Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

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

Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand, Jun, 2007,

by Ed Stevens, TX, United States ( 2 reports). Report 3377.

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 N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments 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.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Japan, France, Honduras, Bahamas, Guatamala, Panama, Florida Keys, Texas Lakes
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 2
Water Visibility 100-200 Ft/ 30-61 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Max. depth 80-90 ft. Dive with small groups. Length of dives 35 to 45 min.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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 [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 1098 dive reviews of Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 

Want to assemble your own collection of Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.18 seconds