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Dive Review of Akumal DIve Shop/LAs Casitas condominiums in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Akumal

Akumal DIve Shop/LAs Casitas condominiums, Nov, 2010,

by Dennis Jacobson, CO, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports). Report 5773.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 2 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This was my fourth trip to Akumal. We have come to love the Las Casitas condos right on the water, and the Akumal Dive Shop has a wonderful staff of divemasters, instructors, and captains. They offer three one tank boat dives daily, plus night dives when there are adequate sign ups, and of course, the world famous cave dives. I appreciate the locker facilities, which are very up to date, and the small but adequate boats mean no huge groups. On this trip we were offered a special treat, a bull shark dive at Playa del Carmen, in which NO FEEDING was involved. My dive buddy and wife, Debbie, and I do not agree with feeding. So we were excited when we learned of this dive, in which the sharks are located and drawn in by sound of plastic bottle rubbing. We went on the dive (a party of four plus a DM and a tag along photographer. Unfortunately, as can happen, the sharks did not make an appearance. Though I admit I was initially upset at having spent the time and money for this disappointment, we learned the next day that fishermen in the Playa area had killed 8 or 9 bull sarks (the group we intended to see) so the reason for our disappointment was clear. The dive shop made a generous concession on the cost of the excursion, even though it was not requested. They are a class operation.

Lion fish have gotten to the Mexican Carribean, and were seen on every dive. However, the reef looks healthy and tropical fish were abundant. We also saw a few good size Grouper, eagle rays, sting rays, yellow sting rays, and of course, green turtles in abundance. We also had a few hawkbills and one huge loggerhead. Snorkeling in Akumal bay is a treat for any turtle lover. They are always seen there.

The diving here is great, but the operation is very much do-it- yourself. That is why we love it. The pace is leisurely above and below the water, and competnet divers are given plenty of room to do their thing while less seasoned divers are treated to escorted diving by attentive divemasters. Akumal is the opposite of the massive all inclusives, and an antidote to crowded diveboats and crowds on the reef. Many dives were 4 on the boat, and only once did we have to tolerate a full boat of 8. I have not written up Akumal in the past because I want it to stay like it is, not crowded. But the people there deserve a public expression of thanks and endorsement.
Websites Akumal DIve Shop   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Fiji, Hawaii, Florida Keys, Bahamas, Southern California, Bonaire, Cozumel, Cayman Islands,
St. Kitts, Saba, Statia, etc.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, surge
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions small groups stayed together, honoring the depth and time limits set for each dive, but it was not restrictive
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments This is a low-tech, one tank per boat trip operation, and photographers are on their own, whihc ifs fine with me, and I am one.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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