Dive Review of
Coral Scuba Dive Center/Villas Punta Sur in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Isla Mujeres

Washington, British Columbia, California, Florida, Dominica

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

Boats do not routinely carry fresh water for cameras.  At my request, the
crew brought an ice chest filled with fresh water each day.  The shop had
no facilities for photographers.  

Overall Rating

Despite its proximity to frenetic Cancun, Isla Mujeres feels a world away
with its relaxed ambience and low prices.  Coral Scuba Dive Center, one of
the oldest dive charter operations on the island, offers two-dive trips
each morning for the bargain prices of $41 US for close-in, shallow reef
dives or $61 for more distant, deeper “adventure” dives.  Their boats are
simple open lanchas with twin outboards that move them along swiftly. 
Although each lancha can accommodate up to twelve divers, the maximum
number we encountered on one trip was seven.  One morning when twelve
divers showed up, they took two boats out, dividing the group according to
experience and interest.  Apparently the largest part of their business is
from divers who make only one or two day trips, and most of those divers do
not bring their own gear.  The shop’s rental regulators and BCDs appeared
to be in good condition, and their 80 cf aluminum cylinders all displayed
up-to-date hydro and VIP markings.  We were allowed to store our own gear
in the same room where they keep their rentals, sparing us the
inconvenience of lugging it to and from our apartment.  The boats have no
facilities for underwater photographers.  In accordance with my special
request, they brought an ice chest filled with fresh water each day.  The
diving here is generally easy, although currents can make some dives much
more challenging.  None of the dive sites are truly deep; the deepest of my
ten dives was to a sand bottom at 82 feet.  Dive sites are blissfully
uncrowded, and we rarely shared a site with any other boat.  The reefs are
not especially impressive but do support apparently healthy fish
populations.  We regularly encountered schools numbering in the hundreds,
dominated by several species of grunts and snappers.  About half of our
dives included encounters with bigger critters such as reef and nurse
sharks, southern stingrays, and hawksbill turtles.  We were generally very
pleased with the dive operation and the personnel:  divemasters Enrique and
Alvaro, boat captain Gabriel, and assistant dive guide Luis.  Only one
unpleasant experience marred our impression.  On the most difficult dive we
made, to the sunken naval ship C-58, we experienced unexpectedly strong
current.  Because the three-man crew spoke only Spanish, and none of the
international (American, French, German, and Japanese) group of divers had
good Spanish comprehension, we had not received an adequate pre-dive
briefing.  We were not aware that we would be ascending a buoy line nor
that we might have to endure roaring current while doing so.  The two least
experienced divers got panicky, and one of them surfaced with an empty
cylinder.  Both were too shaken to make the second dive of the day.  Note
that this dive occurred within a few days of a missing-diver incident at
the same dive site (but not with Coral Scuba Dive Center, as far as I
know), as documented in the February 2007 Undercurrent.

All of the dive operators on Isla Mujeres are located in the town at the
north end of the island.  For anyone seeking night life, Playa Norte is
where you will find it.  Tino Caudana, owner of Coral Scuba Dive Center,
also owns Villas Punta Sur in a much less populous area near the south end.
 My companion and I shared a clean, comfortable one-bedroom apartment there
for a total cost of only about $30 per night.  The feel of the place is
rustic, remote, and quiet, with no telephone or television.  Extensively
refurbished since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, it features charming
Spanish-style architecture, beautifully landscaped grounds, and views of
the Caribbean from the balconies of slightly more expensive second-floor
apartments.  The apartments have no air conditioning, but large screened
windows and good box fans kept us adequately cool during our December
visit.  Hot water for showers was in short supply.  A small swimming pool
appeared well maintained, but we never saw anyone using it.  On an island
that is only about five miles long, the distance between the lodging and
the diving was not much of an issue.  Because we were the only two divers
staying there, Tino graciously allowed us to ride into town with him on his
morning commute.  One important disclaimer:  Tino told us that he hoped to
sell both the dive shop and the villas in the near future. 

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