Info on Cozumel, Dive With Martin and Fiesta Americana

Hi All,

We just came back from 6 days of diving in Cozumel. It had been 7 years
since we were last there. We dove with Dive with Martin and stayed at
Fiesta Americana.

Things had changed a little bit at DWM, as they have grown a lot. Whereas 7
years ago our diveboats usually had 4-6 divers and one divemaster, this time
our dive boat usually had 7-8 divers on it. Whereas last time we usually
had the same divemaster each day, this time we had a different boat and
divemaster each day. Whereas last time the divemaster did an outstanding
job of pointing out critters to us on each dive, this time only one of the
divemasters made much of an effort to point out interesting things to the
divers as we followed along. We still did see a wide array of sea life
(eagle rays, eels, crabs, lobsters, octopus, splendid toad fish, turtles,
nurse sharks, corals, etc) and had a great experience though. The DWM staff
obviously knew the reefs well and took us along wonderful routes, swim
throughs, etc... We did miss the even smaller group sizes and the even more
personal tour experience, but it certainly was still a good experience
overall.

Fiesta Americana was much like we had remembered it, only bigger. Our room
was clean, large, quiet, comfortable and had an ocean view. The room was a
good price, but the food and beverages sold at the hotel were way overpriced
(we didn't do their all inclusive). It was almost $3 just for a can of coke.

Prices for food and beverages and everything in town were way higher than
they were 7 years ago as well. The food in Cozumel used to cost less than
it does where we live in Santa Cruz Ca, now it costs more than in our home
town. We love good Mexican food and seafood and were surprised at the price
increases in general. For example, El Moro used to be a great deal and now
it is ridiculously expensive for the same food and atmosphere.

Has anyone ever dove with Blue Angel or stayed at the Hotel Caribe Blu? We
are thinking of trying them next time.

Happy diving,

Dorie

I've dove with Blue Angel twice, june and dec of 2004. They gave
wonderful personal service just like you described wanting. Can't
speak for the hotel though.

shawn in tx


Dorie Melville wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> We just came back from 6 days of diving in Cozumel. It had been 7
years
> since we were last there. We dove with Dive with Martin and stayed
at
> Fiesta Americana.
>
> Things had changed a little bit at DWM, as they have grown a lot.
Whereas 7
> years ago our diveboats usually had 4-6 divers and one divemaster,
this time
> our dive boat usually had 7-8 divers on it. Whereas last time we
usually
> had the same divemaster each day, this time we had a different boat
and
> divemaster each day. Whereas last time the divemaster did an
outstanding
> job of pointing out critters to us on each dive, this time only one
of the
> divemasters made much of an effort to point out interesting things to
the
> divers as we followed along. We still did see a wide array of sea
life
> (eagle rays, eels, crabs, lobsters, octopus, splendid toad fish,
turtles,
> nurse sharks, corals, etc) and had a great experience though. The DWM
staff
> obviously knew the reefs well and took us along wonderful routes,
swim
> throughs, etc... We did miss the even smaller group sizes and the
even more
> personal tour experience, but it certainly was still a good
experience
> overall.
>
> Fiesta Americana was much like we had remembered it, only bigger.
Our room
> was clean, large, quiet, comfortable and had an ocean view. The room
was a
> good price, but the food and beverages sold at the hotel were way
overpriced
> (we didn't do their all inclusive). It was almost $3 just for a can
of coke.
>
> Prices for food and beverages and everything in town were way higher
than
> they were 7 years ago as well. The food in Cozumel used to cost less
than
> it does where we live in Santa Cruz Ca, now it costs more than in our
home
> town. We love good Mexican food and seafood and were surprised at the
price
> increases in general. For example, El Moro used to be a great deal
and now
> it is ridiculously expensive for the same food and atmosphere.
>
> Has anyone ever dove with Blue Angel or stayed at the Hotel Caribe
Blu? We
> are thinking of trying them next time.
>
> Happy diving,
>
> Dorie

>
> Has anyone ever dove with Blue Angel or stayed at the Hotel Caribe Blu? We
> are thinking of trying them next time.
>
I did both - this February.
Dives were OK. I was also satisfied with the hotel. Bit noisy from the
street, but not that much and on the other hand nice ocean view and
close to the sea - no need to cross the street for instance - little
beach is available just in front of the hotel. They have also a private
little pool and some hammocks for guests. Free tanks for diving from the
beach - those dives were may be not remarkable, but if you want to take
some photos especially at night like I did, it was quite OK.
Little disadvatage was that the closest restaurant is 20min walk
distance or 5$ for taxi (the little one they have next to the hotel is
serving only breakfasts and lunch).

To be frank the most interesting dives I had on Cozumel were in Cenote
Aerolito, which is quite close from Caribe Blu but those I did with
http://yucatech.net not with Blue Angel, which is recreational divers
oriented, not cave.

BTW: Taxi driver's may not recognise the name of the hotel, because they
changed it recently I was told. I think former name was Lorena or such.

BR
Shrek

Thus spake Shrek <jwojna1@poczta.onet.pl> :

>>
>> Has anyone ever dove with Blue Angel or stayed at the Hotel Caribe Blu? We
>> are thinking of trying them next time.
>>
<snip>

>BTW: Taxi driver's may not recognise the name of the hotel, because they
>changed it recently I was told. I think former name was Lorena or such.

Correct. It changed about a year ago, so most drivers should know it
by now.

>
>BR
>Shrek

--
dillon

Women should be obscene and not absurd.

Shrek <jwojna1@poczta.onet.pl> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:
:To be frank the most interesting dives I had on Cozumel were in Cenote
:Aerolito, which is quite close from Caribe Blu but those I did with
:http://yucatech.net not with Blue Angel, which is recreational divers
:oriented, not cave.

What did you find interesting about these dives?

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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>
>>BTW: Taxi driver's may not recognise the name of the hotel, because they
>>changed it recently I was told. I think former name was Lorena or such.
>
>
> Correct. It changed about a year ago, so most drivers should know it
> by now.

At least those whom I used when I was staying there didn't ;)

BR
Jacek

> :To be frank the most interesting dives I had on Cozumel were in Cenote
> :Aerolito, which is quite close from Caribe Blu but those I did with
> :http://yucatech.net not with Blue Angel, which is recreational divers
> :oriented, not cave.
>
> What did you find interesting about these dives?
>

I can feel a bit of irony in this question... or I am too sensitive? ;)

Anyhow: one likes money, other girls or car.

I spent approx 1.5 week on cave diving on in Akumal/Tulum area and some
days in Aerolito, the rest on Cozumel reefs. My preferences would be in
the above order. I liked Aerolito, because unlike other caves it looks
moch more "raw" or "wild" and surely there are much less divers visiting
it. Generally if you are looking for something colorful, don't go to
caves, but reef, but from my point of view caves may be much more
interesting, especially there is a very intersteting life there. If you
are looking for something really rare and untouched than Aerolito would
be good, but of course you have to go deeper into it... and you need to
have a necessary qualifications and experience.

I don't know if this answers your question.

BR
Shrek

Shrek <jwojna1@poczta.onet.pl> pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:

:I can feel a bit of irony in this question... or I am too sensitive? ;)

You're too sensitive.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

> :I can feel a bit of irony in this question... or I am too sensitive? ;)
>
> You're too sensitive.
>

OK, than you've got the answer (serious) I hope ;)

BR
Shrek

Cozumel is one of our favorite destinations because for us it is still a
good bargain and a very short trip from Houston ( 1hr 50 minute flight).
We're headed down there shortly, for our 11th trip.

While we have favorite restaurants like La Choza and Primas we realize that
they charge prices according to what loyal customers are willing to pay and
often it isn't all that cheap.

For really good seafood and great prices, you might try La Conchita del
Caribe. It is off the beaten path (65 ave and 23 sur) and not frequented by
tourists. Great service, great food, clean and very reasonably priced with
portions that are hard to finish. We fed 6 people with appetizers, multiple
beers/person and entrees for about 1100 pesos (9/2004) with a 20% gratuity.

Locals know it well. We were the only Gringos in the place.

"Dorie Melville" <melville333@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:d5bdtt0fs8@enews2.newsguy.com...
> Hi All,

(snip)

> Prices for food and beverages and everything in town were way higher than
> they were 7 years ago as well. The food in Cozumel used to cost less than
> it does where we live in Santa Cruz Ca, now it costs more than in our home
> town. We love good Mexican food and seafood and were surprised at the
price
> increases in general. For example, El Moro used to be a great deal and
now
> it is ridiculously expensive for the same food and atmosphere.
>