Trip to Cozumel

[mark s]

We are planning a trip to Cozumel this summer. My wife and I are both newly certified divers. We want to go all inclusive on this vacation and stay at a resort that has its own dive shop. We are considering the Allegro, Iberostar and the Reef Club. Like to know about the quality of the food, rooms, etc. of these places. Any opinions?
Mark S

 

[Dee]

I haven't stayed in any of the all inclusives in Coz but I've heard about some of the dive ops located there.

Any of the dive ops can and will pick you up at the hotels you mentioned. I can highly recommend Caballito del Caribe. They are great with beginners, very safe, knowledgeable, and great fun! http://www.seahorsecozumel.com/ We've been diving with Caballito's since our first OW dives, about 5 years. We've tried others and always go back to them. I think you'll enjoy diving with them.

Hope you have a great time.
Dee

 

[Tom]

Another way to go is to contact Christine Roman. I don't have her email with me but I will post it Monday. She is an independent divemaster and instructor that will setup your dives the way you want them. She will find the right boat for what you want to do. My wife and I prefer fairly shallow dives with no or little current where we just lay there and watch the critters. Most hotel dive shops don't seem to be into this.

Our 15 year old son is getting certified in January and then going diving with Christine in March. Wouldn't do it any other way.

Open water certification at 7000 feet in Western Colorado in January? You bet! We have a hot spring that's 60 feet deep. 90 degree water year round. Don't even use wet suits.
The hardest part is getting out of the water in a snow storm. You want to just lay there until about June.

Tom

 

[Warhammer]

Can you point me to more info on the hot spring. Sounds interesting. Pops and I are thinking seriously about another hunting trip to Colorado next fall, this would be a great opportunity to dive that puppy.

 

[Tom]

Christine's email is criroman@cozumel.com.mx
Highly recommended.

I don't have much info on all-inclusives. We are staying at Fiesta Americanna in March because a few nondivers are going with us. Normally we stay at Hacienda San Miguel. It's a small quite place, about 15 rooms, the whole staff is great. No bar, no restaurant, they do bring breakfast to the room. Then you eat lunch on the boat. About 4 blocks north of the plaza it's easy walking to many fine places for dinner. We never needed a resort type for just a dive trip. Besides, it's about 50 bucks a night and airconditioned. The web site is http://www.haciendasanmiguel.com

By the way, I have no connection with either place. Just some very nice people that treat me well enough to deserve a mention.

Tom

 

[Tom]

Warhammer - This is a very unique place that everybody would probably enjoy, but not for the diving. Actually in north-east Utah, the setting is beautiful, right at the base of some of the highest and most rugged mountains in the area. The spring has a high mineral content and after millions of years - give or take a week - a rock rim has built up around the edge and almost closed at the top. I forget the exact height, something like 80-90 feet and shaped like a cartoon volcano. A while back they tunneled through the side at ground level and built a drain. When you enter the inside from the tunnel, you are on a dock type structure at water level, in a round room about a 100 feet across. The roof of the dome is about 80 feet above you with a 15 foot hole in the center. Crystal clear water goes down about 60 feet and stays at 90 degrees year round.
Due to the temperature and mineral content there is no plant or animal life in the spring. Just rocky sides and a silty bottom. They only let you go down 40 feet so you don't kick up silt.

The Crater, as it's called, is located on the property of a resort hotel called the Homestead. Golf, horseback riding, and many other activities. Good restaurants. If you want to drift around in a huge hottub in the most unusual setting you can imagine, you will have a fun weekend. If you want to dive, this probably isn't the place.

For open water certs it sure beats a cold water quarry.

http://www.homestead-ut.com

Tom

 

[joewr]

Cozumel is great for new divers--and more experienced ones as well. We love the Fiesta Americana because it is away from town, has a nice breakfast (buffet and menu), a nice dock where dive boats can pick you up, a great pool area for apres dive, and very pleasant rooms. You can reserve directly or go thru Island Dreams, a Houston company accessible by phone, fax or e-mail.

We have used the Dive House at the hotel and you can get a package from Island Dreams for the hotel and Dive House dives. The Dive House is very convinient since it is on site and has lockers near the dock for your personal gear. We have also dived with other "companies" and our favorite is the Manta Ray (La Mantaraya) whose owner and main dive master is Fernado Gonzales; Fernando is a fine dive master and a degreed marine biologist; La Mantaraya take out groups or six and fewer.

The absolute best restaurant in town is the French Quarter. Hands down the best food! There are lots of mediocre places to eat: generally, if they are along the main street fronting the harbor, they are substandard. We think they specialize in one-time tourists who debark from cruise ships and never return.

Cozumel is a great place--not as exotic as some Caribbean or South Seas locales, but great diving and pleasant people.

Have fun!