Dive Review of Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Playa Del Carmen

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Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas, Apr, 2012, by Ms Lynda Durfee, VA, US ( Top Contributor 49 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 6529.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Two small (10-15) passenger boats; none full. Neither has head. Canopy to protect from sun. Smaller boat (most dives), back roll; then return hang on line, remove BCD, etc. and hand to crew. No one could get back on board until crew had changed over the tanks between dives or break down gear after 2nd dive. Very uncomfortable bobbing on the line in the wind. If you need to "check the props" you have to speak up or they'll zoom to the next stop or return to the shop. No dock; wade through shallow water to/from boat. Trip on bigger boat to Cozumel ran three times that week; need to reserve in advance because all three filled up. Very professional crew; will store your gear overnight, but no lock on door! I took off my computer before storing my gear. Hot showers and restroom (clean!) next to show, and outdoor showers nearby to rinse your wetsuits. Saw lots of fish; Cozumel dives were the best, but local PDC area pretty nice; one day was a fast drift. Some days, both dives were only to 45 feet, so this was boring for the experienced divers. The resort is isolated (as are the others in the area) on the beach, so you're limited to restaurants onsite unless you take a cab into town. Nothing to do in the pm; even the fitness center closes at 8 pm (opens at 7 am) and is closed all day Saturday. Good security (noticeable on beach and by pool); rooms cleaned daily; I was in a studio on a timeshare exchange. I wanted to dive the cenotes, but they need a minimum of 3 dives, and the other two cancelled the day before; bummer, because that's what I came to PDC to cross off my bucker list. For am dives, meet at shop at 8:30, leave abt 9 and return between 12 and 1 (except 2 pm for Cozumel trip). I would dive with Dive Balam again, but would book maximum number of Cozumel trips in advance. Another bummer, I couldn't book the tours to the Mayan ruins on my non-diving days (Sun & Fri) because the tours weren't running! Having said this, RH owners seem to really like the resort and often stay for 3-4 weeks at a time, diving only a few days a week and sightseeing or relaxing on other days. Rumor is that RH will go "all inclusive" next year; I can't eat and drink enough to make it worthwhile.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	all over the Caribbean, Hawaii, Palau, Lake Tahoe
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, dry	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	76-79°F / 24-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Stick with group, no deco
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
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	small boats; no rinse buckets or camera shelf

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Dive Review of Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas in Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Playa Del Carmen

Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas, Apr, 2012,

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 Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Playa Del Carmen