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Dive Review of Dive House/Fiesta Americana in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel

Dive House/Fiesta Americana, Nov, 2008,

by William Ungerman, CA, USA (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 24 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 4553.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments The Fiesta Americana was perfect for us. We were, without asking, upgraded to an oceanfront room. The entire staff was cordial and accomodating, friendly and professional. The food was superb and I highly recommend the "all-inclusive" meal and drink package. It is well worth it. The Fiesta Americana is a couple miles south of town, away from the frenetic hustle of San Miguel where you have to run a gauntlet of hawkers and vendors trying to sell you everything from timeshares to chicklets. It's crazy and utterly unlike what Cozumel used to be, say even ten years ago. Putting that cruise ship dock across the south end of Paradise Reef changed the whole dynamic. The town of San Miguel is like Waikiki Beach or Cancun now. There were never less than three (and most tiimes four) crusie ships at dock at any one time. Fortunately, once you pass out of town, Cozumel stills retains most of it's hiterto rustic charm. The Mexican people always retained their charm.

The diving is still great and some of the best in the Caribbean. However, the shallow reefs are still covered in sand from the hurricanes but appear to be slowly recovering. The marine life seems about like it always was. Dive House is the on-site dive operation and is reputable and respected. They earned that respect as far as we were concerned. They have a fleet of well laid out boats of varying sizes, mostly built for diver comfort, safety, and convenience rather than speed. They may have a "six-pack" speedboat but I didn't see it. Their rental gear is mostly ScubaPro and in first class shape and well maintained. Nitrox is available in 32% and 36% at $10.00 per tank. Barracuda and San Juan dive sites won't be dived anymore, at least by Dive House because of the rigamorole involved getting harbor Master consent. Diving to Punta Sur, Maracaibo and points beyond are by special request only and require six people and extra money.

The dive guides and shop personnel were top notch. You couldn't ask for more from these guys. And to all that, there was no tip pressure whatsoever. They deserved it but never had their hat in their hand like beggars. These people were professional. I highly recommend both this hotel and this dive operation for your next trip to Cozumel.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean, etc.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry Seas choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp 79-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 100-150 Ft/ 30-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Maximum depth first dive 80 feet. Second dive 60 feet
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 2 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 2 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments UWP not specifically catered too oter than a rinse tank on board.
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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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