Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/National Beach Club in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Mahahual

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Amigos del Mar/National Beach Club: "Great, laid back, relatively undiscovered diving", Sep, 2024, by Elissa A Mayo, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 8 reports). Report 13242.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude	N/A	Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Mahahual is a somewhat sleepy former fishing village which has several dive shops along the main beachfront strip. Although there is a cruise ship port nearby, it still maintains a very laid back feel. This was my third trip in the last 2 years. I felt completely safe and walked around at night chatting with locals. If you are flying into Chetumal, hire a local driver to take you to so of the local sights along the drive from the airport to Mahahual: Museum of Mayan History, Kohunlich ruins, Bacalar lagoon, and my personal favorite, a side trip to see stromatolites. This is one of the only places in the world to to see them. The good: uncrowded, unhurried and authentic. Cochinita pibil tacos from street vendors on Sunday are beyond amazing and very cheap. The bad: night diving is prohibited, trips to Chinchorro require a minimum of 4 divers, there are some biting insects at dusk. Good to know: Taxis are expensive. I met an amazing English speaking tour operator named Selene (whatsapp:+52 9831056142). She can provide transportation and tours. I have used her all 3 times I have visited. She knows every place and will cater to anything you would like to do. She even when snorkeling with me at Bacalar!) I stayed at the National Beach Club in one of the ocean front rooms adjacent to the onsite restaurant and bar and a few feet away from the dive shop. Once you are in Mahahual there is really no need for a car, unless you want to drive to another area. There are small stores and pharmacies nearby. The hotel is quirky, simple and clean. I have looked at the more luxurious options, but this hotel is perfect for a dive centered vacation. Plenty of hot water in the shower, comfortable queen or king bed, outlets for charging, safe deposit box, water bottles, refrigerator and a little outdoor patio the opens to the path adjacent to the beach. I did not know breakfast was included until the last day, LOL. Cooked to order and even included the mimosa I requested. Evan is the owner of the resort and is onsite most days. He is happy to give you recommendations for things to do and where to eat. The beachfront massages are magical. I had one every day. Roughly $25 plus tip. There is a new massage and nail salon a few doors downfrom the hotel with air conditioning. I tried it and it was also excellent. I recommend the food at the National beach Club Bungalows and many of the other local restaurants. Of course, these will be at "Western" prices. I was just as happy to find the local shops and taco carts off of the beach front area. As for the diving, I really liked the personal service I received from Amigos del Mar. I had to rent gear and each time I did it was in excellent condition. The only extra cost was for a computer, but I had my own. Nitrox was available for every dive. The boat is spacious and easy to backroll from. The ladder is stable and crew are there to take gear and cameras from you in the water. Water and safety equipment is available on all boat trips to the local reefs. Lunch is provided on trips to the Chinchorro bank. The diving is very good in this area. Chinchorro Bank has some of the best diving in the Mexican Caribbean. Spur and groove valleys,hills, swim throughs and pinnacles. I've done hundreds of dives in the Yucatan and I have never seen so many nurse sharks, large sponges, intact coral and fish schools, all in excellent visibility water. Although diving with crocodiles used to be available,it no longer is. and this dive shop does not stop on the Chinchorro bank for lunch, instead they do 3 dives. Try Pepe's Dive shop if you want to stop on the bank and look for crocodiles. But, they only do 2 dives during the trip. With the easy transit through Mexico City, Cancun or Tulum this is going to be my go to for some time.
Websites	Amigos del Mar National Beach Club
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Tanzania, Maldives, PNG, Raja Ampat, Lembeh Strait, Forgotten Islands, Tulamben, Banda Sea, Menjangan, Bunaken, Palau, Mahahual, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum cenotes, Puerto Vallarta, California, Florida, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Panama
Closest Airport	Chetumal	Getting There	Direct flight from Mexico City. Can also fly into Cancun or Tulum
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	84-87°F / 29-31°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Inexperienced divers were grouped together. Experienced divers were free to dive own profile for maximum 1 hour dives.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
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	There is no specific area for UW photographers in the shop or on the boat, but there is a fresh water rinse available, crew will hand cameras to you and it is easy to find space on the boat to do battery or lens changes.

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Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/National Beach Club in Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Mahahual

Amigos del Mar/National Beach Club: "Great, laid back, relatively undiscovered diving", Sep, 2024,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/National Beach Club in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Mahahual