Cancun Diving?

I will going to Cancun in August (because that's as far as my free
Alaskan Airlines ticket will take me). Is the concensus out there that
the diving on Cancun is sub-standard and the place to dive is Cozumel?
(FYI: So far my diving experience has been Bonaire, Grand Cayman,
Curacao, and Andros in the Caribbean).

I suspect this question comes up from time to time so could someone
point me in the direction of some good diver-dedicated websites that
discuss both Cancun and Cozumel diving (preferrably with minimal
non-diving related tourist info, pop-ups etc.)

Would it be a major hassle to stay on Cancun and go to Cozumel each
day diving? Are accomodation pricing similar between the two places?

Thanks for taking the time to read the post and I would appreciate all
comments.

Bill

"Bill Ellison" <ellisonw@proaxis.com> wrote in message
news:40786280.44510328@news.proaxis.com...
> I will going to Cancun in August (because that's as far as my free
> Alaskan Airlines ticket will take me). Is the concensus out there that
> the diving on Cancun is sub-standard and the place to dive is Cozumel?
> (FYI: So far my diving experience has been Bonaire, Grand Cayman,
> Curacao, and Andros in the Caribbean).
>
> I suspect this question comes up from time to time so could someone
> point me in the direction of some good diver-dedicated websites that
> discuss both Cancun and Cozumel diving (preferrably with minimal
> non-diving related tourist info, pop-ups etc.)
>
> Would it be a major hassle to stay on Cancun and go to Cozumel each
> day diving? Are accomodation pricing similar between the two places?
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read the post and I would appreciate all
> comments.
>
> Bill

Good questions, Bill.

This is what I would do.

Fly to Cancun. Immediately take a bus or a taxi to Playa Del Carmen, then
get on the ferry to Cozumel. Dive. Repeat as required. Return home.

Rudy Benner

Bill Ellison wrote:

> I will going to Cancun in August (because that's as far as my free
> Alaskan Airlines ticket will take me). Is the concensus out there that
> the diving on Cancun is sub-standard and the place to dive is Cozumel?
> (FYI: So far my diving experience has been Bonaire, Grand Cayman,
> Curacao, and Andros in the Caribbean).
>
> I suspect this question comes up from time to time so could someone
> point me in the direction of some good diver-dedicated websites that
> discuss both Cancun and Cozumel diving (preferrably with minimal
> non-diving related tourist info, pop-ups etc.)
>
> Would it be a major hassle to stay on Cancun and go to Cozumel each
> day diving? Are accomodation pricing similar between the two places?
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read the post and I would appreciate all
> comments.
>
> Bill

I think Coz is cheaper.

going to Coz from Cancun can be done but is a major undertaking. You
must get from Cancun to Playa De Carmen (bus, taxi or rental car)
Driving time is approximately an hour. Then take the ferry across the
channel to Coz approximately 1 hour. Four hours minimum in travel -
cuts a lot into the dive time, plus doing a night dive in Coz may not be
able to do.

I don't think the diving in Cancun is sub standard ( I have only done
one there in 1989) just that Cozumel is better. I would suspect that
most of the coast from Cancun south has diving.

Cancun resort area is not my thing, maybe yours. Coz is laid back and
friendly with very little crime. It is nice and quiet especially when
the Cruise Ships aren't there.

In article <40786280.44510328@news.proaxis.com>, ellisonw@proaxis.com (Bill Ellison) writes:
>I will going to Cancun in August (because that's as far as my free
>Alaskan Airlines ticket will take me). ...

It is not practical, time-wise, to travel daily from Cancun to Cozumel.
It is practical to travel from Cancun to Cozumel, stay and dive in Cozumel,
and return to Cancun for your return flight.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Thanks all for the input. Based on what I've heard, I think we'll fly
to Cancun, go straight to the ferry, and head over to Cozumel. We are
looking at some condos on Cozumel that seem pretty reasonable.

Has anyone rented scooters over on Cozumel? I've ride a big bike over
here (US), but I wonder how crazy the traffic is over there and
whether it would be suicide to have the family on scooters.


Bill

Bill Ellison wrote:

> Thanks all for the input. Based on what I've heard, I think we'll fly
> to Cancun, go straight to the ferry, and head over to Cozumel. We are
> looking at some condos on Cozumel that seem pretty reasonable.
>
> Has anyone rented scooters over on Cozumel? I've ride a big bike over
> here (US), but I wonder how crazy the traffic is over there and
> whether it would be suicide to have the family on scooters.
>
>
> Bill


Yes, scooters are available, but the problem is they're hard to see in
the heavy traffic created by many other drivers that don't know their
way around. Scooters in Coz are risky business.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

Here is a link to getting from the Cancun airport to Cozumel. Some of
the info is dated but should show you that it is easy to get to
Cozumel.

http://home.pcisys.net/~ronlee/Scuba...cunCozumel.htm

Do not rent scooters. If you value your life and that of your family,
get a real vehicle if you decide you need a car.

Here is another helpful site for Cozumel info:

http://www.travelnotes.cc/tchatters/viewforum.php?f=1

Ron Lee

The scooters are one of the biggest source of income for the local
hospitals. Mexico has some very serious speed bumps that cannot be
handled at more than 5 mph. Also, if you hit a sandy spot on the road,
you're toast (or jam).

Taxis are inexpensive. At the very least, use them for a day or two
before you rent the bike.

Bill Ellison wrote:
> Thanks all for the input. Based on what I've heard, I think we'll fly
> to Cancun, go straight to the ferry, and head over to Cozumel. We are
> looking at some condos on Cozumel that seem pretty reasonable.
>
> Has anyone rented scooters over on Cozumel? I've ride a big bike over
> here (US), but I wonder how crazy the traffic is over there and
> whether it would be suicide to have the family on scooters.
>
>
> Bill

hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com (Charlie Hammond) wrote in message news:<zwCec.2897$LY.417@news.cpqcorp.net>...
> In article <40786280.44510328@news.proaxis.com>, ellisonw@proaxis.com (Bill Ellison) writes:
> >I will going to Cancun in August (because that's as far as my free
> >Alaskan Airlines ticket will take me). ...
>
> It is not practical, time-wise, to travel daily from Cancun to Cozumel.

That's a short version of what Rudy Benner or Joe English wrote,

JE> going to Coz from Cancun can be done but is a major undertaking. You
JE> must get from Cancun to Playa De Carmen (bus, taxi or rental car)

True, to a large extent, but not exclusively or entirely true.

There are "dive packages" on day trips from Cancun to Cozumel.

For example, AquaWorld runs day trips in snorkeling and scuba to Coz:
http://www.aquaworld.com.mx/awczdaytrip.aspI

I think there are two or three different operations that start from
the same marina in Cancun.

Then there's http://www.seahorsecozumel.com/adventure.html

that brings divers from Cancun for their dives, including lunch, in
Cozumel. They pick up Cancun divers from the Playa del Carmen Ferry
(at the Cozumel side) around 10 am, and so two-tanks from mid-morning
to mid-afternoon (I have done MANY of these, with divers from Cancun
-- though I always stay in Cozumel -- just like the 10 am start <G>).

Then some Cancun divers would have lunch, included in the Caballitos
pacmage, and have MORE dives in the late afternoon (or later) before
returning back to Cancun.


The bux-taxi-ferry mode is mostly for travellers who fly much cheaper
(from the US) to Cancun with the intention of staying in Coz. Did
that a few times in the dark ages too.

But for some "gander" who may have a "goose" who don't scuba dive
and prefer the city sights of Cancun, or whatever other reasons,
it's more expensive to do the day trips but not all that arduous
or a "major undertaking".

There are OTHER Coz dive-shop affiliated operations that have
dive packages that bring day-trippers to Coz, as they take
day-trippers from Coz to Akumal.

I wouldn't do it, and have never done it; but I have met many
Happy Campers <tm> who dived with Caballitos del Caribe on day
trips from Cancun.

YMMV.

-- Bob.

Penny S <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:
>cb wrote:
>> I'm not sure I would call diving in Cancun "sub-standard" because
>> Also, while you're there, you should try some "cenote" or cave dives.
>> Something unique in the area.
>you mean cavern, not cave, right?

Same thing. You just don't go past the signs with pictures of skeletons on it.
Dos Ojos (one of the two I saw) is a beautiful pond, with much much more below.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com