Where to Stay

[in too deep]

Hello,

Flying from Ottawa, Canada on the 5th of April to the 12th, this flight is the best option...
Looking for a place to stay and dive from, I have an email to Blue Angel Resort, however, the 5th and 6th are booked based on using their website, I'd change my flight days but this would increase flying time from 6.5 hours to 20 hours!! So in the event Blue Angel can't provide accommodation can you provide me some options that I can enquire. I've been to Cozumel twice, once back in the late 80's at an all inclusive, and in 2013 at Blue Angel, so not much experience with where to dive and stay.

Thanks.

 

[DjDiverDan]

My preference is to stay downtown, or near downtown, and to dive with one of the ops that pick up at the downtown pier - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos, etc. I LOVE the dining options on Cozumel, nearly all of which are downtown, which is why I won't do AI on Cozumel. As to Downtown lodging, try Casa Mexicana (nicest hotel downtown, IMO, great breakfast buffet, very close to Aldora Pier, which other Ops also use, but marginal pool - just a small splash pool, really), Suites Bahia (older hotel, cheaper, includes the breakfast buffet at Casa Mexicana), Suites Colonial, Hotel Plaza Cozumel (right across from Ferry Pier, has pool on roof), Hotel La Casona Real (cheapest option, about 3 blocks back from North end of the Plaza, has a pool, about a 7 or 8 block walk to dive pickup pier). For nicer big hotel with more of a "resort" feel, there's Hotel Cozumel, but DON'T do the AI option (food is terrible, IMO) unless you plan on drinking your money's worth. It's about a 15 minute walk to downtown for meals, but I believe that most dive ops will pick you up at the Dive Paradise pier across the street (house dive op is Dive Paradise; OK, but not my cup of tea; I'd go with another top end Dive Op).

 

[MMM]

Check to see if ScubaClub has any availability. You will be required to dive with their op but lots of people love them. Another option (more "budget" but in town on the water) would be Barracuda Hotel (nice pool/bar area) and diving with Dive Paradise that operates from there. Vista Del Mar hotel is across the street from where Aqua Safari departs. There are also some nice B&Bs in town if that interests you but you will need to book with an op that picks up in town. I live right downtown so that is de rigeur for me.

 

[in too deep]

Thank you both for the quick replies. I'll research them. AI and drinking does not appeal to me, diving, convenience, and good food, does though.

 

[in too deep]

Booked flight and hotel for April 5th to the 12th, staying at Casa Mexicana. Need to book diving now...I assume these are my options as stated - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos...

 

[DjDiverDan]

Booked flight and hotel for April 5th to the 12th, staying at Casa Mexicana. Need to book diving now...I assume these are my options as stated - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos...

There are others - just look at some other threads on preferred Dive Ops. Cozumel has a lot of very good dive ops.

 

[MMM]

Booked flight and hotel for April 5th to the 12th, staying at Casa Mexicana. Need to book diving now...I assume these are my options as stated - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos...

Living Underwater picks me up downtown but I think it depends on how many divers he has staying north of the caleta. Deep Blue also leaves from downtown. Aqua Safari is very close to your hotel as well. Dive Paradise picks up at the Barracuda Hotel which is also close. Tres Pelicanos boat doesn't actually pick up downtown...they arrange to drive you south to caleta to meet your boat. Your choices are much, much broader if you are willing to cab it to the caleta but personally, I wouldn't if I was staying in town as you are.

 

[in too deep]

I'm liking the idea of Aldora.
I've sent out a few emails including them for details...

 

[Trailboss123]

Booked flight and hotel for April 5th to the 12th, staying at Casa Mexicana. Need to book diving now...I assume these are my options as stated - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos...

And Blue Magic: Cozumel Diving, Cozumel Scuba Diving, Cozumel Diving Packages, Lessons, Snorkeling, Blue Magic Scuba - Also downtown and within walking distance of your hotel.

 

[deepsea21]

Booked flight and hotel for April 5th to the 12th, staying at Casa Mexicana. Need to book diving now...I assume these are my options as stated - Aldora, Blue XT-Sea, Tres Pelicanos...

Congrats on the Casa Mexicana! It's been our home away from home for the past 14-15 years in Coz. With regard to a dive op... It's no secret we are now diving with Tres Pelicanos. 3P's shop is right around the corner at the back of the block the Casa sits on. The Casa's massive breakfast buffet will open at 7AM and you'll have 35 minutes to totally stuff your face and enjoy before a 5 min walk around the corner to 3P's dive shop for their courtesy transport down to the boats and back. No worries about hauling and rinsing gear and such... 3P's takes care of EVERYTHING including all neoprene. You drop it off at the shop the day you arrive and pick it all up from the shop when your your diving is done and you are ready to depart the island. It is just that easy. Aldora & Blue XT are also highly regarded here so I am quite certain you'd be equally pleased with them but since we found 3P's 3 years ago and have logged 6 weeks of diving with them, we are obviously very happy with them and have no need to look any further... It's boutique diving without the boutique price. HAVE FUN!