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

 Red Sea, Palau, PNG, Sipadan, Truk, Hawaii, Bonaire, Belize, Caymans,
Tahiti, etc. 

Dive Conditions

we always dove as a group, always 40 min. on the first deep dive and 45
min. on the second shallow dive. Punta Sur was the exception.  

Not geared for photographers, but I have done many times with very good
results.    

Overall Rating

As everyone knows, Cozumel was "skinned" by hurricane Wilma.  The
Occidental Grande has recovered very well, but is now only excellent rather
than "one of the best ever" all inclusive resorts.  It's minutes
from all the great dive sites, and dive Palancar services its quests well. 
"Hard core" divers can request Punta Sur and other challenging
dives and night dives are scheduled three times a week.  Other dive
operations routinely pick up divers on the pier, so you're not locked in.
The shallower dive sites were scalped by Wilma, and many of the deeper
dives have lots of sand on them.  However, the fish life is little
changed--giant grouper and giant parrotfish, nurse sharks, turtles on most
dives, occasional schools of jacks,parrotfish or barracuda, toadfish,
dolphins seen behind the boat, green and spotted morays, tons of all types
of angelfish, octopi(eight on one night dive), etc.  You won't be
disappointed in the fish life by Caribean standards.
The cruise ships have brought prosperity to Cozumel and the overall
quality of lodging, dive operations, eating, etc. has risen.  Cozumel is no
longer a dangerous place to dive (as it was 25 years ago).  But avoid town
and the cruise ship areas, unless you like that sort of stuff.
It is impossible to beat Cozumel on the combination of ease of getting to,
quality of diving and price.  I've been 20 times and have seen a lot of
changes--mostly for the better. 

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