I just found out that my company is going to pay for a trip for me to go to Cancun for a business conference in October! WooHoo!! :icon82: I love to dive so there's no question about it, I WILL be taking at least 3 extra days (maybe more) on this trip to do some diving and maybe some sightseeing. My travel options are pretty much wide open but I need some advice from the experts of the Mayan Riviera.
Here's my situation. I am an advanced diver with over 100+ dives under my belt. I've dove in many different Caribbean locations. I spent a week in Cozumel last September. I dove most of the reefs from the San Francisco Wall to Columbia (including all of the Palancar). It was awesome! I've never dove anywhere else in Mexico. I'll probably be traveling alone, unless I can convince my friend to take off work and come with me. I'm not into the partying/club nightlife scene. I'm a diving fanatic - wreck dives, drift dives, night dives...you name it, I'll try it. Diving 5+ dives per day is my idea of an excellent vacation. While diving will be my main focus, I also like unique cultural things and trying new adventures if they are worth taking time away from the diving (feel free to recommend anything that is worthwhile).
So here are my questions:
1. Overall, how well does the diving in Cancun compare to Cozumel? Am I so spoiled now from the diving Coz that Cancun won't compare well? My idea of great diving is beautiful healthy coral, large pelagic, sharks, rays, turtles, and rare creatures, etc. Good picture opportunities are always a plus. As I said my travel options are pretty much open, so I could fly to Cozumel instead, do my diving, and then take a ferry to Cancun for the conference. However, I don't want to waste time traveling for no reason if the diving in Cancun or Playa del Carmen is just as good.
2. Should I consider staying and diving in Playa del Carmen and then go to Cancun for the business conference? I've heard that the Cenotes are neat diving. Can anyone tell me what they like about diving in the Cenotes as opposed to ocean dives? Do the Cenotes contain any mentionable sealife?
3. I'm staying at the JW Marriott in Cancun for the business conference. If the diving is good in Cancun, I'll just stay there the entire trip rather than switching hotels. Is there a decent dive op at this hotel or is there a good dive op that can pick me up at this hotel? I also have a lot of free nights with the Hilton chain. Is there a better option at a Hilton-chain hotel?
4. Is there somewhere else that I should be thinking of that I haven't mentioned? Again, I don't want to travel for no reason, but I don't want to settle for just average or mediocre Caribbean diving either if there is something a short distance away that would provide spectacular or unique diving. To give you a reference, Jamaica was probably the worst Caribbean diving I've done and Cozumel or Curacao was the best so far. I'm trying to search through the threads on this board to get information and ideas, but any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for reading my novel above. I'll be holding book signings at the back of the bookstore...:book2:
TSandM
June 17th, 2008, 09:35 PM
If I were you, I'd schedule a cavern class for your three days off. You've got the experience to do it, and you've seen the Caribbean before. The cenotes are unique, and a cavern class will let you spend time in them AND polish your diving skills.
You can also do cenote tours without taking a class, but you can go to more sites if you get cavern certified.
There isn't much life in the caves, but the beauty inside there is absolutely mind-blowing. HERE' (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/mexico/185645-trip-report-cavern-tours-dreams-do-come-true.html)s my writeup of my cavern tours from last year. I got so hooked, I've made three trips down there since, and I'm now cave certified.
If this intrigues you, let me know; I can recommend an instructor for you, as well as some places to stay.
Diver Lori
June 17th, 2008, 10:19 PM
You're from Georgia, a stone's throw from Cave Country....AKA Northern Florida.
I highly recommend you just do a few cenote dives while in Mexico.....get a qualified guide and use your time well. I've done the diving/work conference thing and it can be hectic, plus you have to pack a little extra since you have to have "work appropriate" clothing for the conference, be it upscale or downscale business casual, literature, laptop, etc.
Will you be renting gear? or bringing your own? You do not want to do a cavern class in gear you are not totally comfortable with.
IF you like what you see in the cenotes, come home and do a Cavern/Intro course down the road in Northern Florida. NFL is THE HUB of cave diving training. I recommend this because, IF you do a cavern course in Mexico, you will be redoing it again should you decide to continue on in your education. NFL cavern diving is nothing like cavern diving in Mexico.....it will kick your proverbial butt....to put it nicely. Since you are in GA, the obvious progression is Florida. Mexico is a piece of cake to the Florida trained caver.....simple as that.
Plus.....living in GA, training in FL will be more reasonable, close, easy accomodations, a huge, huge wealth of instructors from the top agencies to choose from......I could go on and on.
driftwood
June 17th, 2008, 11:49 PM
I just found out that my company is going to pay for a trip for me to go to Cancun for a business conference in October! WooHoo!! :icon82: I love to dive so there's no question about it, I WILL be taking at least 3 extra days (maybe more) on this trip to do some diving and maybe some sightseeing. My travel options are pretty much wide open but I need some advice from the experts of the Mayan Riviera.
Here's my situation. I am an advanced diver with over 100+ dives under my belt. I've dove in many different Caribbean locations. I spent a week in Cozumel last September. I dove most of the reefs from the San Francisco Wall to Columbia (including all of the Palancar). It was awesome! I've never dove anywhere else in Mexico. I'll probably be traveling alone, unless I can convince my friend to take off work and come with me. I'm not into the partying/club nightlife scene. I'm a diving fanatic - wreck dives, drift dives, night dives...you name it, I'll try it. Diving 5+ dives per day is my idea of an excellent vacation. While diving will be my main focus, I also like unique cultural things and trying new adventures if they are worth taking time away from the diving (feel free to recommend anything that is worthwhile).
So here are my questions:
1. Overall, how well does the diving in Cancun compare to Cozumel? Am I so spoiled now from the diving Coz that Cancun won't compare well? My idea of great diving is beautiful healthy coral, large pelagic, sharks, rays, turtles, and rare creatures, etc. Good picture opportunities are always a plus. As I said my travel options are pretty much open, so I could fly to Cozumel instead, do my diving, and then take a ferry to Cancun for the conference. However, I don't want to waste time traveling for no reason if the diving in Cancun or Playa del Carmen is just as good.
2. Should I consider staying and diving in Playa del Carmen and then go to Cancun for the business conference? I've heard that the Cenotes are neat diving. Can anyone tell me what they like about diving in the Cenotes as opposed to ocean dives? Do the Cenotes contain any mentionable sealife?
3. I'm staying at the JW Marriott in Cancun for the business conference. If the diving is good in Cancun, I'll just stay there the entire trip rather than switching hotels. Is there a decent dive op at this hotel or is there a good dive op that can pick me up at this hotel? I also have a lot of free nights with the Hilton chain. Is there a better option at a Hilton-chain hotel?
4. Is there somewhere else that I should be thinking of that I haven't mentioned? Again, I don't want to travel for no reason, but I don't want to settle for just average or mediocre Caribbean diving either if there is something a short distance away that would provide spectacular or unique diving. To give you a reference, Jamaica was probably the worst Caribbean diving I've done and Cozumel or Curacao was the best so far. I'm trying to search through the threads on this board to get information and ideas, but any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for reading my novel above. I'll be holding book signings at the back of the bookstore...:book2:
The previous posts are on the mark. The cenotes are the area's claim to diving fame. I am not a fan of diving off the coast of the Yucatan, it has seen better days. The cenotes are still world class. Do at least one day of cenote diving to see if it is for you. I love it and my wife is bored with the cenotes.
Unique and cultural, take a day and visit the Mayan ruins at Ek Balam. What they found there is literally rewriting the books on Mayan art. I have been to all the major Mayan ruins in the area and that is the only one that I would visit again.
Noboundaries
June 18th, 2008, 03:05 AM
#1. Overall, how well does the diving in Cancun compare to Cozumel?
#2. I've heard that the Cenotes are neat diving. Can anyone tell me what they like about diving in the Cenotes as opposed to ocean dives? Do the Cenotes contain any mentionable sealife?
#3. Is there a decent dive op at this hotel or is there a good dive op that can pick me up at this hotel? I also have a lot of free nights with the Hilton chain. Is there a better option at a Hilton-chain hotel?
#4. Jamaica was probably the worst Caribbean diving I've done and Cozumel or Curacao was the best so far.
#1. The ocean diving in Cancun can't compare to the diving in Cozumel. Low reefs compared to coral towers.
#2. Diving the cenotes is an incredible experience. No sea life, but an occasional teeny fish or non-native Koi. On our next trip to the Yucatan we'll most likely only dive cenotes. See pics below from Chac Mool and Kulkukan cenotes down close to Tulum.
#3. Can't help you.
#4. See #1.
Spratman
June 18th, 2008, 02:03 PM
I suggest you drop a line to Benrmooney@yahoo.co.uk. He is the owner/operator of Mayan Aqua Dive (Mayan Aqua Dive offers Cancun Diving, Snorkeling, Cavern Diving, Cozumel Dives&PADI Courses (http://www.mayanaquadive.com)) in Cancun (Hotel Internationale KM 4.5 Hotel Zone) and customize a trip to your schedule.
The diving around Cancun is very good. Great reefs and marine life, whale sharks and mantas. The eagle ray season is over now. I dive there every trip down. Ben runs a six to eight diver max on trips. Cancun diving may not have the WOW! of Coz, but it is no wise a poor dive location. I think it's apples and oranges comparison.
As the others have said, you have GOT to do at least one cenote. It will make all the other dives you've done pale in comparison.
Diving in the cenotes is a must. I am a relatively new diver 24+ and really had a great time. You cant go wrong. The guide are pretty good and will usually only take no more than four divers. and you have at least two guides. Enjoy
Hyper Jose
fisherdvm
June 20th, 2008, 06:46 AM
If you want to do alot of cenote dives, stay in playa del carmen. The drive from Cancun to the cenotes take 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffics; and they charge extra for the drive. I've seen some nice cenote/reef packages on the net.
I have dove both Cancun and Cozumel before and after Wilma. Lots has changed after Wilma, but Cozumel still has the better corals in the deeper dives.
If you want great deal on hotels, and don't mind dealing with bilingual Mexican travel agents, log on to discoverymexico.com. It is interesting, as you'll find few americans in some of the hotels booked through them - as some of the hotels don't work with the american travel agencies.
MakingBubbles
June 20th, 2008, 09:50 PM
If you want to do alot of cenote dives, stay in playa del carmen. The drive from Cancun to the cenotes take 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffics; and they charge extra for the drive. I've seen some nice cenote/reef packages on the net.
Well that's good to know. Thanks for that information FisherDVM. My buddy has decided that he is going to take off work and go with me. I think that we are definitely going to stay south of Cancun (maybe PDC or Tulum) to avoid the extra travel time each day and extra cost. We're thinking of diving the cenotes and maybe some reef dives. I read TSandM's review of the cavern dives. She said that she went toward Tulum on her dives in the cenotes. Are most of the cenotes closer to Tulum or PDC? My buddy and I are weighing our options right now. We're trying to decide if we should get a car and where to stay. Can anyone provide advice about staying in PDC or Tulum and whether we'll need a car the entire time or if there are other more cost effective tranportation options? We may even stay at an all-inclusive if it's cost effective and would alleviate the need to rent a car the entire time. Thoughts anyone?
Diver Lori
June 20th, 2008, 10:27 PM
Akumal is roughly half way between Tulum and PDC. It's well situated as most of the cenotes you would be diving are either north or south. If you go with an operation that provides a guide, usually the transportation is included.
Do you need night life? Or do you prefer to lay back and relax after the diving is done?
MakingBubbles
June 21st, 2008, 12:07 AM
Akumal is roughly half way between Tulum and PDC. It's well situated as most of the cenotes you would be diving are either north or south. If you go with an operation that provides a guide, usually the transportation is included.
Do you need night life? Or do you prefer to lay back and relax after the diving is done?
We don't really need night life. We're not really the partying late-night types. We're also not looking for high-end accommodations. We just like to relax in the evening, maybe have a nice meal and recap our adventures for the day. We're just looking for a clean place to stay that has decent food readily available most of the time within a short walk so we can eat in-between dive trips or at our leisure without having to get a car. (i.e. if we can save $300 on a car, that's $300 more we can spend on diving and other activities) We're considering a low to medium cost all-inclusive (i.e. <$175/night - right now I'm looking at the Sandos Beach Resort) just for the sheer convenience and it's easy to budget. I realize the food may not be as good as some of the local restaurants, but it is available most of the time and we wouldn't need a car. Also, we could do other activities when we're not diving like snorkeling, sailing, etc. without extra charge as part of the all-inclusive.
Never having been to the Yucatan mainland, my plan may be skewed. If someone can provide advice of a different plan, I'm all ears. I'm not necessarily tied to the idea of an all-inclusive if someone has some different ideas of where to stay, eat and play. I've also kicked around the idea of a dive resort if one is available. Bottom line... I still have plenty of research to do on the area in a very short period of time (I have to book my travel by June 30.) I really appreciate everyone's feedback so far. It has been very helpful. Keep it coming if you can. Thanks.
TSandM
June 21st, 2008, 05:25 AM
I like staying in Puerto Aventuras. Aquanauts, one of the recommended outfits for cenote tours, is located there, and they can pick you up and transport you to the dive sites. October isn't high season, so prices are lower.
My husband and I did stay in PDC at an all inclusive (the Wyndham Maya) in October, for a really ridiculously low price. But it did require we rent a car, and car rental in Mexico is expensive, so I'm not sure we came out ahead in the long run.
If you do a cavern class, your instructor will most likely pick you up each day (depending on who you do it with).
If you want to stay in Puerto Aventuras, contacting Dive Aventuras is a good way to book lodging. Debbie there is very helpful, and I was amazed at the quality of accomodations we got for the price we paid.
Diver Lori
June 21st, 2008, 07:26 AM
If you stay as close to Hwy 307 as possible, you can do all your sightseeing and eating by traveling on a collectivo. Think local transportation. The collectivos run up and down 307 between PDC and Tulum. You simply walk out to the highway and stand there in the direction you want to go and they pull up, you hop in, and off you go. Very clean, a/c and CHEAP! They are 15 passenger white vans that the locals use to get to/from work. Tourists use them too. You don't wait but a few minutes if that for one....they run constantly. My buddy was skeptical first time we took one....thought we'd be sitting on chickens (joking). He was pleasantly suprised and now a believer.
You might want to check out this website for local accomodations in the Akumal area. If you went with the ocean side of Akumal you could literally walk to all your restaurants, and collectivo to others. Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts, Rentals: Mexican Caribbean Vacation (http://www.locogringo.com) The owner/travel agent of the site, Kay, is a former cave explorer in the area from it's early days. You will receive far more information on that site with regards to lodging, etc than you will here. On the other hand, here is where you will get the better dive info. Kay reps alot of resorts in the area too. You will find TONS of information on that site....maps, car rental info......information overload on the area. GO THERE NOW.
There are several dives shops in Akumal proper that can also do cenote dives and ocean dives for you, many in walking distance if you go with lodging in Akumal. Go over to locogrino site above soon and post a scuba/lodging question or do a search for that matter and you'll get tons of responses very quickly. Akumal Dive Center seems to be the preferred op for ocean stuff. Scubabum and Scubagal on that site dive extensively in the area.
I've been going to Akumal and cave diving there for 8 years. I use the same op/hotel every time, but I always use the same guide as well. They are located in Aventuras Akumal, a more sleepy area, no restaurants, etc. But it is next door to Oasis and Bahia Principe. http://www.cenotes.com
driftwood
June 21st, 2008, 11:08 PM
Well that's good to know. Thanks for that information FisherDVM. My buddy has decided that he is going to take off work and go with me. I think that we are definitely going to stay south of Cancun (maybe PDC or Tulum) to avoid the extra travel time each day and extra cost. We're thinking of diving the cenotes and maybe some reef dives. I read TSandM's review of the cavern dives. She said that she went toward Tulum on her dives in the cenotes. Are most of the cenotes closer to Tulum or PDC? My buddy and I are weighing our options right now. We're trying to decide if we should get a car and where to stay. Can anyone provide advice about staying in PDC or Tulum and whether we'll need a car the entire time or if there are other more cost effective tranportation options? We may even stay at an all-inclusive if it's cost effective and would alleviate the need to rent a car the entire time. Thoughts anyone?
There are two sites that you need to visit, Can-Do Maps and travel guides (http://www.cancunmap.com) and Playa del Carmen, Mexico's Virtual Guide Book : Playa.Info (http://www.playa.info) . The cancunmap site has the best maps/guidebooks for the coast and are a bargain. Get both the PDC and Riviera Maya maps. The playainfo site has the best forum for the area.
A transfer from the airport to PDC is reasonable, but one to Akumal is very expensive. When we stay 5 days or less, we can rent a car with full insurance cheaper than paying for transfers. If you stay in Akumal, you will need a car. Prices in Akumal are very high at the restaurants and the grocery store, Super Chomax. We stop in PDC on our way down to 'provision up' for our trips. Driving along 307 to Akumal is better now that they have expanded the highway from Calica to past Akumal, but can be confusing since the lanes are poorly marked.
Akumal itself is a mixed bag, the beaches are great, it is centrally located with respect to the major cenotes, and the condos are a bargain. On the minus side, the middle and outer reefs are in terrible condition, eating at restaurants is very expensive, and not much is within walking distance unless you stay in 'central Akumal'. We have used the locogringo site that Diver Lori mentioned several time and highly recommend them. For what a good room in PDC runs you can get a beach front condo in Akumal from them. With your friend goes down to Mexico with you, a 2br condo in Akumal is a good way to go.
Get the maps and things will either get clearer for you or become much more complicated. If the dive op, hotel, restaurant, or shop has a website, it will be listed.
MakingBubbles
June 22nd, 2008, 01:37 AM
There are two sites that you need to visit, Can-Do Maps and travel guides (http://www.cancunmap.com) and Playa del Carmen, Mexico's Virtual Guide Book : Playa.Info (http://www.playa.info) . The cancunmap site has the best maps/guidebooks for the coast and are a bargain. Get both the PDC and Riviera Maya maps. The playainfo site has the best forum for the area.
A transfer from the airport to PDC is reasonable, but one to Akumal is very expensive. When we stay 5 days or less, we can rent a car with full insurance cheaper than paying for transfers. If you stay in Akumal, you will need a car. Prices in Akumal are very high at the restaurants and the grocery store, Super Chomax. We stop in PDC on our way down to 'provision up' for our trips. Driving along 307 to Akumal is better now that they have expanded the highway from Calica to past Akumal, but can be confusing since the lanes are poorly marked.
Akumal itself is a mixed bag, the beaches are great, it is centrally located with respect to the major cenotes, and the condos are a bargain. On the minus side, the middle and outer reefs are in terrible condition, eating at restaurants is very expensive, and not much is within walking distance unless you stay in 'central Akumal'. We have used the locogringo site that Diver Lori mentioned several time and highly recommend them. For what a good room in PDC runs you can get a beach front condo in Akumal from them. With your friend goes down to Mexico with you, a 2br condo in Akumal is a good way to go.
Get the maps and things will either get clearer for you or become much more complicated. If the dive op, hotel, restaurant, or shop has a website, it will be listed.
Thanks for the info. I'll check out the maps and travel guides. Is there a bus from Cancun to PDC and/or Akumal? If I understand correctly 5th street is the main street in PDC. If I stay in a hotel near 5th street in PDC, will there likely plenty of restaurants within walking distance? How expensive is the food in PDC? Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a good dive op in PDC? Looking for a shop that is reasonably priced for large dive packages (i.e. at least 6 dives each for my buddy and I in the cenotes, other reefs, and maybe Coz)
TSandM
June 22nd, 2008, 03:38 AM
There are tons of restaurants in PDC, and some of them are quite good. None that we ate at were very expensive. I think 10th Avenue is the street you are thinking of -- it's the transition between auto and pedestrian zones.
Do check out the Can Do maps -- They're really excellent.
driftwood
June 23rd, 2008, 02:02 AM
Thanks for the info. I'll check out the maps and travel guides. Is there a bus from Cancun to PDC and/or Akumal? If I understand correctly 5th street is the main street in PDC. If I stay in a hotel near 5th street in PDC, will there likely plenty of restaurants within walking distance? How expensive is the food in PDC? Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a good dive op in PDC? Looking for a shop that is reasonably priced for large dive packages (i.e. at least 6 dives each for my buddy and I in the cenotes, other reefs, and maybe Coz)
The great thing is that the map IS the travel guide. It is a very unique product and worth every penny. We always get the latest edition before we start our trip planning. The entire area is changing so fast that we find new options each year for hotels and restaurants. You will not be disappointed, the best money you will spend for your trip.
The bus from the airport to PDC is the ADO and is a bargain at $8pp. Nice modern bus and plenty of room for luggage. Think of your typical Greyhound bus. Drops you off at the old bus station at Juarez and 5th/10th. The ferry to Coz is close and most of the more modern hotels are a $5 or $10 cab ride away. Most of the AI's are to the south in Playacar and the smaller hotels are generally to the north of the bus station. Look at the map and you will amazed at how many options you have.
There is no 'bus' to Akumal, they system they have is called the 'collectivo', basically a 15 person van. I think they are still about $3.50pp and will pick up/drop off along 307. Great way to get around the coast for day trips, but a lot of luggage will be a real pain. The maps will show you where the Collectivos leave from PDC, Cancun and Tulum. You have to remember that 307 can be up to a mile from places like Puerto Morelos and will feel like longer if you walk into PA. You do not want to walk from 307 to Yal Kul lagoon in Akumal.
For tourists, 5th Ave. is the main street and is a pure pedestrian walkway from Juarez to just north of Constituyentes (sp?). 10th Ave is the last street for cars (north bound) and is becoming a lot more tourist oriented. More places to eat on 5th than you can visit in a vacation and I feel that most are expensive for what you get. There are a lot of cheap eats along 10th Ave, but my two favorites are HC Monterey and El Fogon. You will eat very well at less than $10pp. Both have locations across the street from the Mega at 30th (?) and Constituyentes. No English spoken here and most of the diners are locals. Two other good places are El Oasis (shrimp tacos) and La Tarraya. Oasis in between 5th and 10th on Calle 12 (maybe 14). Tarraya is on the beach around Calle 2. If you stay in PDC a car is more of a pain than it's worth. Every place I have mentioned is within a mile from each other.
Here are three dive shops that I trust, in PDC Geofish, in PA Aquanauts and in Akumal, the Akumal Dive Center. When you get the maps, all the dive shops and their addresses will be listed and there are a lot of them. In fairness, I think that Laura and Perry missed the shops associated with the big AI's. You might check the AI's site for more information.
MakingBubbles
June 23rd, 2008, 03:22 PM
WOW! Thanks for all of the great information. After looking at all of the travel costs and diving options, I think we're going to stay on Cozumel for 4 days to do the reef diving. We want to do a lot of diving and the reef diving in Coz is about half the cost of dive trips to the cenotes. However, we are definitely not going to miss diving in the cenotes also. On the 5th day, we are going to take a morning ferry across to PDC and have a Dive Op (probably from Cancun) pick us up at the Ferry port to do two cenotes dives and return us to our hotel in Cancun. I am going to contact Ben from Mayan Aqua Dive to see if he can accomodate us. Does any have any other good dive ops that they would recommend that might be able to pick us up at the ferry port and drop us at our hotel in Cancun after our dives in the cenotes?
driftwood
June 24th, 2008, 11:29 PM
Cenotes are expensive because of the level of certification required by your guide to lead you and the very limited number of divers he/she is allowed to escort. If you use a shop in Cancun, they might do the transfer for you. Otherwise, it can be a 2 1/2 hour round trip from PDC to Cancun and that is asking a lot of them.
MakingBubbles
June 25th, 2008, 03:12 PM
Thanks Driftwood. I understand why it costs more to do the cenote dives and I don't fault the dive ops for it. However, bang for my buck, I can get a lot more diving in Cozumel for the same price during the time I am going. I agree that transportation to Cancun would be a lot to ask of a dive op in PdC.
I think I've finally decided what I'm going to do. I'm planning to stay at Casa Mexicana (near downtown and the ferry) in Cozumel and do a bunch of reef diving. Then I'm going to take the ferry to PdC and meet up with Ben and crew from Mayan Aqua Dive (http://www.mayanaquadive.com/) (Cancun Dive Op). We'll dive a couple Cenotes and he can take me back to my hotel in Cancun. Looks like this is going to work out perfectly. I get the best of both worlds at a great price! Thanks again for all of the help from everyone.
alwaysdiving
June 26th, 2008, 02:45 PM
Hi, my name is Alvaro Gonzalez and I´ve been diving and teaching scuba diving for the last 28 years, I have a dive op in Cancun, I do cavern and Cozumel dives to, I know many different cenotes to dive, I´m shure that if you want to have real bottom times and personalized treatment, check my web site, riviera maya professional scuba diving, cave, cavern, open water, experienced dive master, playa del carmen, cancun. buceo profesional en la riviera maya, buceo de caverna, mar abierto, playa del carmen, cancun (http://www.alwaysdiving.com) you are not to be regreat, if you are going to stay in Cz, I can pick you up in Playa del Carmen, at the ferry, the price is 95.00 us dlls per person, gear, lunch and purified water it´s included.
alvaro@alwaysdiving.com
driftwood
June 26th, 2008, 09:05 PM
Thanks Driftwood. I understand why it costs more to do the cenote dives and I don't fault the dive ops for it. However, bang for my buck, I can get a lot more diving in Cozumel for the same price during the time I am going. I agree that transportation to Cancun would be a lot to ask of a dive op in PdC.
I think I've finally decided what I'm going to do. I'm planning to stay at Casa Mexicana (near downtown and the ferry) in Cozumel and do a bunch of reef diving. Then I'm going to take the ferry to PdC and meet up with Ben and crew from Mayan Aqua Dive (http://www.mayanaquadive.com/) (Cancun Dive Op). We'll dive a couple Cenotes and he can take me back to my hotel in Cancun. Looks like this is going to work out perfectly. I get the best of both worlds at a great price! Thanks again for all of the help from everyone.
Have a GREAT trip, it sounds like you have a good plan.
Spratman
June 27th, 2008, 09:30 AM
I hope you have good weather and a very good time! Be sure to post a trip report when you get back. Cenotes are awesome!
dive pro
July 24th, 2008, 12:50 AM
WOW! Thanks for all of the great information. After looking at all of the travel costs and diving options, I think we're going to stay on Cozumel for 4 days to do the reef diving. We want to do a lot of diving and the reef diving in Coz is about half the cost of dive trips to the cenotes. However, we are definitely not going to miss diving in the cenotes also. On the 5th day, we are going to take a morning ferry across to PDC and have a Dive Op (probably from Cancun) pick us up at the Ferry port to do two cenotes dives and return us to our hotel in Cancun. I am going to contact Ben from Mayan Aqua Dive to see if he can accomodate us. Does any have any other good dive ops that they would recommend that might be able to pick us up at the ferry port and drop us at our hotel in Cancun after our dives in the cenotes?
HOLA, FROM CANCUN, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE TO DIVE IN CANCUN AND PICK UP FROM FERRY TAKE U TO CAVERS AND DROP U AT HOTEL IN CANCUN CHECK OUT Manta Divers! Cancun! Cenote! Cozumel Diving ! Whale Sharks! - Home (http://WWW.CANCUNDIVING.COM)
cbonomo
July 25th, 2008, 03:31 PM
My son and I just finished up our advanced open water cert. course with Mayan Aqua Dive. We had a great experience with Ben and his team and cannot say enough great things about them. My son is 14 and some of the dives were challenging. Ben took the time to make sure we understood our dive plans, conducted enjoyable yet safe dives and learned the required material. MAD was also able to incorporate all of our special requests into the program. We did a terrific wreck dive, a deep dive in Cozumel, and practiced buoyancy in the Cenotes. We were able to have a relaxed memorable experience, while obtaining our certification with a very reputable and well run dive company. One other important thing to mention, Bed does not run a diving factory. This is a company where personal service and and a memorable experience are the first priority. I found their prices to be very reasonable, but if you think they cost a little more than some of the other Cancun shops, trust me...pay the extra money and dive with Ben.
mbshelto
July 25th, 2008, 03:51 PM
I just found out that my company is going to pay for a trip for me to go to Cancun for a business conference in October! WooHoo!! :icon82: I love to dive so there's no question about it, I WILL be taking at least 3 extra days (maybe more) on this trip to do some diving and maybe some sightseeing. My travel options are pretty much wide open but I need some advice from the experts of the Mayan Riviera.
Here's my situation. I am an advanced diver with over 100+ dives under my belt. I've dove in many different Caribbean locations. I spent a week in Cozumel last September. I dove most of the reefs from the San Francisco Wall to Columbia (including all of the Palancar). It was awesome! I've never dove anywhere else in Mexico. I'll probably be traveling alone, unless I can convince my friend to take off work and come with me. I'm not into the partying/club nightlife scene. I'm a diving fanatic - wreck dives, drift dives, night dives...you name it, I'll try it. Diving 5+ dives per day is my idea of an excellent vacation. While diving will be my main focus, I also like unique cultural things and trying new adventures if they are worth taking time away from the diving (feel free to recommend anything that is worthwhile).
So here are my questions:
1. Overall, how well does the diving in Cancun compare to Cozumel? Am I so spoiled now from the diving Coz that Cancun won't compare well? My idea of great diving is beautiful healthy coral, large pelagic, sharks, rays, turtles, and rare creatures, etc. Good picture opportunities are always a plus. As I said my travel options are pretty much open, so I could fly to Cozumel instead, do my diving, and then take a ferry to Cancun for the conference. However, I don't want to waste time traveling for no reason if the diving in Cancun or Playa del Carmen is just as good.
2. Should I consider staying and diving in Playa del Carmen and then go to Cancun for the business conference? I've heard that the Cenotes are neat diving. Can anyone tell me what they like about diving in the Cenotes as opposed to ocean dives? Do the Cenotes contain any mentionable sealife?
3. I'm staying at the JW Marriott in Cancun for the business conference. If the diving is good in Cancun, I'll just stay there the entire trip rather than switching hotels. Is there a decent dive op at this hotel or is there a good dive op that can pick me up at this hotel? I also have a lot of free nights with the Hilton chain. Is there a better option at a Hilton-chain hotel?
4. Is there somewhere else that I should be thinking of that I haven't mentioned? Again, I don't want to travel for no reason, but I don't want to settle for just average or mediocre Caribbean diving either if there is something a short distance away that would provide spectacular or unique diving. To give you a reference, Jamaica was probably the worst Caribbean diving I've done and Cozumel or Curacao was the best so far. I'm trying to search through the threads on this board to get information and ideas, but any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for reading my novel above. I'll be holding book signings at the back of the bookstore...:book2:
1) I would not waste a dime diving off Cancun.:shakehead::no
2) I've stayed in Playa and had a great time at a very resonable price.:crafty: I liked it better than staying on Coz. Cavern and Cave diving are two very, very different games and Mexico has some lax laws, rules, regulations about the distinction. I went down there for Cavern diving and went Cave diving with a 'professional' guide. If that's what you want, you're in the right place. You better understand what you're signing up for as Cave diving is a serious game.:D It's spectacular in there but, please, understand what kind of risks you're assuming. The drive from Cancun to Playa ought to take about and hour, give or take.
3) I did a couple drift dives right off Playa and I've never seen so many Turtles in my life. They call it Turtle Grass for a reason. Other than that I was not impressed with the diving right off Playa. I would recommend a single day drift diving off Playa and then some Cavern or Cave diving depending on your sense of adventure. The Cenote diving isn't cheap so be prepared.
4) To get the grand tour you could stay in Playa and shoot out to Coz for a day, off Playa for a day and the Cenotes for a day!!!! That should make you grin!! :rofl3:
Cheers!!!!
mbshelto
July 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM
Great pics!!!
Spratman
July 27th, 2008, 12:14 PM
The reef diving off Cancun is as good as anywhere. Those who say otherwise have either never dove off Cancun, or have been dumped on Chitales reef which is nothing more than a junk yard.
IMO, the only reason for going to PDC and south is cenotes (cenotes are AWESOME). I've seen at least three post here in the last two weeks about crappy dives off PDC. So, it's not so much where you dive, it's with whom you dive. The biggest detraction about Cancun is that everything IS expensive, except the diving...:D
You definitely have plenty of options. Good luck and dive safe!
ben@scorpiodivers.com
July 29th, 2008, 12:17 PM
well said jack,
if you dive with dodgy or big op's, cancun, playa, where ever, your dives are going to be dodgy, quick and you wont want to return again.
there are plenty of healthy reefs and dive sites around cancun and playa you ve just got to find them or the right op to take you there! for me id rather be diving in cancun than cozumel but thats my personal opinion (we all have one or two of those)...... behold puerto morales, m.a.d is heading down there in a couple years time, healthy reefs, deep dives and the c 56 wreck!
docmartin
July 29th, 2008, 09:09 PM
1) I would not waste a dime diving off Cancun.:shakehead::no
Although I am not a fan of cancun the diving there is the fishiest in the region if you go to the right places. significantly more fish than in Cozumel. I also used to think it would be a waste to dive there. I tried it with Ben and had to admit that I had been wrong.
dive pro
July 29th, 2008, 09:53 PM
What I recommend is a little of everything, a 2tank cavern dive, a 2 tank cancun dive so you can check it out for yourself and decide whether it is for you or not, there are a lot of sites some with coral swim throughs but Cancun has more subaquatic life than Coz, when Coz has those huge majestic coral....and maybe a wreck dive in cancun, and you can do all this based at JW Marriott wich is less than a mile away from Manta Divers! Cancun! Cenote! Cozumel Diving ! Whale Sharks! - Home (http://www.cancundiving.com). a small American family owned operation. Also if you really like the walls in Coz. I did not read you mentioning Punta Sur (devil's throat, cathedral) Maybe it would be worth your while checking those out, if you have a dive shop that has dove the walls with you before they will take you, some shops require you to go to a 2 tank wall dive then bring you to Punta Sur.....Hope this helps.
pennypue
July 29th, 2008, 11:06 PM
Hi, my name is Alvaro Gonzalez and I´ve been diving and teaching scuba diving for the last 28 years, I have a dive op in Cancun, I do cavern and Cozumel dives to, I know many different cenotes to dive, I´m shure that if you want to have real bottom times and personalized treatment, check my web site, riviera maya professional scuba diving, cave, cavern, open water, experienced dive master, playa del carmen, cancun. buceo profesional en la riviera maya, buceo de caverna, mar abierto, playa del carmen, cancun (http://www.alwaysdiving.com) you are not to be regreat, if you are going to stay in Cz, I can pick you up in Playa del Carmen, at the ferry, the price is 95.00 us dlls per person, gear, lunch and purified water it´s included.
alvaro@alwaysdiving.comAlvaro!!!! HOLA!
Como estas??
I have to tell you this man is incredible. He is the reason that I learned to dive. :14:
I've had some incredible, wonderful dives with him. Both on Coz and in the Cenotes, and I hope to get to dive with him again.
budman12
July 30th, 2008, 09:57 AM
I am here right now diving with my family.
I was here in May and dove in Cuzamel then came here and did a cenotes dive. On this dive I met a great dive guide. Alvero... riviera maya professional scuba diving, cave, cavern, open water, experienced dive master, playa del carmen, cancun. buceo profesional en la riviera maya, buceo de caverna, mar abierto, playa del carmen, cancun (http://www.alwaysdiving.com) & alvaro@alwaysdiving.com. He did a great job for a my buddy's and me in May and I used him again here with my family. This guy was recommended on this board and I used him.
He asked what we wanted and he delivered!!! Sharks, wrecks,rays and tons of everything else. The 3 kids, 18,22,22 loved this guy and he provides a personel service. He picked us up at the lobby of the resort, took us diving at great locations and brought us back. He is a very profressional diver and I highly recommend him.
Have a great time and keep your bubbles up!!!
alwaysdiving
July 30th, 2008, 10:03 PM
Thanks for your words guys, like I always said, my best dive is the next one, and I have a few of them done already, I will keep doing my best.
alvaro@alwaysdiving.com
riviera maya professional scuba diving, cave, cavern, open water, experienced dive master, playa del carmen, cancun. buceo profesional en la riviera maya, buceo de caverna, mar abierto, playa del carmen, cancun (http://www.alwaysdiving.com)
Nataliaplaya
August 6th, 2008, 08:52 AM
I agree on diving the Caverns or cenotes...its unique and the sensation is like flying...no diving !. If you would like to dive more than one day then is better to stay in Playa del Carmen than Cancun. As you mentioned that you are spoiled about diving, I am sure the caverns will not dissapoint you ! We run our dive shop (Diving Playa del Carmen Dive Shop Mexico Dive Center provides ocean and cavern (cenote) scuba diving trips, padi courses in Riviera Maya (http://www.diveshopmexico.com)), and we have cavern trips with max. 4 divers. If you need anything please let us know or any info about Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya...like local advise !
