JDiver

For Cozumel, and I've been there many times and dived with several providers - my nephew even worked for one as an instructor, as we are all divers in the family - I can recommend one provider especially highly:

Aldora Divers

Trip Advisor reviews of Aldora Divers

Honcho man Dave Dillehay's spacious Villa Aldora is the best place to stay (north side of the island so you can duck into town and avoid the huge cruise ship crowds, wide variety of accommodations, boat picks you up there).

Aldora has an all instructor staff (no divemasters, one instructor per fast six passenger "six pack" boat), they set you up with steel tanks of various sizes to equalize everyone's breathing, have a superb instructional staff, and with their boats get you to the best places while there's nobody else on them.

Lady JDiver did the pool and bookwork at home, did her certification - and some hundred plus dives - with Aldora. As a rescue and master diver I can say these guys are superb; Manager Guillermo "Memo" Mendoza runs a tight ship that is very customer oriented, and is a superb critter spotter.

They may look a bit more expensive, but then again, I've spent 1, 1.5 and even 2 hours underwater with them, and you will get more bottom time than you will with the other guys, they match divers up for skills, and can't be beat IMO.

(I've got 58 years of diving in 32 countries, certified wreck, rescue, master, etc. for reference.)

jjc781

I would agree aldora divers is a great bunch of friendly and safe people.

JDiver

I did forget to mention: for genuinely advanced divers, Aldora can often arrange specialist diving, such as diving current-swept Barracuda reef, diving Cozumel's caves, winter dives with the nearby mainland's bull sharks (pregnant females visit every winter), and can recommend whale shark trips. (We loved snorkeling with thirty bus-sized whale sharks out of Isla Mujeres.)

jason8612

I'll be in Cozumel Dec 31 till Jan 14 doing some diving.
I booked the Hacienda San Miguel Hotel and Suites for Dec 31st for 1 night in which we will move on Jan 1 to the Intercontinental (there wasn't anything available for Dec 31 at the IC).

I have booked a table for us for NYE dinner at Guidos (starts at 10PM, so it should take us till midnight). Then I'm guessing we will find a party/bar to go to after dinner.

I got some diving booked with Living Underwater and I plan to do some shore diving at the IC.

Where are some good places to eat? drink? I'm thinking about some breakfast/lunch spots as the IC seems to be quite pricey for breakfast.
Has anyone dived off the IC shore? How is it? What about diving in Cozumel?
Any restaurants to eat in the evening? What about nightlife?
Any shops where we can stock up on the basics (water, soda, booze, etc)? Any other tips (like cab fares, etc)?

Thanks!

And is anyone else going to be down in Cozumel Dec 31 - Jan 14?

JDiver

Best diving I know in Cozumel is with Aldora Divers. Fast six packs with divers selected for ability compatibility get you to the sites before they're saturated, HP steel tanks of various volumes for long dives, computer diving only, nitric availability, instructor level guide on every boat, all gear handling (including washing and delivery when diving is done.

For dining, Anthony's, La Cocay, La Choza, more. I'm only sorry Prima Trattoria closed, though they say they're relocating and reopening. Ask the locals.

mediakzar

Sorry I was late to the party to help the OP but if anyone else does a search looking for similar info, have a look at www.mxtravel.com. It has a really extensive diving and restaurant section section on Cozumel written by someone who has owned a house there for close to 30 years.

JDiver

Thanks for the link, mediakzar. I've used the site and purchased excellent maps from them. I tend to concur with what's written in their Cozumel Diving page (link). (I've been diving 58 years, and am a master diver with lots of advanced stuff like rescue, wreck, etc. so I tend to be very picky about diving.)

In Cozumel, expect currents and topography, plenty of swimthroughs, coral, fish. Spending some time here learning currents can be useful preparation for the Galápagos, Islas Cocos, Fiji, the Tuamotus and other places with great, fun currents.

I've dived with a lot of the mentioned companies - I even dove with Dive Paradise when it was operated by Tom Hartdegen in their earlier days, and can vouch they're safe. But Dive Paradise is IMO more oriented to divers more interested in economical diving than excellent diving, though they have added their advanced "EDP" program and a fast boat. Much of what they say is spot on, but IMO there are better than Dive Paradise and some of the larger operations.

I avoid Aqua Safari (though Eve Ackerman, my favorite IDC Intructor and Course Director, contracted through them) and especially Aquaworld - some may enjoy but we call 'em "cattle boats" - too Many divers, too common sites, too limited diving. Del Mar Aquatics - eh.

I've dived with Martín Aguilar, but he passed away, and others mentioned on that page. For the best experience, call in advance, tell them your expectations and reserve. Just showing up may leave you with third or second rate diving.

My favorite is Aldora. They match divers skills, have fast six packs with a captain and instructor level dive guide, they pick up your gear and convert it to DIN the night before you dive. This is because they offer steel 80 to 120 high pressure tanks (air or EAN Nitrox) for long, comfortable all computer diving.

If you've the experience, they're happy to help you explore Colombia Sur, the Devil's Throat, even Barracuda. And if you don't, they provide all kinds of training, from Open Water referrals to advanced specialties, with thorough and knowledgeable instructors. They occasionally offer special dives - they're among the few that dive "the other side" of Cozumel, and they've organized December dives when the pregnant bill sharks come to the Akumal area. Just don't wear your "yum yum yellow" wetsuit!

So, I can opt for a couple or three cheaper dives of 30 minutes (the worst cattle boats) to 45 (the usual), or go with Aldora, where I've done a couple of 90 (or longer!) minute dives at more distant dive sites when the cattle boats aren't there because we gotbtherevearkiervwith their great boats. More expensive - but cheaper often by actual dive time and high quality diving.

They'll also wash and store your gear overnight, set it up for you, wash, dry and "de-DIN" your gear, delivering it before you go home clean.

For cavern (denote) diving, Yucatek at Playa del Carmen is good, and I also recommend AquaTech at Akumal near Playa del Carmen. Either can train and certify for Cavern or full Cave diving. AquaTech operates out of Villas DeRosa, and they have fabulous denotes nearby. Spectacular!

For something special, there's snorkeling (diving prohibited) with whale sharks between Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox in summer. I've been in the water with as many as bus-size whale sharks out there, and though I tried to keep a little respectful distance they often came close and "bottle fed" and one even came up under me. Suddenly I was in the air, fin holding me in place, trying to see how I could dump without causing any upset or injury to the shark. Finally, the awesome tail swept by, giving me a little fillip with the current, and we went our own ways. ¡Buenos días, Señor Tiburón! Link to video

jason8612

Thanks all for your help.
I went with Living Underwater as a few others recommend them to me. Did 7 days worth of diving and really had a great time. I tripadvisor'd places to eat and all were excellent. Once I get a chance to edit the photos, I'll post a few here.

JDiver

Thanks for following up. We'll look forward to your sharing of photos. ^

Antonio8069

I am jumping on this thread, looking for any recent information on snorkel day tours in & around Cozumel?

(I looked at the WEB site, and all of the operators offer either diving or sailing, & I am looking for one which offers snorkeling and (perhaps) sailing?

Also, I recall many moons ago taking a lagoon tour? Is that even a thing? Or was that in Cancun?

JDiver

Cancún offers a lagoon tour - but I'd never recommend snorkeling there. The water is suspect and there are critters worth a look (there used to be Morrelet's crocodiles, iirc) and they have bitten people (one person was bitten several times and died by drowning) but I was stung by a Cassiopeia "upside down" jelly that entailed a slow to heal wound and some flesh loss.

Cozumel - doesn't have great snorkeling; the best is using access from some of the hotels. The few beaches are pretty denuded, the remainder of shoreline facing the mainland is "ironshore", eroded limestone that is irregular and sharp.

There's Chankanaab Lagoon, quite organized, and a small harbor with beach near the cruise ship docks and La Ceiba hotel, with remains of a DC-3 sunk some years ago for a movie.

The other side of the island is too exposed to be snorkeleable much of the year.

Aeromech

I second Aldora Divers

JDiver

My mod colleague and friend dstan and his spouse recently went diving with Aldora and absolutely loved them.

Antonio8069

So I asked a veteran cruiser at the NY Times Travel & Leisure Show about snorkeling in Cozumel, and she said to rent a car,there are lots of beaches worth visiting.

Who to believe?

bigbuy

There is one long beach on the back side of the island (about 5-7 miles long) that is outstanding IF you like a beach with almost nothing on it except a few locals and also a few local bars/restaurants. I have been going to Cozumel since 1990 when there were only about 6k residents on the island. I never get tired of that beach. Very serene.
If you do rent a car, make dang sure you do not take the new road they built after a hurricane. Take the old road just past the Carnival cruise ship docks. It will hug the coastline and you will pass most of the resorts and private homes on your way to the backside of the island. Also, once you get to the back side of the island, there is a lighthouse that you can climb to the top for a good view. There are a few car rental places right downtown and several at the Carnival docks. I like to rent from Thrifty next to the town square.