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Dive Review of Akumal Dive Shop/Las Casitas Akumal in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Akumal

Akumal Dive Shop/Las Casitas Akumal: "Solid instruction with a well-run dive shop", Aug, 2016,

by Douglas Garrou, VA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 9030 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Brought my 14-year-old son here for open water certification (he did e-learning for the book part). Really, really great experience. His instructor, Ivo Chiarino, was a true professional who knows that scuba instruction is serious business -- and also knows how to motivate a 14-year-old. Diving conditions were very very good. Comparable to Cozumel albeit with slightly less current, fewer dive sites, and slightly smaller sea-life (I was told the fish are smaller because than at Cozumel because they don't need to fight against the current!). Boat rides here are for the most part EXTREMELY short -- think of it as shore diving with a boat. I.e., you don't even bring a gear bag. Surface intervals are back on shore. For that reason, the fact that the boats were uncovered wasn't the problem it would be for me elsewhere (I sunburn easily). Did a really interesting night dive and also hit one of the better known centotes (Dos Ojos). In general, a high volume operation but extremely well run. Highly recommended.
Websites Akumal Dive Shop   Las Casitas Akumal

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Belize, Florida, Bahamas, Cozumel, Little Cayman, Akumal
Closest Airport Cancun (CAN) Getting There 1.5 hour drive south from Cancun Airport

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 81-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 90 foot max depth on deep dives, all dives guided, 45-minute-ish duration. Looked like they would let you do a bit on your own if they knew you.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 2 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments No boat facilities for photographers. Idea seemed to be you would service/clean gear when you got back to your hotel, since distances/times were so short. Photography opportunities here tend toward the macro, lots of fun small things but relatively fewer large animals.
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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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