Begining Diver First Trip To Cozumel

[Shawn Northrop]

Hi, I am new to the diving community and just came across this site!!! I am getting ready for a trip to Cozumel and was looking for any insight, recommendations and general thoughts.

I will be spending this Mon - Sat on the Island and am hoping to get some more diving experience. About a year ago I got my open water certification through PADI. I did 6 dives during this time and haven't had another chance since. I came across Pro Dive Mexico, as they are affiliated with my hotel. Has anyone had any experience with them? They quoted me $366 USD for 2 dives x 3 days. Does this sound reasonable? It includes rental gear (?) not sure if this is for renting a tank or other gear as well. Any favorite dive spots around? (I'm sure there are a bunch) My very last dive was an 85ft drift dive, again this was a while ago, I had no problems but then again everything was very "fresh". Should I expect to be diving this deep around the island?

I have a bit of research to do, and will be checking the forum and reading up on past posts, but any feedback would be gladly welcomed!!

Thanks!
Shawn

[John Larsen]

I think I would shop around a little those prices seem a bit high but i dont know what all you are getting for that price, this is whom I dive with when I go to czm Cozumel Scuba Diving / Cozumel Dive Shops / Pepe Scuba as for the depth an 85 foot dive is not uncommon but where you have not been wet for a whils I would see if the dive shop will take you on a afternoon 2 tank shallow dive to a site like Palancar shallows and paradise reef both are great dives and shallow 35-40 feet its a good dive to refresh your skills before you go any deeper.

[mstevens]

Most people here tend towards independent dive shops with small, fast boats. Give anyone half a chance and they'll tell you their favorite (Blue Magic Scuba for me).

Cozumel diving tends to be deep. It is very likely that you'll be diving to at least 85 feet unless you go to some effort to avoid deeper sites.

All the spots are favorites. The larger operators typically have a schedule of which sites are visited which days. With smaller ones sites are typically selected by the divers in consultation with the captain and DM - conditions change constantly, so we usually go with the DM's recommendation. What are your interests? Big animals? Tiny coral dwellers? Seahorses? Giant coral formations? Swim-throughs? Different sites meet different needs.

Prices quoted as including "rental gear" mean regulator, BCD, and typically computer. It usually does not include mask, fins, and snorkel nor wetsuit. Dives always include tanks and weights in the base price.

[nimoh]

I think $60/dive is reasonable depending on services offered, although there are cheaper ones.

I normally wouldn't recommend an 85ft dive for an OW diver, but it depends on the diver.

One thing I would recommend is a scuba refresher in the pool locally before you leave, but it sounds like you won't have time for that, so I would at least recommend that you make it very clear to the dive operation and divemaster your level of certification, your experience and comfort level.

[simskiscuba]

I was out with Pro Dive this past X-mas break for the better part of a week. Found them to be extremely competent, professional and friendly. Prices were in line with most other places.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend or dive with them in the future.

[judydivescoz]

I think you will be fine diving with your hotels op. Most regulars have their favorite dive op and in this thread you will see lots of recommendations. The price is very high for 1 diver......is it for 2? Most dive ops charge between $65-$85 per 2 tank dive. Many will include rentals. You might want to consider having private DM for your first day diving. Should cost about $50. Have fun.

[cobra269]

Like already mentioned everyone has their favorite dive op. Mine is Dive with Martin. Fast boats, great DM and very resonable prices. Everytime I come to Cozumel I always hire a private DM for my first dive. At $40 I think it is money well spent.

[Ron Lee]

It is Saturday. If the place you got certified has a pool consider doing a quick refresher today if possible.

Which hotel are you using?

[citycountryguy]

We certified with ProDive...they were great, extremely safety conscious and at the same time wanting to make sure folks had an overall enjoyable experience (I heard the staff say to someone on the phone, "for us, the enjoyment begins with confidence of a safety oriented operation...) My experience reflected that. Both safe, and enjoyable. Btw, they have a pool (although shallow) where you can get into the gear and orient yourself, and I'm almost certain they'd take you out on a refresher dive (as mentioned above) if you asked. We were comfortable enough with them that we are going back for more in April. Didn't feel the need to shop around, and booked hotel and diving through them--got a good deal.

Oh, and for them, renting gear means wetsuit, bcd, regulator/guages, weights, tanks, etc. Not mask and fins. I'm assuming that is pretty standard.

[RonFrank]

You haven't provided any Hotel info, so it is difficult to figure out options. But the prices quoted are higher than I have ever seen in Cozumel. 2 tanks a day should not run even $100 a day with equipment rentals. Try Blue XTSea. They are more expensive than many, but less than you were quoted.

Just to provide a reference diving should run $65-85 (2 tanks) and maybe $10-$20 a day for equipment rental. Less if you get a hotel/dive package rate. Maybe that is what you are quoting a price including room? The rate you have been quoted sounds like a inflated cruise ship diving rate!

In Coz its standard to be picked up at a pier on the water. If you are staying at a hotel on the water service from the Hotel pier is common. So for example Blue XTSea picks you up at around 8:00am at the Blue Angle Hotel pier 200+/- feet from your room.

Dives are deep in Cozumel. That is generally not an issue unless you hoover air. Make sure you inform the dive Op of your experience.