Dive Review of Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel

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Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand, Nov, 2013, by Randall S Preissig, TX, US ( Top Contributor 38 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 7423.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The Occidental Grand Cozumel has been sold to a German company and Dive Palancar will be replaced by the time you read this review. So I will limit comments to things that shouldn't change. This is a true luxury hotel, though it has scaled back somewhat in recent years. It is 5-10 minutes from the very best dive sites in Cozumel, verses much longer if you are staying in or near town or have a slow dive boat. Four dives are offered 7 days a week with night dives 2 or more times depending on demand. The price is reasonable and Cozumel is easy to get to. The weather is generally great(Mayan royalty vacationed here). The coral formations are world famous. The fish have improved since they made a national park years ago--you now see large grouper, crabs, turtles and even black coral on the popular dive sites that were rarely seen in "the old days". Lionfish have been controlled--unfortunately at the cost of most dives being led by a dive master who hunts lion fish rather than things to show the group. Even with this, the lion fish impact has been significant. There are less damsel fish, squirrel fish and small fish in general than in prior years. I consider Cozumel superior to Grand Cayman or Belize, its main rivals for "best in the Caribbean" and often recommend it. I've dived here for over 35 years with over twenty trips and will continue to do so.
Websites	Dive Palancar
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Raja Amphat, Komodo, Thailand, Burma, Sipadan, PNG, Palau, Truk, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, Tahiti(including Ringora, Marquesas and others 0, Ponape, Hawaii, Socorro isles, Cocos, Red Sea, Bonaire, Cozumel, Caymans, Belize, Bahamas, Belize, Virgin Islands, Fl. Keys
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	cloudy	Seas
Water Temp	82-86°F / 28-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	All dives were guided and you were instructed to stay with the dive master at all times. Somewhat stricter than in prior years
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Only a rinse bucket "for cameras only" on the boat. Modest air conditioned "photo room" was mostly a hang-out for dive masters but if asked they were very willing to try to help, but there are very limited resources.

Subscriber's Comments

By report author: Randall S Preissig in TX, US at Nov 20, 2013 20:32 EST

The first line should read "over 1,000 dives"

By Dave Eagleray in Ubud, ID at Nov 20, 2013 20:58 EST

Fixed.

By report author: Randall S Preissig in TX, US at Nov 20, 2013 21:15 EST

Thanks.

By Shawn McDermott in FL, US at Dec 01, 2014 05:04 EST

The Occidental Grand has NOT been purchased by a German company. Dive Palancar has been replaced by a German-owned operator, ProDive, which uses rented overcrowded boats and for the most part inexperienced instructor/divemasters who do not know the reefs and do not provide the Mayan/Mexican experience Dive Palancar has provided for over 20 years. DP still in Cozumel and will pick up at all hotels, www.divepalancarmexico.com

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Dive Review of Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand in Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel

Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand, Nov, 2013,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Dive Palancar/Occidental Grand in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Cozumel