Dive Review of
Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan

 Japan, France, Honduras, Bahamas, Guatamala, Panama, Florida Keys, Texas
Lakes 

Dive Conditions

Max. depth 80-90 ft.  Dive with small groups.  Length of  dives 35 to 45
min.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

The Occidental Grand was fabulous.  Food, accommodations, and service was
first class.
The dive opperation was well run and the divemasters were friendly and
eager to point out hard to find critters.
There were usually two groups (each with a divemaster) on the boat.  The
groups were small and the boat was large. Usually, experienced divers were
grouped together.  
My only complaint was the rigidity of the dive profiles.  This is the
second year in a row that we dived with Dive Palancar.  Last year my wife
and I were allowed to remain below until we reached 700 psi.  This could
sometimes extend the dive time to one hour.  This year, the length of the
dives were 35 to 45 minutes.  All divers in the group were required to
accend at that time.  We sometimes came up with 1500 to 1700 psi.  We found
this frustrating.  Both of us are very experienced divers and we are good
on air consumption.  On one dive, the divemaster (Pingo) did set a profile
of "remain until 700 psi". This dive lasted for almost one hour.
We saw large nurse sharks, free swimming green moray eels, lots of
turtles, beautiful large angelfish, and lots of other reef fish.  The
corals and sponges were covered with some sand (due to the storms that have
ravaged Cozumel).  There seemed to be a lack of color.
All in all, the vacation was wonderful and we will return again.  

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