editmojo
Contributor
Just spent a week at Couples Negril.
THE DIVING:
Cozumel was my first salt water dives and I have some very vivid memories. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by Negril. Overall there were fewer and smaller fish then Cozumel. However, the DMs pointed out the smaller stuff, Blue Chromis, Wrasses, a juvenile Drum. Once I started looking for the small stuff the dives were very enjoyable. Saw a spotted moray, Trumpetfish, Lots of Squrrelfish, a few Parrotfish and Rock Beauties. A Remora got very attached to me for one dive. And an 8 ft Nurse Shark swam right up to me and posed for a portrait. Dolphins escorted the dive boat one day. We only saw turtles one or two days (hawksbills). In Coz we saw turtles every day.
The terrain is flatter than Coz. No towering coral spires. Visibility was 50-70 ft, not the 100ish we had in Coz. Water Temps in early August were 84-86F. I was fine in a rash guard all week.
The dive sites are all very close to the resort. The longest ride out was about 15 minutes. If Cozumel is an "A", I give Negril a "B".
The DIVE OP:
Very professional. Very safety conscious. The DMs really tried to please everyone. One day there were 2 very experienced British rescue divers mixed in with us OW and ADV divers and 2 couples on a resort dive. We all had a great time.
Twice I was buddied up with guys who had just gotten their OW at the resort. They had very good buoyancy control and knew how to be buddies. I think this is a testament to the quality of the instructors at the resort.
The OP does not require computers so the DM's generally called the dive at 30-35 minutes. By the end of the week, once the DM's got to know most of us "regulars", they let us have 40-45 min. This was actually perfect for my SAC.
Bubbles, the 35 ft dive boat was set up for about 20 divers. It has one of the nicest boarding ladders I've ever seen. We had between 8 and 12 divers and 2 DMs all week. It never felt crowded.
THE RESORT:
When not diving, I have never felt more pampered. Beautiful beach, great food, excellent staff, attentive bartenders. I've been to other All-Inclusives that are more self-service, and that was OK. But Couples really knows how to make you feel special. My wife doesn't dive and has gotten board on some of our excursions, but at Couples she hardly knew I was gone.
All in all, I'm sure you can find better diving in the Caribbean but if your looking for a total "No Worries Mon" experience with some very nice diving included, Give Coupes Negril a try. I know I'll be back. Thanks to Craig, Alain and Brian for a great time. (I'm sure Alain planted that remora on me.)
THE DIVING:
Cozumel was my first salt water dives and I have some very vivid memories. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by Negril. Overall there were fewer and smaller fish then Cozumel. However, the DMs pointed out the smaller stuff, Blue Chromis, Wrasses, a juvenile Drum. Once I started looking for the small stuff the dives were very enjoyable. Saw a spotted moray, Trumpetfish, Lots of Squrrelfish, a few Parrotfish and Rock Beauties. A Remora got very attached to me for one dive. And an 8 ft Nurse Shark swam right up to me and posed for a portrait. Dolphins escorted the dive boat one day. We only saw turtles one or two days (hawksbills). In Coz we saw turtles every day.
The terrain is flatter than Coz. No towering coral spires. Visibility was 50-70 ft, not the 100ish we had in Coz. Water Temps in early August were 84-86F. I was fine in a rash guard all week.
The dive sites are all very close to the resort. The longest ride out was about 15 minutes. If Cozumel is an "A", I give Negril a "B".
The DIVE OP:
Very professional. Very safety conscious. The DMs really tried to please everyone. One day there were 2 very experienced British rescue divers mixed in with us OW and ADV divers and 2 couples on a resort dive. We all had a great time.
Twice I was buddied up with guys who had just gotten their OW at the resort. They had very good buoyancy control and knew how to be buddies. I think this is a testament to the quality of the instructors at the resort.
The OP does not require computers so the DM's generally called the dive at 30-35 minutes. By the end of the week, once the DM's got to know most of us "regulars", they let us have 40-45 min. This was actually perfect for my SAC.
Bubbles, the 35 ft dive boat was set up for about 20 divers. It has one of the nicest boarding ladders I've ever seen. We had between 8 and 12 divers and 2 DMs all week. It never felt crowded.
THE RESORT:
When not diving, I have never felt more pampered. Beautiful beach, great food, excellent staff, attentive bartenders. I've been to other All-Inclusives that are more self-service, and that was OK. But Couples really knows how to make you feel special. My wife doesn't dive and has gotten board on some of our excursions, but at Couples she hardly knew I was gone.
All in all, I'm sure you can find better diving in the Caribbean but if your looking for a total "No Worries Mon" experience with some very nice diving included, Give Coupes Negril a try. I know I'll be back. Thanks to Craig, Alain and Brian for a great time. (I'm sure Alain planted that remora on me.)
It's nice to hear from others who enjoyed not only the fabulous Couples resorts, but also appreciated the diving around for Negril for what it does offer, rather than what it doesn't 
