Hotel/Dive Shop Recommendation in Coz?

[94GTStang]

We just got back from FA Sunday and loved it for the 3rd time we've stayed there. The rooms are always well kept and the views are always nice. We don't do AI since we go to the supermarket and buy our own food to make breakfast and lunch. There are way too many amazing restaurants in town to eat dinner at.
I haven't dove with any other dive op then Raul with bottomtimedivers.net.

 

[Rustydiver]

We just got back from FA Sunday and loved it for the 3rd time we've stayed there. The rooms are always well kept and the views are always nice. We don't do AI since we go to the supermarket and buy our own food to make breakfast and lunch. There are way too many amazing restaurants in town to eat dinner at.
I haven't dove with any other dive op then Raul with bottomtimedivers.net.

Will be staying at FA in August. How is the dive shop there? (Dive House) I'm a AOW and the wife wants to take a resort course. What is the price for a first timer check out dive?

 

[jcole]

Christi,

Thanks for the input.

I'm still trying to narrow down the hotel choices... we're considering the FA, Playa Azul, and possibly the Hotel Cozumel. The Cozumel Palace sounds and looks very nice, but is booked for time we are there, June 13-16.

As far as dive operators go, we've read great things about you on this forum and your at the top of our list. However, I did notice that your prices for 3 day two tank dives are a bit more than Deep Blue's. Is there a reason for that, something we should factor in when making a decision?

Thanks!
John

 

[Christi]

Christi,

Thanks for the input.

I'm still trying to narrow down the hotel choices... we're considering the FA, Playa Azul, and possibly the Hotel Cozumel. The Cozumel Palace sounds and looks very nice, but is booked for time we are there, June 13-16.

As far as dive operators go, we've read great things about you on this forum and your at the top of our list. However, I did notice that your prices for 3 day two tank dives are a bit more than Deep Blue's. Is there a reason for that, something we should factor in when making a decision?

Thanks!
John

Playa Azul is a great property, but is another northern zone hotel, so you will have to get transportation from your hotel to the boat each day

Dive op pricing is no different than hotel pricing. You can get your basic no frills dive op with skilled DM's for less than an operator that provides more frills...it's in the service and amenities. Just like hotels, you can pay pay less for a basic room than you do for a premium room and then there's all the in betweens as well. It's not that one is better than the other, that is subjective of course...but some people prefer more amenities and services...so it really depends on what you are looking for in a dive op.

Some of the services we provide that many others don't are: valet gear service (transport, fresh water rinse and storage vs. just a place to store your wet gear for the week), towels, jackets, fresh fruit, light snacks

I'm not the cheapest, and I'm not the most expensive - but I stand by my pricing and what you get for it

 

[mwhities]

<snip>
Some of the services we provide that many others don't are: valet gear service (transport, fresh water rinse and storage vs. just a place to store your wet gear for the week), towels, jackets, fresh fruit, light snacks

I'm not the cheapest, and I'm not the most expensive - but I stand by my pricing and what you get for it

I can vouch for this and this was with being with them for one day. Pedro was my DM and there was one other guy with us. I brought all of my gear to the boat passed it off to Pedro and went to the store. When I came back, Pedro had all of my gear set up and ready to go. (I know some people don't like people touching their gear but, from everything I read on here about BlueXTsea, I had no issues.)

I've had a few boat dives since then and none of them has ever matched the service I received from BlueXTSea. For the amount I paid, I think I had to much service or I should've been charged more. the SI was on a nice stretch of beach with access to rest rooms and showers. they had juice and fruits (I gottaremember what it was..) that was out of this world.

If it weren't for my brother-in-law wanting to use Dive Paradise (I still may sneak away.), I'd use BlueXTSea this October. (I'm actually comparing prices now...). So they still maybe an option.

Michael

 

[94GTStang]

Will be staying at FA in August. How is the dive shop there? (Dive House) I'm a AOW and the wife wants to take a resort course. What is the price for a first timer check out dive?

Wouldn't know. The boats looked nice and big if that's your thing. I never heard any complaints about them though

 

[Christi]

I can vouch for this and this was with being with them for one day. Pedro was my DM and there was one other guy with us. I brought all of my gear to the boat passed it off to Pedro and went to the store. When I came back, Pedro had all of my gear set up and ready to go. (I know some people don't like people touching their gear but, from everything I read on here about BlueXTsea, I had no issues.)

I've had a few boat dives since then and none of them has ever matched the service I received from BlueXTSea. For the amount I paid, I think I had to much service or I should've been charged more. the SI was on a nice stretch of beach with access to rest rooms and showers. they had juice and fruits (I gottaremember what it was..) that was out of this world.

If it weren't for my brother-in-law wanting to use Dive Paradise (I still may sneak away.), I'd use BlueXTSea this October. (I'm actually comparing prices now...). So they still maybe an option.

Michael

Thank you Michael...but I'll tell you if your BIL is price shopping...I'm won't/can't match or beat DP's package price with the hotel. It's apples to oranges. Make sure he understands that the hotel packages they provide are on the BIG boats...not the small fast ones.

 

[mwhities]

Thank you Michael...but I'll tell you if your BIL is price shopping...I'm won't/can't match or beat DP's package price with the hotel. It's apples to oranges. Make sure he understands that the hotel packages they provide are on the BIG boats...not the small fast ones.

No problem.

Yeah, I know. That's the thing that sucks. He only dives once or twice a year. He doesn't care about the boats/people/service. As long as he gets wet, he doesn't care.

Sorry to the OP for :hijackedthread:

If you want great service, go with BlueXTSea.

Michael

 

[jcole]

Here's a related question.

Do most of the dive ops all go to the same locations? Or does it vary according to different factors? ie. group experience, pick up location, conditions, etc.

I've got about 6 dives while I'm there and I want to make the most of them!

John

 

[mwhities]

Most usually it all depends on the experience of all the divers. Otherwise, all ops have access to the same sites.

Michael