Dive Review of Mexico Whale Sharks/Izla Hotel in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Isla Mujeres

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Mexico Whale Sharks/Izla Hotel: "Whale Shark snorkel", Jul, 2021, by Joel Horie, UT, US ( Sr. Contributor 22 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 11648.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Flew Delta non stop SLC to CUN. CUN Terminal 3 Immigration was well staffed and efficient as usual. After baggage claim, customs is now self serve kiosk(self declare), near the old customs. They had customs agents watching as you approached the exit doors, but they were just scanning the crowd. At least in CUN, it appears they won’t check you unless something catches their eye. Like all the other major tourist destinations in Mexico, after customs, there is a currency exchange and then rows of sales people(tours, timeshares, etc.) trying to get you to stop. Just keep walking until you get outdoors. Used CARM Tours and Transfers van service to and from CUN airport to the ferry. CARM has a useful website and has detailed instructions with photos on how to get out of the CUN terminal and meet their drivers. You can also prepay for your ferry tickets and the driver will have them for you. We’ve used them to go from CUN to the Cozumel ferry as well. 30 minutes CUN to Ultramar Puerto Juarez ferry. About a 20 minute ferry ride to Isla Mujeres.. For Isla Mujeres taxis, exit ferry building, then make immediate left on the sidewalk. Look for Taxi Sitio sign at edge of building, about 20 yards. 30 minute ride to Izla Hotel. In addition to Tripadvisor, used Mapchick for info on Cancun local travel and the book, “Best of Isla Mujeres: A Traveler’s Guide to the Islands best” (available on Kindle) Mexico Whale sharks. I picked them based on TripAdvisor and Google search. 640 pickup, they sent a cab. Short drive to a pier on laguna Makax, which is sort of middle of the island. Boat picked us up(we were the only guests trying on Isla Mujeres), but went to the mainland starting point( north of Puerto Juarez. About 20 minute ride. Briefing, coffee, juice, fruit, coffee cake, little sandwiches at a nice Waterside palapa. All other customers were staying on mainland Cancun. They had two boats doing the trip that day and both looked in nice condition, bow to stern. About an hour and a half and at least 10 mile off shore, start cruising for whale Sharks. We headed north northeast, around the north end of Isla Mujeres. Light chop and swell with a headwind. Two people got seasick, but everyone perked up when they saw the whale sharks. The captain did a great job dropping us a boat length or so in front of the shark. The guide was really helpful in giving the direction to swim, even if you did not initially see the shark. The guide also kept track of other boats and kept snorkel pair together. We got two turns, two divers with a guide. Saw juvenile first, then larger adult with two mantas. Make sure to defog your mask and swim fast. Must wear life vest. We brought wetsuits, but never put them on; weren’t in the water long enough to need them. They provide mask, fins, and snorkels and all appeared new. I’d bring a low profile mask, rigid snorkel, and your own fins. On the way back, we anchored in waist deep water off the Playa Norte, for sodas and a ceviche lunch. Folks that needed a real bathroom, waded ashore to visit beachside hotel or restaurant facilities. Very well run operation, oriented to guests staying at Cancun hotels. I would use them again, especially if I were staying in the Cancun area. If I were staying on Isla Mujeres again, I would try to find an operation that departed directly from Isla Mujeres to the whales shark areas.
Websites	Mexico Whale Sharks Izla Hotel
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Belize, Grand Cayman, Socal, Bonaire, Roatan, Cabo Pulmo, Cozumel
Closest Airport	Cancun (CUN)	Getting There	Most major US, some Canadian and European airlines.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, no currents
Water Temp	85-85°F / 29-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-50 Ft/ 12-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Two at a time, stay with the guide.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	No rinse tank on boat.

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Dive Review of Mexico Whale Sharks/Izla Hotel in Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Isla Mujeres

Mexico Whale Sharks/Izla Hotel: "Whale Shark snorkel", Jul, 2021,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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):

Dive Review of Mexico Whale Sharks/Izla Hotel in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan/Isla Mujeres