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Dive Review of XTC Dive Center in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Xcalak

XTC Dive Center: "Chinchorro Banks - salwater crocodiles!", Aug, 2022,

by Kabir Teja (Dive Hard), FL, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 12075.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments This was an expedition to dive with saltwater crocodiles; check out the full DIVE HARD trip report on YouTube: [youtu.be link]

This is a unique trip, and it involves staying overnight in an offshore fisherman's hut in Chinchorro Banks. Before and after the crocodile portion, you can do some regular diving around Xcalak which has great reefs, large schools of tarpon and manatees. The crocodile experience is very cool and not something I would do in many places. However, these crocodiles are fairly docile and the visibility is quite good, which allows for relatively controlled interactions in 4 - 6 feet of water. The hut you sleep in is very basic with no running water or electricity - there are only two beds, so if your group is larger than 2 people, at least one person will need to sleep in the hammocks which aren't super comfortable. However, you don't do this trip to be pampered, and for getting close to saltwater crocodiles, there aren't many other options! The diving around Chinchorro is also quite good - similar to Cozumel but dived far less often (more people dive in Cozumel in one day than dive in Chinchorro in one year) - so the reefs are in much better shape. There are lots of nurse sharks and the coral is healthy.

XTC is also a great dive shop - but note that Xcalak is in the middle of nowhere so the accommodations are basic and there is lots of rotting sargassum that makes the whole town of Xcalak stink. However, you get used to it quickly and I think that the diving is worth it. Highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to get close to crocodiles and come away with lost of good photos!
Websites XTC Dive Center   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Lots of places! Eastern Pacific (Cocos, Malpelo, Galapagos, Socorro), Indonesia (Raja Ampat, Komodo, Lembeh, Bali), Philippines (Malapascua, Cebu, Dumaguete, Anilao), South Africa, Maldives, all over the Caribbean, etc.
Closest Airport CUN Getting There Direct flight from NYC

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 80-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Aside from Cuba, the best shots of saltwater crocs in the water come from Chinchorro. The crocs in Chinchorro are also much bigger than they are in the mangroves of Jardines de la Reina in Cuba. There aren't many camera facilities in the hut, but they do bring a generator so you can charge your batteries while out in Banco Chinchorro.
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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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