Instant Reader Report
on Aldora Divers / El Cozumeleno in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan / Cozumel on
2003/10
by
Brett Mook , IL, USA
Report Number 031026105900558

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Send an email to the author of this report

 All over. 

Dive Conditions

Depth limits watched carefully on deep dives for deco due to 130 foot sites
visited. Long safety stops. Computers a must and provided for those needing
one. Long surface intervals.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Aldora is a great operation for experienced divers that want to dive the
deeper and more challenging sites and indeed they lived up to this
reputation and more. My dive partner on this trip was new to diving (10 or
so dives so far) and a bit nervous and Aldora really took the time and care
to select fun yet skill appropriate sites and keep an eye out to make this
trip enjoyable for her too. She came away more skilled and confident and
glowing about seeing her first nurse shark. 

Aldora's large capacity tanks provided nearly double the bottom time you
get from the aluminum 80's that are used by most operators. Dive Masters
treat divers like adults and allow you the freedom to explore sites
without being constantly herded. Dives averaged over an hour each
including safety stops even for the divers on our boat that were heavy
breathers. Aldora ran multiple boats daily taking care to match divers
skill levels with the rest of their group and selecting sites that are
skill friendly and enjoyable. Dive groups are no bigger than 6 per boat
and night dives are available on Wednesday and Saturday nights no matter
how small the group and on other nights if there are enough divers to fill
a boat. The boats were fast enough to get us out to the dive sites before
the cattle boats began to arrive and scare away the bigger critters.
Plenty of bottled water and warm post dive parka's were available on the
boats. Surface intervals were taken at Playa Sol, a very nice beach club
offering good food and a fresh water pool to relax in between dives. 

The best dive of the trip was to a site on Columbia Deep referred to as
"Dave's Throat". In my opinion it is a far more interesting and
enjoyable site than Punta Sur (Devil's Throat) which many folks consider
the marquis dive on Cozumel. The swim throughs are more extensive and when
you ascend you get to drift over and explore a healthy reef system making
it like two dives in one rather than drifting over sand flats as you do
when you ascend from Punta Sur. 

The El Cozumeleno is an all inclusive resort located north of downtown and
is a short $5 cab ride into town. It would be a bit far to walk for most
folks. The atmosphere is lively but not for those seeking a Cancun style
Spring Break type atmosphere. There are plenty of activities for families
with children as well as all adult groups. The main pool is very big with
a swim up bar and nearby pool side grill (great for that post dive
cheezeburger in paradise). There is a second quieter pool that is also
very nice. Snorkeling is good and shore diving is available through the on
site dive shop for those interested. The food was very good with buffet
style meals and a sit down menu dining room option available nightly. The
staff here is super and really provided the friendly and easy going
service that will bring us back. Being up north, most dive operators will
not pick you up at the hotel dock so divers should plan for an early
morning trip south to meet their dive boats at another resort or pier and
a cab ride home after their day of diving.  

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