Which Operator if Diving for 4 days & finished each day by lunchtime (have Advance Certification)

[ggunn]

That would be Salty Endeavors: Cozumel Scuba Diving Best Dive Shop Cozumel Mexico
Henry does run an outstanding Op out of the northern marina.

Do they actually boast of being the "best dive shop Cozumel Mexico" on their website? That there's some pretty big talk.

 

[Zman96]

Aldora, Pepe, Island Divers are all shops I have used from up north. Aldora will not have you back by noon unless you have dove the northern sites, as their dives are typically 70 minutes plus depending on the particular dive profile. I love staying north, but it does make for a longer day since the majority of the diving is done 30-60 minutes by boat south of there. For me that is not a deal breaker and my non diving spouse and the rest of the group know I wont be back until 130-2 depending on the dive sites that day.

 

[sefuchs]

jonhall put together a fantastic spreadsheet identifying details of most dive shops in Coz. "Finding the (Best) Dive Shop in Cozumel" is the first thread in the Cozumel forum and loaded with great info.

I agree with Zman96's comments, essentially all the reefs are south so your travel time is about the same via boat from northern marina or driving to southern marina to jump on the boat. Depending on which reefs you dive the total time vary 30-60 minutes as well. If you want to get back by noonish you probably should find a dive op that leaves by 7-8 am. I dive with ScubaLife Cozumel which leaves the southern marina at 9:00 am and gets back at 1:30 +/- 30 minutes. Your drive from the southern marina to where you are staying is probably 15-25 minutes depending on cruise ship tourists along waterfront. If you drive to southern marina avoid downtown, circle around on 65th Ave.

 

[ggunn]

jonhall put together a fantastic spreadsheet identifying details of most dive shops in Coz. "Finding the (Best) Dive Shop in Cozumel" is the first thread in the Cozumel forum and loaded with great info.

I agree with Zman96's comments, essentially all the reefs are south so your travel time is about the same via boat from northern marina or driving to southern marina to jump on the boat. Depending on which reefs you dive the total time vary 30-60 minutes as well. If you want to get back by noonish you probably should find a dive op that leaves by 7-8 am. I dive with ScubaLife Cozumel which leaves the southern marina at 9:00 am and gets back at 1:30 +/- 30 minutes. Your drive from the southern marina to where you are staying is probably 15-25 minutes depending on cruise ship tourists along waterfront. If you drive to southern marina avoid downtown, circle around on 65th Ave.

I agree; staying north and getting back by noon is a bit of a tall order. It depends a lot on which reefs you are diving, but be advised that most small boat ops choose dive sites by consensus of divers aboard.

 

[Charred]

You want to pick an op with extremely fast boats if you are staying in town. I can only recommend Tres Pelicanos also referred to here as 3P.

I'll give you a pro tip to get back early. For the second dive, ask to dive on the sites already half way home like Yucab, Tormentoes or Paso de Cedral. Or the top of Santa Rosa wall. Then you are half way home during your surface interval and and quickly zoom in after the second dive. Avoid sites like Palancar Gardens or Columbia Shallows.

I see Aldora mentioned a lot. Great op, my primary choice, but you will not be back before 1. Long dives with long surface interval. I suppose if you have a group of 4-6 you might enquire about a private boat and tell them you want 60 minute dives and back by noon. But that would be missing the point of them. Big tanks and long dives.

 

[ggunn]

For the second dive, ask to dive on the sites already half way home like Yucab, Tormentoes or Paso de Cedral. Or the top of Santa Rosa wall. Then you are half way home during your surface interval and and quickly zoom in after the second dive. Avoid sites like Palancar Gardens or Columbia Shallows.

But keep in mind that you cannot dictate where the boat goes unless you guys are the only ones on it. You can ask and vote, but consensus rules.