Want to dive Costa Maya - Majahual?

I've been on a quest to dive this area - some of the NG have tried to help
(thanks Amber & George) but it seemed like kind of a dead end - then finally
I get this truthful reply from the area (I've removed names so not to cause
trouble):

Hi Mike,

There is a long and sort of interesting story about that.....

The operators of the cruise ship dock in Majahual are extremely interested
in making every dollar they can from the ships' passengers. Therefore,
they strongly discourage ground operators from soliciting business there.
And, by strongly, I mean it's sort of like a Mexican mafia.

There will be plenty of guys awaiting the arrival of the ship who can take
you diving. They all have their agreements with the owners of the dock in
place. They have to pay something in order to do business there.

To do something not sanctioned by the dock people, you will need to leave
the area where the dock infrastructure is and catch a taxi out to where you
need to go.

We have not been soliciting divers off the ships for this very reason. It
can cause a lot of political hassles... But, if you ever want to visit the
area and stay for a while, we would love to have you.

Have a great trip!

Now I understand!

Still I get honest advise like the following - now I know why they don't
answer their e-mails - but maybe someday?!

__________________________________________________ __________________________
_____

Taxi from the cruise ship terminal to Xcalac and back is probably more like
100 USD (if not even more).

But anyway, with your limited time budget I would not advise to drive to
Xcalac.

Directly at the cruise terminal it is possible to book dive trips. My guess
is, that these will be exorbitantly expensive (as everything what is offered
there). It will be much cheaper to make independent arrangements with the
local dive shops.

Just south of Majahual (km 2) is the Blue Ha dive shop
(www.bluehadiving.com) with an experienced dive master (Doug)I can
recommend. e-mail has been down in Majahual since last September and it
might be a bit difficult to contact them in the short time span until mid
July. It is low season and they might not be prepared to go out without
advance notice.

An excellent dive operation is also at Maya Ha
(http://www.mayaharesort.com/index.html) , about 10km south of Majahual.
They also do dive trips to the Banco Chinchorro. They have a very good
(large and fast) boat, so the trip to Chinchorro with them isnt so hard on
the stomach...
They can be contacted via their US office (look for instructions at their
web site)


If I pull off a dive trip I'll let everyone know!

Thanks,
Mike

Thanks for the information. I'm sure things will will sort themselves out
in the future.

George

"Mike A" <nospamtwomikea@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KZOLa.59120$R73.9061@sccrnsc04...
> I've been on a quest to dive this area - some of the NG have tried to help
> (thanks Amber & George) but it seemed like kind of a dead end - then
finally
> I get this truthful reply from the area (I've removed names so not to
cause
> trouble):
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> There is a long and sort of interesting story about that.....
>
> The operators of the cruise ship dock in Majahual are extremely interested
> in making every dollar they can from the ships' passengers. Therefore,
> they strongly discourage ground operators from soliciting business there.
> And, by strongly, I mean it's sort of like a Mexican mafia.
>
> There will be plenty of guys awaiting the arrival of the ship who can take
> you diving. They all have their agreements with the owners of the dock in
> place. They have to pay something in order to do business there.
>
> To do something not sanctioned by the dock people, you will need to leave
> the area where the dock infrastructure is and catch a taxi out to where
you
> need to go.
>
> We have not been soliciting divers off the ships for this very reason. It
> can cause a lot of political hassles... But, if you ever want to visit the
> area and stay for a while, we would love to have you.
>
> Have a great trip!
>
> Now I understand!
>
> Still I get honest advise like the following - now I know why they don't
> answer their e-mails - but maybe someday?!
>
>
__________________________________________________ __________________________
> _____
>
> Taxi from the cruise ship terminal to Xcalac and back is probably more
like
> 100 USD (if not even more).
>
> But anyway, with your limited time budget I would not advise to drive to
> Xcalac.
>
> Directly at the cruise terminal it is possible to book dive trips. My
guess
> is, that these will be exorbitantly expensive (as everything what is
offered
> there). It will be much cheaper to make independent arrangements with the
> local dive shops.
>
> Just south of Majahual (km 2) is the Blue Ha dive shop
> (www.bluehadiving.com) with an experienced dive master (Doug)I can
> recommend. e-mail has been down in Majahual since last September and it
> might be a bit difficult to contact them in the short time span until mid
> July. It is low season and they might not be prepared to go out without
> advance notice.
>
> An excellent dive operation is also at Maya Ha
> (http://www.mayaharesort.com/index.html) , about 10km south of Majahual.
> They also do dive trips to the Banco Chinchorro. They have a very good
> (large and fast) boat, so the trip to Chinchorro with them isnt so hard on
> the stomach...
> They can be contacted via their US office (look for instructions at their
> web site)
>
>
> If I pull off a dive trip I'll let everyone know!
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
>
>

"Mike A" <nospamtwomikea@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<KZOLa.59120$R73.9061@sccrnsc04>...

> I've been on a quest to dive this area - some of the NG have tried to help
> (thanks Amber & George) but it seemed like kind of a dead end - then finally
> I get this truthful reply from the area (I've removed names so not to cause
> trouble):

<snip>

I'm not surprised Mike. I'll be there in a few weeks and I'll probably
post something on my thoughts of it so you might see that. I know
you're looking to do a cruise but perhaps you might reconsider and
stay at hotel/resort.

I'll be there in less than 2 weeks - we are probably going to give the small
boat in town a try - weather permiting. I would like to hear about your
trip - so post when you return!
Mike

"Mike A" <mikeleesa@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<iS8Na.7399$NW6.4825@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.ne t>...

> I'll be there in less than 2 weeks - we are probably going to give the small
> boat in town a try - weather permiting. I would like to hear about your
> trip - so post when you return!

Mike, I could have sworn that I answered you here but I don't see it
on Google. Anyway... yes please, let's compare notes. I'd like to hear
about your experience there also. Are you going by way of a cruise
then ?? Have a great time and stay safe !!

Yes, we are on Grand Princess out FFL on 7/13. We're diving with Wall to
Wall in Grand Cayman (2nd time) and well probaby skip diving Coz (been there
lots for weeks) if the Costa Maya thing turns out. I'll post the results. I
did have an earlier thread on this subject but I don't see you on it. I
think you may have responded on our last Nov. cruise to Aruba (poor),
Grenada (good) & Dominica (great).
Thanks,
Mike

"Mike A" <mikeleesa@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<PXUNa.18706$I8.11039@rwcrnsc53>...

> Yes, we are on Grand Princess out FFL on 7/13. We're diving with Wall to
> Wall in Grand Cayman (2nd time) and well probaby skip diving Coz (been there
> lots for weeks) if the Costa Maya thing turns out. I'll post the results. I
> did have an earlier thread on this subject but I don't see you on it. I
> think you may have responded on our last Nov. cruise to Aruba (poor),
> Grenada (good) & Dominica (great).

No...it was the earlier thread called "Cruise vs Liveaboard (was Re:
Cruise Deal) " and it's strange but I don't see it when I look back on
Google. Anyway, I posted some of it below. Hope you get things worked
out so that you can dive there. Have a good time !!

You said:
> Can someone help with Costa Maya - the one resort won't answer e-mails (Maya
> Ha Resort) - I think they only care about their own people - and really no
> other clues?

I replied:
Mike... what is it that you are asking about Maya Ha ?? I know they
have the dock nearby for cruise ships but I'm not sure that many ships
are going there. The Maya Ha has answered my emails without a problem.
You could always phone them toll-free at 1-877-443-1600. I believe
that if Maya Ha doesn't have enough divers to go out on the Chinchorro
(I assume that is where you were thinking of diving if you were in
that area.), they refer to XTC Dive Center in Xcalak. You can email
them at www.xcalak.com.mx. Suzanne, at XTC Dive Center, has been most
helpful to me.

Amber wrote :
> There are several cruise ships which are now calling at Majahual (Costa Maya)
> very near to Maya Ha Resort. However, trying to arrange a two-tank trip out
> with them from the port is nigh on impossible. I know others who have tried
> and been frustrated by their indifference as well. They don't even outright
> say "no" they tell you to call the day before. Well, often the day before is
> Grand Cayman. Not the easiest thing to do.

I replied :
Ohhh. I didn't think there were that many cruise ships docking there.
I think that perhaps part of the 'problem' is that they most likely
don't know where they are diving until at least the day before... and
maybe sometimes not til that morning. They can either go out to
Chinchorro, or stay close to the local reef. The location depends on
the number of divers and on the ocean conditions, and as I understand
it, they work along with XTC Dive Center.