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 Aqua Safari/Cozumel Palace in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel

Aqua Safari/Cozumel Palace, May, 2009,

by Paul Lima, TN, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 27 reports). Report 4805.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Went with the house dive shop at Cozumel Palace an excellent all-inclusive stay. Pickup at hotel dock each day at 8:30am. Always on time, always friendly and helpful. The owner, Bill, was present each morning checking on our satisfaction. Free lockers available at the shop so you don't have to drag equipment to the room. The boats are rather slow but clean and roomy. Of the 4 boats the Ocean 1 seems the oldest and has limited head room in the cabin. All boats had clean heads and choice of sun or shade. Bottled water was offered frequently in route to the first dive and soft drinks, water and fruit between dives. You were free to move about the boat and watching the incredible shades of blue water from the bow was a treat. You have to set up your own equipment but the crew was helpful and double checked for proper setup and to be sure you were ready for the dive. They checked with guests for dive preferences and, despite the distance, went to excellent reefs at the far south of the island. While aforementioned limits were set they were flexible with depth and air restrictions. Very safety conscious during the dive and vigilant underway. The captain once detoured to check out what ended up being a red snack bag in the water, the only trash seen all week. All dives are drift dives and safety stops are scenic as you watch the terrain move past at a good clip. Nice corals and plenty of fish since most of the reefs are in a park ($2 US per day per person, cash). Impressed with the large groupers and the largest angel fish (Grey, French and Queen) that I have ever seen. The fish are not skittish and provide excellent photo opportunities. Saw numerous turtles, nurse sharks and morays as well as barracudas and the endemic splendid toadfish. They have an exellent deal where you can get a 3rd dive each day for $12 US.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Florida Keys, Caribbean
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 100-150 Ft/ 30-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 80 ft max , stay in front of sweep divemaster, safety stop at 750 psi
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments several buckets for cameras, dry area
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 1077 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 0.09 seconds