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Dive Review of Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Playa Del Carmen

Dive Balam/Royal Haciendas, Oct, 2009,

by Norris Boone, SC, USA ( 1 report). Report 5211.

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 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The dive operation is very well run and safety conscious. The maximum number of divers is 10. The boat is adequate with 10, but better with 8. Nitrox is available but expensive at $15/tank. Most dives are drift dives, and some experience is recommended, though they limit 5 divers per guide. The guides we had were excellent. They watched over the novice divers and let experienced divers do their own dive as long as they stayed with their buddy.The dives are similar to those we have done at Cozumel, being mostly fast drifts over pretty walls and coral beds. The fish life is plentiful, though not many large fish are present. I suspect most larger fish have been caught by the local fishermen.The return to the boat is different in that divers stay in the water while their tanks and BC's are taken aboard and changed to fresh tanks. It works for them and they are really good at setting up the tanks for the divers. Getting back on the boat is thus quite easy. The dive operation is located on the property of the Royal Haciendas, It is a very beautiful resort and is well complimented by the dive operation.
Websites Dive Balam   Royal Haciendas

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving More than 2000 dives all over the world.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 81-84°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Stay with group leader toward end of dive, come up with everyone else.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
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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