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Cozumel March 8 to March 12


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#1 FLStarfish

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Posted 24 February 2008 - 09:53 AM

I'll be in Cozumel from March 8 to March 12, diving with Diving Paradise. Is anyone else in town during that time frame? I also need recommendations about good places to eat :cheerleader: and places it's best to stay away from :cool1:

Thanks!

#2 fairfield59

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Posted 24 February 2008 - 05:13 PM

I´m in Cozy right now! Had dinner at Casa Denis right on the plaza last night and was great as usual.

#3 FLStarfish

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Posted 24 February 2008 - 08:12 PM

I´m in Cozy right now! Had dinner at Casa Denis right on the plaza last night and was great as usual.


I hope you're having a great time!! How have the water temps and visibility been? Any favorite dive sites you can recommend?

Edited by FLStarfish, 24 February 2008 - 08:13 PM.


#4 Fordan

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Posted 24 February 2008 - 09:03 PM

I'll be in Cozumel from March 8 to March 12, diving with Diving Paradise. Is anyone else in town during that time frame? I also need recommendations about good places to eat :cheerleader: and places it's best to stay away from :cool1:

Thanks!


On my trips to Cozumel I've used Christi's (from Blue XT~Sea Diving) Restaurant guide.

Of the places I ate, I really enjoyed Prima, Chi, Guido's, & Especias. Beware of some of the hawkers off the main square trying to pull you into their restaurants. The food isn't bad, but it isn't great. Of course, many of the good places use hawkers too. :lmao:

#5 ScubaStacy

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 11:40 AM

Oh I love Cozumel! Dive Paradise is a good operation. Ask for DM Victor, he gets you to the BEST dive sites. (try Turtle Reef)

The places I like are more off the beaten track – no dancing waiters – those are easy to find around the square.

The best fish I’ve ever had was La Conchita Caribe – You’ll have to ask a taxi driver it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, or seemed that way when I was driving – I’d been drinking. The menu is in Spanish.

If you like meat and I mean a lot of grilled-right-there meat, try this place, the owners are from Argentina. Again I don’t know where it is exactly but it’s closer to the square. Its small very new/clean. I just looked on some old credit card statements and the name is Al Pie Del Carbon. Anyway, they have a meat platter that is supposed to be for two but I shared with a couple and we all still had leftovers! I don't even eat meat very often but it was yummy!

PM me if you want more – don’t’ want to write a novella right here!

Hope you have a wonderful trip – I absolutely love it there! :teeth:

Stacy
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#6 running_diver

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 01:40 PM

Oh I love Cozumel! Dive Paradise is a good operation. Ask for DM Victor, he gets you to the BEST dive sites. (try Turtle Reef)


The first time I was in Cozumel, about 9 or 10 years ago. I dove with Dive Paradise and hated them. The morning DMs were good, but not great. The afternoon DMs were terrible. The boats were incredibly slow. I remember someone on a jet ski trying to wake jump behind our boat. He passed with in a foot or two of the rear of the boat and still could not catch any air. The one day we were on a fast boat, it was still slow.

The last time I was in Cozumel was December. I talked to at least half a dozen people who had similar experiences with Dive Paradise. The story was always the same, on their first trip to Cozumel and their LDS recommended Dive Paradise. They all had bad experiences and would never dive with Dive Paradise again.

Last time I was there, I dove with Scuba Du. They were good, but not so spectacular that I wouldn't consider trying other operations.

The one thing Dive Paradise has going for it is that the are big enough to do afternoon and night dives most nights. Most of the smaller operations only do night or afternoon dives if they get enough people.

Ross

#7 ScubaStacy

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 02:06 PM

That sucks that you had a bad experience with Dive Paradise. I've only used Dive Paradise once last August, but was happy with them.

They took us (small group of 4 on fast boat) anywhere we wanted to go, even over to the mainland to Turtle Reef. We never shared a site with other divers. I especially liked that I could stay down as long as my air lasted and my computer said was safe. I had a few 85 minute dives.

I've gone with other good dive operators on more recent trips, but since it sounds like she is already booked with DP I thought she'd like to hear that I had a good experience with them!

:teeth:

Edited by ScubaStacy, 25 February 2008 - 02:06 PM.

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#8 fairfield59

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Posted 25 February 2008 - 05:39 PM

I´m diving with Papa Hogs, their web site is way better than their actual ops.

You don´t go to a nice beach for your surface interval as stated on website, you sit on the six pack boat breathing engine exhaust.

They don´t take care of your gear as stated on website, you do it all yourself. If you want, you can store it in their building AFTER you rinse it yourself.

Boats are fast, did 2 tank afternoon dives leaving at 1 and got back at 4.

Ate at The French Quarter last night. BLECH!!! Nothing at all creole about their Gumbo OR Jambalaya, they were terrible. Service was very slow, there was ONE waiter for entire restaurant.

They are doing major work on the east side of the Plaza, and there are a ton of wooden shacks erected all around the plaza, really makes it look more like spice market in Grenada.

May try Especias tonight, they are in different place than before Wilma. One street south of plaza between 5 and 10 Calle, I think.

Good luck!

#9 Sassi

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Posted 26 February 2008 - 07:24 PM

I went to Coz about a year ago right about the time you are going - I did all my dives with "Dive with Martin"; loved it; David was the best DM for our day dives and Orlando was awesome for our night dive. During our surface intervals; they took us back to where they gased up again; go to the little hut (and I mean little) - get the torta especial - you'll want to go for more; best food I had the entire time I was there.

#10 FLStarfish

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Posted 27 February 2008 - 05:18 AM

Ross,

Thanks for the information. The important thing to remember, though, is that at the end of the day, I'll still be on vacation in Mexico, diving in clear, warm water, without a care in the world :cool1:

Edited by FLStarfish, 27 February 2008 - 05:21 AM.


#11 running_diver

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Posted 27 February 2008 - 06:51 AM

Ross,

Thanks for the information. The important thing to remember, though, is that at the end of the day, I'll still be on vacation in Mexico, diving in clear, warm water, without a care in the world :cool1:


Any day underwater is better than any day on the surface.

Ross

#12 georoc01

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Posted 28 February 2008 - 08:27 AM

I miss you by a week (March 19-23)..Also diving with Dive Paradise..please share when you return!

#13 fairfield59

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Posted 28 February 2008 - 09:20 AM

Ross,

Thanks for the information. The important thing to remember, though, is that at the end of the day, I'll still be on vacation in Mexico, diving in clear, warm water, without a care in the world :(



The water was warm, but vis wasn't that great for Coz.

Try Especias, the food, service and atmosphere were great. They have 3 tables for 2 out on the front balcony.

La Choza was very unremarkable.

Papa Hogs was below par. Particularly didn't like the DM's. Left group of 3 behind while he swam off (WAY off!) trying to find stuff. Also left the water with me (ALONE) still finishing my safety stop! Won't use them again or recommend to anyone.




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