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Dive Review of Dressel Divers /Iberostar in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan

Dressel Divers /Iberostar : "Reliable with with some unexpected surprises", Sep, 2016,

by Cynthia Cook Boling , TX, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports with 8 Helpful votes). Report 9181.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments We go to Cozumel at least every other year for an extended vacation and for years stay at the Iberostar and use the on-site dive shop - Dressel Divers. Great all inclusive hotel and wonderful dive team out of Dressel. Iberostar had changed up some things since our last visit in 2014 and I liked the changes which were generally barbeques on the beach and all the restaurants were open even though it was the slow time of year. I learned that the room we have had for several years is now considered "ocean front" and costs about $100/night more. We did not get that room. Dressel Divers is usually very organized and teams like skilled divers but not this trip. There seemed to be an uncurrent (like the pun?) of discord between the staff to the point of my being compelled to challenge the rudeness. The rudeness stopped towards me and mine going forward. I still recommend this dive operation and encourage folks to book online ahead of time and get a 20% discount. If you don't use all of your pre-paid dives, you will be given a voucher good for five years. Dressel also mixed up its schedule a bit - they now offer a 2-tank dive where the boat does not return to the dock in between dives - I like this change. Now for the unexpected surprises! Seahorses! Yes, seahorses - not only when diving but my sister found one snorkeling off the resort beach about 2 inches long! We kept that very quiet so the stupid people who would want to touch it wouldn't go find it. Even had several small manta rays around the dock every evening. There were also huge - I mean six-person round table huge turtles on every dive and sharks and sting rays - the huge grouper were back - all very large. The reef has obviously recovered and improved since the hurricane several years ago. The current was a bit crazy on several dives but the dive masters tried to pick a location that had less current flow like Palencar Gardens. Most of our dives - if all were on Nitrox (which is free BTW) were about 1 hr. We had a great time - we always do. And of course we walked down the beach to Albertos for some fabulous seafood, wine and cheer for a pretty reasonable price.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caymans, Bonaire, Turks Caicos, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cozumel, Belize, Jamaica, DR
Closest Airport Cozumel Getting There Short direct flight from DFW to Cozumel

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 78-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 75-120 Ft/ 23-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Typical 50 minute or 700 psi and stay with the group because of the current. The dive masters, unless with a group of new divers, pretty much just led the way.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments The boats finally started putting a camera bucket on the boats but Mark still had to keep an eye on it because of divers that did not know or think about the effects of soap from masks.
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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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