Want to stay at Xcaret and dive Cozumel

[GinaDeSouza]

Hi there
Want to stay on mainland in Mayan Riviera but dive in Cozumel
Looking at staying at Xcaret Playa del Carmen
What safe professional dive operators are near to Xcaret and have dives to Cozumel
Please advise
Many thanks

 

[mudhole]

Hi Gina, welcome to the Board. This is a world wide group of divers, but there is organization to the madness. At the top of each page click on the "Forums" button and watch a long list of topics opens up. . . scroll way down this list until you find "Regional Travel and Dive Clubs". Open this group of travel messages and go to "Mexico" There are recent post there about dive shops in the hotels vs. dive shops in Playa del Carmen. . . Price and smaller groups of divers per boat seem to favor the small independent shops, and several shops are recommended by name.

Staying on the mainland, you'll have to cross to Cozumel by ferry, and most dive shops on the island, are leaving on the morning dives before 9 am. Some of the shops in Playa del Carmen can make arrangements for a later starting dive with a Cozumel dive operation.

Also, read the Cozumel board for description of dives, and the many, many dive operations, with almost every operator excellent. Diving in the underwater Park is excellent because of the local guides protecting this park. The guides are diving every day and can almost introduce you to every fish. The guides all speak English, and will customize their dive for little or a lot of attention to fit your experience.

 

[Ed Hatfield]

Xcaret is a theme park located due south of Playa del Carmen and Playacar. The Occidental Grand Xcaret is an 'All Inclusive' resort adjacent to the park and has taken the name of the park due to its proximity. I do not believe that there is a town/village that bears the name Xcaret so I am guessing that you will likely end up at the Occidental if you want to stay near Xcaret. Keep in mind that you can stay in Playa del Carmen (or Playacar) and spend a whole day at the park as they all sell Xcaret passes and include transportation if desired. You can visit Xcaret and just take the bus from Playa (or Collectivo) and pay the single day pass at the gate, or get a pass on the internet. I advise you take in the night show on the main stage, it's spectacular. I understand that they now have a package offering a meal with the perfomance (a dinner show) but I don't know how good the food is. I'm actually planning to take in a day at Xcaret in FEB and am contemplating the 'Dinner Show' as my wife and I are treating my mother (70's) who has never been to Xcaret. As far as the diving I don't know if the Occidental has a dive shop 'on premise'. The web site for the Occidental does say they offer diving but that doesn't necessarily mean it is 'on premise'. If not I suggest you stay in Playa and use one of the shops there. The Playa AI's are Coco Bay, Porto Real and the Royal. In Playacar there are several including some Riu resorts. You might consider renting a condo (my preference). Check out the Mexico threads as noted in the previous post. Welcome to ScubaBoard and feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions.