Deeper sites have always been my favorite and I found little wrong with any of them. Water temperature all week was 79-80 degrees.
There were no lack of Turtles, large Grouper and Snapper, Moray Eels, Barracudas, Lobsters, Parrotfish, Angelfish, Drum, Scorpionfish, Jawfish, Blennies, Pufferfish, Trunkfish, Cowfish, Splendid Toadfish, Flounder, Sting Rays, Sharks and Eagle Rays.
As a matter of fact, I saw Spotted Eagle Rays on 6 of the 8 days we dove. We saw Nurse Sharks sometimes two at a time.
There were plenty of Jellyfish at the surface on the way in and out of many of the dives so bring your Sea Safe or wear a full wetsuit and be careful.
Dive Sites Visited
Shore Dive at Caribe Blue (26 ft. 38 minutes) Buoyancy check for new wetsuit.
Playa del Carmen Tortugas (72 ft. 55 minutes) 30-40 turtles.
Villa Blanca Wall (81 ft. 64 minutes)
Palancar Caves (93 ft. 62 minutes)
San Francisco (82 ft. 62 minutes)
Las Palmas (91 ft. 58 minutes)
Punta Sur Cathedral (105 ft. 50 minutes)
Palancar Gardens (79 ft. 55 minutes)
Punta Dalila (73 ft. 71 minutes)
Palancar Bricks (92 ft. 57 minutes)
Tormentos (69 ft. 60 minutes)
Colombia Deep (123 ft. 56 minutes)
La Francesa (67 ft. 69 minutes)
Santa Rosa Wall (82 ft. 64 minutes)
Maracaibo Shallows (77 ft. 58 minutes)
Cedral Wall (76 ft. 65 minutes)
Chankanaab Bolones (70 ft. 66 minutes)
Barracuda (103 ft. 47 minutes)
San Juan (67 ft. 60 minutes)
Punta Sur Devils Throat (128 ft. 51 minutes)
Punta Tunich (85 ft. 64 minutes)
We stayed at Hotel Cozumel as we like their large pool, clean rooms, free filtered water, hot showers, cold air conditioning, proximity to downtown, and large parking lot. We rented a car for the full trip.
We rented a VW Pointer with five doors (incl. trunk), standard transmission, and air conditioning from LessPay at the Barracuda Hotel. The car ran fine and took us to all of our favorite restaurants and excursions around the island.
Restaurants
Weve been to several of the other highly regarded restaurants mentioned on this board already on previous trips, so we skipped a few and added a few new ones to this trip. All meals were good with the exception of the very overpriced Jeanies (previously called) Waffle House.
El Pique (Tacos al Pastor)
Cocos (Breakfast Taquitos, Muffins, and Croissants. Fruit Platter)
Coconuts (Cheeseburger, Fish Sandwich, Beef and Chicken Fajitas)
La Choza (Beef Fajitas, Fish Fillet in Mustard Sauce)
Jeanies Restaurant & Bar (Omelet, Waffle and egg platter)
Casa Denis (Mayan Pork Tacos, Cheese Quesadilla, Lime Soup)
Camilos (Fish and Shrimp Tacos, Marlin Tostada, Ceviche, Shrimp Platter)
El Moro (Zachariah Special)
El Foco (Special Tacos, Alambras Tacos)
Tio Jose Café and Grill (Stir fried Chicken, Lasagna)
La Mission Parrilla on 30th (Mexican Combination Platter)
Hogtown Café (Eggs, Hash Browns and Toast)
La Candela (Beef Fajitas, Chicken with Chipotle Sauce)
Chedraui (Various purchases for snacks)
Thanks to Christi and her crew at Blue XT Sea for another wonderful trip.
Matt
Unless there is at least a $300 difference in plane fare, I will never again fly into Cancun, take the bus to Playa del Carmen, and take the ferry into Cozumel. What a waste of two days! I know for some traveling in a family the savings can be significant. I have been used to flying from Charlotte, NC to Cozumel in 2 ½ hours and be diving in early afternoon. It just wears you out.
We dove with Blue XT Sea for 8 days. Christi was great, sent us to the sites we requested, and let us dive three tanks per day whenever possible. We very much enjoyed both Shamu and her new boat, Bandida II. Both are fast 6-pack boats with 200 hp outboards. Mago and Adan were captains, and Pedro and Javier were divemasters. Everyone was helpful and professional. Christi had Nitrox ready when requested, and even with aluminum 80s, we had no problem doing 60 minute dives. Most of the time we would dive air on the first dive, 32% EAN on the second dive, and 36% EAN on the third. Christis crew took very good care of our equipment and had it set-up when they picked us up at our hotel pier.
Some of the sites were in fact sand covered, however that didnt distract from the diving as we found the fish life abundant. Plenty of new coral and sponge growth was apparent. Deeper sites have always been my favorite and I found little wrong with any of them. Water temperature all week was 79-80 degrees.
There were no lack of Turtles, large Grouper and Snapper, Moray Eels, Barracudas, Lobsters, Parrotfish, Angelfish, Drum, Scorpionfish, Jawfish, Blennies, Pufferfish, Trunkfish, Cowfish, Splendid Toadfish, Flounder, Sting Rays, Sharks and Eagle Rays.
As a matter of fact, I saw Spotted Eagle Rays on 6 of the 8 days we dove. We saw Nurse Sharks sometimes two at a time.
There were plenty of Jellyfish at the surface on the way in and out of many of the dives so bring your Sea Safe or wear a full wetsuit and be careful.
Dive Sites Visited
Shore Dive at Caribe Blue (26 ft. 38 minutes) Buoyancy check for new wetsuit.
Playa del Carmen Tortugas (72 ft. 55 minutes) 30-40 turtles.
Villa Blanca Wall (81 ft. 64 minutes)
Palancar Caves (93 ft. 62 minutes)
San Francisco (82 ft. 62 minutes)
Las Palmas (91 ft. 58 minutes)
Punta Sur Cathedral (105 ft. 50 minutes)
Palancar Gardens (79 ft. 55 minutes)
Punta Dalila (73 ft. 71 minutes)
Palancar Bricks (92 ft. 57 minutes)
Tormentos (69 ft. 60 minutes)
Colombia Deep (123 ft. 56 minutes)
La Francesa (67 ft. 69 minutes)
Santa Rosa Wall (82 ft. 64 minutes)
Maracaibo Shallows (77 ft. 58 minutes)
Cedral Wall (76 ft. 65 minutes)
Chankanaab Bolones (70 ft. 66 minutes)
Barracuda (103 ft. 47 minutes)
San Juan (67 ft. 60 minutes)
Punta Sur Devils Throat (128 ft. 51 minutes)
Punta Tunich (85 ft. 64 minutes)
We stayed at Hotel Cozumel as we like their large pool, clean rooms, free filtered water, hot showers, cold air conditioning, proximity to downtown, and large parking lot. We rented a car for the full trip.
We rented a VW Pointer with five doors (incl. trunk), standard transmission, and air conditioning from LessPay at the Barracuda Hotel. The car ran fine and took us to all of our favorite restaurants and excursions around the island.
Restaurants
Weve been to several of the other highly regarded restaurants mentioned on this board already on previous trips, so we skipped a few and added a few new ones to this trip. All meals were good with the exception of the very overpriced Jeanies (previously called) Waffle House.
El Pique (Tacos al Pastor)
Cocos (Breakfast Taquitos, Muffins, and Croissants. Fruit Platter)
Coconuts (Cheeseburger, Fish Sandwich, Beef and Chicken Fajitas)
La Choza (Beef Fajitas, Fish Fillet in Mustard Sauce)
Jeanies Restaurant & Bar (Omelet, Waffle and egg platter)
Casa Denis (Mayan Pork Tacos, Cheese Quesadilla, Lime Soup)
Camilos (Fish and Shrimp Tacos, Marlin Tostada, Ceviche, Shrimp Platter)
El Moro (Zachariah Special)
El Foco (Special Tacos, Alambras Tacos)
Tio Jose Café and Grill (Stir fried Chicken, Lasagna)
La Mission Parrilla on 30th (Mexican Combination Platter)
Hogtown Café (Eggs, Hash Browns and Toast)
La Candela (Beef Fajitas, Chicken with Chipotle Sauce)
Chedraui (Various purchases for snacks)
Thanks to Christi and her crew at Blue XT Sea for another wonderful trip.
Matt
How big is the trunk? We are going in July and AC + cheap rental would sure beat a Jeep!
