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Dive Review of Dive Paradise/Hotel Cozumel in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel

Dive Paradise/Hotel Cozumel, Dec, 2004,

by Marjorie, MN, USA . Report 1483.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments The resort was set up well for this type of trip. The rooms were large, balconeys had pegs and racks to hang gear, beds were comfortable, wished the rooms had more light. The food was good -- not great -- and available at times convenient to the dive boats. No one got sick from the food as had been reported by others. We got off the morning boat, ate at the beach restaurant and got on the afternoon boat after a rest under the palm trees overlooking the ocean. The underground walkway from the resort to the beach/dive shop was convenient. There are large rinse areas and places to hang gear near the dock. We didn't bother with the lockers after examining them -- as others had reported, they are condusive to creating stench.

The "beach" doesn't really exist. There is a sand area with several deck chairs. An area of the water is roped off for snorkeling, beach diving. The "hot tub" was more of a "warm tub."

The dive operator was well organized, although dive briefings could have been more thorough. They tried to accomodate the divers' wishes as to dive sites. Briefings consisted of, "This is X reef, max time is Y, max depth is Z, start your ascent when you have 700 psi, follow the DM." The diving itself was incredible -- saw juvenile trunk fish, juvenile spotted drum, variety of eels, indigo hamlets, seahorses (one was pregnant), the biggest lobster ever, splendid toad fish, every imaginable parrot fish, queen trigger fish, trunk fish dancing (mating?), etc. The DMs were good at finding the less obvious fish and critters. On several dives, the current was amazingly strong -- flying backwards over a reef in excess of 3 knots is an interesting experience.

One day of diving was cancelled due to weather -- they gave us a rain check good for diving more than 30 days after the date cancelled, no expiration date. If you order Nitrox, check it carefully. While most fills were within 1% of the mix ordered, one day a tank labelled 32% actually contained 37%. Tanks ranged from 2800psi to 3200 psi, whether air or Nitrox.

We would return to this resort and would recommend it without hesitation. We felt we got really good value for our money.

What we wish we knew before: Fly directly into Cozumel rather than Cancun. While you might save some on airfare, the hassle of the van ride, ferry ride is just not worth it.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving Key Largo, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Several sites in MN and WI
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 80-81°F / 27-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 100-150 Ft/ 30-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Follow dive guide, depth and time limits, start ascent at 700 psi
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 1 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]
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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.

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