We recently returned from a great trip to Cozumel, 12/24-1/1, diving with Blue Project in Coz and Cenote Xperience in Tulum. Blue Project is a small valet dive op that is run by the husband and wife team of Paco and Blanca. Paco was great at communicating via email months in advance and catering to our group’s schedule which we designed to maximize our diving.
Both Paco and Blanca met us at our hotel after our arrival to pick up our gear, fill out paperwork, and discuss the places we wanted to dive that week. Only one time all week did we have a group larger than the four of us with only one DM. Every other time, if there were others on the boat, there was a second DM or instructor (never more than 7-8 divers on the boat). Each DM we dove with, from Blanca to Nico to Juan (of Tres P fame) were really great. They all had their own style, delivered clear pre-dive briefings, and were very accommodating regarding where we wanted to go. A highlight was that while they were great at pointing things out, they avoided lots of loud tank banging, especially when the bigger creatures would come by.
We saw Giant Spotted Eagle Rays daily, with a few very close and wonderful encounters. Their markings are incredible. Blanca gets the spotting award for the small stuff, finding 3 juvenile drums on a single dive, as well as a bunch of nudi branches. If anyone has ever been out with Jose of Blue Angel, she is easily his equal. She was also a great guide for our kids on the afternoon we took them with us so they could snorkel.
Their boat is fast and full of water, juice, and good SI food. Maya is a skilled captain who knows the reefs and understands how to read conditions. There is always a nitrox analyzer on the boat (not the case with every op I’ve been out with). We never felt rushed to get in or out of the water. We always had a 1 hour SI on the beach and it was obvious that Blanca, Maya, and the DMs like their jobs.
Our day on the mainland with Cenote Xperience was an equally first-rate way of going to Dos Ojos. Nicolas and his brother, Martin, picked us up at the ferry in PDC, brought us to their shop to do paperwork and outfit us with extra neoprene for the divers and the snorkelers. Nicolas gave a great briefing and Martin did a wonderful job of taking care of our kids who were snorkeling. It is clear that these two guys are close and love their work which translates into a great day for all of us. We also appreciate how Nicolas helped to organize a van taxi for us so we could also go to the ruins in Tulum after Dos Ojos. (the taxi union has gotten a lot stricter recently) I had a nice convo with Nicolas about how I might approach getting cave cert in the Tulum area. (we can all dream, right?)
Overall we had a great week and will book with both of these ops again.
Both Paco and Blanca met us at our hotel after our arrival to pick up our gear, fill out paperwork, and discuss the places we wanted to dive that week. Only one time all week did we have a group larger than the four of us with only one DM. Every other time, if there were others on the boat, there was a second DM or instructor (never more than 7-8 divers on the boat). Each DM we dove with, from Blanca to Nico to Juan (of Tres P fame) were really great. They all had their own style, delivered clear pre-dive briefings, and were very accommodating regarding where we wanted to go. A highlight was that while they were great at pointing things out, they avoided lots of loud tank banging, especially when the bigger creatures would come by.
We saw Giant Spotted Eagle Rays daily, with a few very close and wonderful encounters. Their markings are incredible. Blanca gets the spotting award for the small stuff, finding 3 juvenile drums on a single dive, as well as a bunch of nudi branches. If anyone has ever been out with Jose of Blue Angel, she is easily his equal. She was also a great guide for our kids on the afternoon we took them with us so they could snorkel.
Their boat is fast and full of water, juice, and good SI food. Maya is a skilled captain who knows the reefs and understands how to read conditions. There is always a nitrox analyzer on the boat (not the case with every op I’ve been out with). We never felt rushed to get in or out of the water. We always had a 1 hour SI on the beach and it was obvious that Blanca, Maya, and the DMs like their jobs.
Our day on the mainland with Cenote Xperience was an equally first-rate way of going to Dos Ojos. Nicolas and his brother, Martin, picked us up at the ferry in PDC, brought us to their shop to do paperwork and outfit us with extra neoprene for the divers and the snorkelers. Nicolas gave a great briefing and Martin did a wonderful job of taking care of our kids who were snorkeling. It is clear that these two guys are close and love their work which translates into a great day for all of us. We also appreciate how Nicolas helped to organize a van taxi for us so we could also go to the ruins in Tulum after Dos Ojos. (the taxi union has gotten a lot stricter recently) I had a nice convo with Nicolas about how I might approach getting cave cert in the Tulum area. (we can all dream, right?)
Overall we had a great week and will book with both of these ops again.
