Aqua Safari Cozumel

[dcombs44]

Anybody have any experience with this dive shop. I'm leaving for Cozumel in a week and a half and this is the on-site shop at our hotel. It doesn't seem too bad from what I've read so far, but I figured I'd get some second opinions.

I'm certified, my fiance is not, but they offer a $70 resort course that ends with a 40 foot 1 tank dive. I want to dive with my new wife so I figured i'd pay the extra $70 and just take the course and help her and then just go on the dive with the class. It includes all equipment rental and the class. Sounded pretty good to me.

I'm sure once i get in the water I'll get the itch again and want to go on about 500 more dives in the week that I'm there, but I figured maybe i can get my fix this way.

Thanks

 

[GSMguy]

keep an eye on your wife make sure she understands decompresion. dont let her get bent on her first try
those resort courses are pretty lax

 

[mattboy]

Actually, on Cozumel there are many excellent dive instructors who teach the resort course, called PADI "Discover Scuba" every day and have done so for years. Believe me, you won't have to worry about decompression on those dives. The instructor stays right next to the student and depths are never to the point where a direct ascent could be dangerous from a DCS standpoint. (Barotrauma is another story, but again, these instructors are trained and experienced in dealing with brand new divers) If you're certified, you should not have to pay for the class; of course she will, but you should be able to go on the dive for no cost other than tank rental.

If she likes it, she can go directly into an OW certification course, which can be completed on the island in (usually) 4 days, and chances are it will be a private or semi-private class. If you're certified, but not feeling real confident due to lack of diving, you could take a refresher course. Cozumel specializes in this sort of situation, and literally hundreds of people in exactly your situation arrive on the island every week.

I don't know much about aqua safari; there are dozens of excellent dive operations on Cozumel and you don't have to use the hotel op. The one I use is called Roberta's Eco-Dive cozumel; other highly regarded ones are Blue XTsea, Blue angel, and Aldora. There are many. If you want lots of info on diving in Cozumel, you might go to scubaboard.com and check out the cozumel forum.

If you're going to be on Cozumel for several days and you're a certified diver, you'd be crazy not to dive every day, because diving is what that island is all about. Most morning trips leave early enough so you could be back with your wife for lunch.

 

[2000vert]

I dive alot in Cozumel. I don't like the large groups of divers that go with Aqua safari. I have always used Dive with Martin. The shop has the best prices and packaged deals. They are very safe and very helpful when there are people that have not dove alot. The dive masters never change. There has been the same people for many years. Martin the owner just passed away last thanksgiving. He and his family do alot of good things for the children on the island. Google dive with Martin and you will see what I mean. Good luck we will be there June 22nd thru the 29th.

 

[dcombs44]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9882990#post9882990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mattboy

If you're going to be on Cozumel for several days and you're a certified diver, you'd be crazy not to dive every day, because diving is what that island is all about. Most morning trips leave early enough so you could be back with your wife for lunch.

See that would be great, but this vacation happens to be my honeymoon. I'm not sure that'd go over too well.