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Dive Review of Aldora Divers/Villa Aldora in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan

Aldora Divers/Villa Aldora: "Great trip to Cozumel with Aldora Divers and Aldora Villa", Nov, 2016,

by Kevin McCarter, FL, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 9344.

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 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments We've been to Cozumel and dove with Aldora many times. This is the first time we've stayed at the Aldora Villa.

Aldora Divers is the best overall land based operator we've ever used. Safe, courteous, very high service level. Competent dive masters. Ours for this trip was Sharief, an experienced DM of Egyptian background. Very nice man and a great DM.

The weather was good, though we were a little lucky for this time of year. Currents for the drift dives were strong, which lets you cover a lot of ground quickly. The reefs were in the best overall shape I've seen in several years and we saw a lot of wildlife. Nurse sharks, turtles, one eel, tons of reef fish, a sea horse, and a whole lot more.

We finally dove Devil's Throat, which was itself worth the trip. It may be a little over-hyped as to the "danger", but not particularly difficult for an experienced diver. I had a flashlight in one hand and a GoPro in the other and had no difficulties.

Aldora uses 120 cu. in. steel tanks and fills them to 3,400+ lbs. We dove on Nitrox, so every dive except Devil's Throat was over an hour long. I never came back with less than 1,200 psi, though some of our "air hogs" in the group were low.

Aldora Villa was a very convenient and nice place to stay. We had 4 divers in their large unit and two who chose singles. Clean, great maid service, convenient dockside pickup (except for bad weather one day), and large spacious units. I think we've found the place to stay in Cozumel. Convenient to downtown via taxis who were always available on the street. No need for a rental car. Very reasonably priced.

Great trip.
Websites Aldora Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Grand Cayman, Palau, Cozumel, Bonair, Turks & Caicos, Maui, etc.
Closest Airport Cozumel Getting There Connection through Atlanta

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 82-82°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility - Ft/ - M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Nitrox profile.
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 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Aldora uses small boats in order to be fast and the first to dive sites. That comes at the price of spaciousness and camera table. There was a bucket to rinse cameras...all that's really needed.
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Subscriber's Comments

By Scott Boyack in NC, US at Dec 03, 2016 13:35 EST  
Great dive shop and Aldora INN in is a great INN
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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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