24 replies to this topic

[scubaski]

Here’s the set up. Both the Beach & Marina dive operator/resort offer the same 2 tank a.m. x 5 days and 6 nights accommodations at the same $ rate. Both offer extra 1 and 2 tank afternoon and night dives and EAN at a optional fee. Both dive operators have rinse tanks and secure storage for your gear. Both resorts offer free kayak use. Both resorts offer for a optional fee pwc rentals, motor boat rentals, parasailing and off resort tour desk bookings. Both resorts have a fresh water pool, lounge chairs, pool towels and pay per drink bar. Both resorts include a full American breakfast, all other meals are a’la cart. Basically the same dive package and room accommodation for the same $$.

The Beach based dive op/resort is 5-12 miles from the local city-town center. You will need a $ 5 -15 taxi or water taxi ride each way to go out on the town on some nights for drinks/dinner and nightlife. Within walking distance of the beach resort you may have 1 or 2 three or four star restaurants that you may have dinner at for a change from the resort bar/grill and restaurant. Although on the beach, the beach itself is course sand or coral with sea grass offering very limited snorkeling.

The Marina based dive-op resort is in- city. The resort hotel maybe as short as a 3 minute walk from your room door to the dive boats to as much as a 10 minute walk to the other side of the marina. Within 5-15 minute walk you have a range of price point bars, restaurants and nightlife and shopping. Snorkeling is not allowed in the marina due to heavy boat traffic.


So here’s a few photos with notes of beach and marina based dive operators/resorts. The notes contain mostly factually information but I’ve taken literary license on some points. I have dived all these op/resorts. If you recognize the dive op/resort post your guess and I will atta boy-girl with the correct answer.

Please Vote and post any thoughts that you may have. This informal survey may help in possible future trips. The photos are just representations of different type land based dive ops/resorts. Thanks for your replies‘.







Beach based op/resort. 1-36’V-hull boat and 3-20’ skiffs w/ outboards. Dive shack, gear locker, rinse tank on pier. Behind this scene resort pool bar/restaurant and bathrooms Lounge chairs and tiki shade huts, raked beach w/ vendors selling goods walking by. Snorkeling allowed to pier length, sea grass bottom. Rooms 1 minute walk to boats. Within 5 minute walk 4 star restaurant, 12 minute water-taxi to town-city center.






Marina based op/resort. 2- 28’ V-hull boats, 2- 36’ catamaran boats. Right of this scene large pool, lockers, bathrooms, dive shop and bar-grill. Brown roof 3rd floor of hotel. Elevator, Jacuzzi, 2 pools, 1 restaurants. 3 minute walk from your room door to boats. 10 minute walk to casino and ocean beach. Behind this scene a large public area with many price point bars, restaurants and clothing stores. No snorkeling in marina.






Beach based op/resort. 1-36’ V-hull boat, 1 24’ V-hull boat. Behind scene large pool, dive office, gear lockers, bar- restaurant, 3 floor hotel. 3 minute walk room door to boats. 10 minute walk to 4 star restaurant. 20 minute taxi to city center with many price point bars, restaurants and shopping. Snorkeling w/ iron shore and sand bottom.







Marina based op/resort. 1-36’ V hull boat, 1-24’ V-hull boat, 1- 20’ SRI boat. Behind this scene moderate 2-3 star restaurant open 7a-11pm, restrooms, gear locker, and dive office. Hotel 5 minute walk other side of marina. Casino and bar - restaurants 10 minute from hotel. No close by beaches. Shuttle service possible to beach.

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Edited by scubaski, 05 May 2009 - 06:27 PM.

[Jerrymxz]

MY 2 psi is I like the beach. all else being more or less equal I enjoy just sitting and looking out on the ocean. I also like walking along the beach and just swimming in the ocean. OH... and my favorite beach pass time.... Bikini watching

[Victoria]

I'm with Jerry on this. I prefer the beach, and actually I like the idea that it's sufficiently secluded that a taxi (water or wheeled) is necessary to get out and do the night-life thing.

[Jerrymxz]

Peace, quite and tranquility Rule!!!!!!

Edited by Jerrymxz, 05 May 2009 - 08:01 PM.

[Bubbles]

I vote for the marina based resort, mostly because I like the easy walking access to places to eat and shop. While I do enjoy the beach, I'm just as happy lounging by the pool.

[bowjunkie]

being a country boy I prefer the beach ... I'm not to hip on city noise and such

[Houston Squid]

I go on these trips, pretty much like they are a live-aboard. They are not my only form of vacation so I am all about the diving and less about the frills.

I tend to dive all day and then recluse to my room to work on photographs, so as long as I can get some grub, and something sweet for dessert, I'm groovy.

So Beach is good for me.

Edited by Houston Squid, 05 May 2009 - 09:13 PM.

[divzac]

I vote for the marina based resort, mostly because I like the easy walking access to places to eat and shop. While I do enjoy the beach, I'm just as happy lounging by the pool.

..second this idea..

[lynnlchan]

I vote for the marina based resort, mostly because I like the easy walking access to places to eat and shop. While I do enjoy the beach, I'm just as happy lounging by the pool.

..second this idea..

What they said.

[TCdamsel]

I have to vote for the beach. I don't care much about nightlife and I love being next to the ocean. Yep, it's all about the view and the diving for me.

[shadragon]

I am a liveaboard guy. Diving 50 feet from the breakfast table works for me. Nothing against shore stuff, but on vacation I pack in a lot more diving off a boat than the shore.

[weescot]

I am a liveaboard guy. Diving 50 feet from the breakfast table works for me. Nothing against shore stuff, but on vacation I pack in a lot more diving off a boat than the shore.

Liveaboard 1st, beach 2nd. i live in a city (with a beach...) so "getting away" from city life is important to me. so is 3 or 4 dives a day!

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

I don't mind a marina-based op if that's all that's available, but by far I prefer the beach op. I live in a city that's as far from the ocean as you can get, and on diving vacations I prefer peace & quiet, so that I can hear the surf and watch the moon over the water -- and not hear the traffic or the bar next door. I can taxi into town if I get a crazy urge to buy souvenirs or eat outside my resort. Besides, many beach resorts will have on-site snorkelling or diving, while a marina-based op will have water restrictions due to boat traffic.

Just my 2psi!

[georoc01]

I guess the question for me is how are the ala carte meals at the Beach resort? Would I be willing to eat all of my meals there, or will I end up spending all of my nights cabbing it to town and back every night just for a good meal?

I deal with this question on my personal Cozumel trips. Do I stay at Hotel Cozumel right near town or Allegro with the beach? If I go with the latter, I pretty much go AI and with the exception of one night, will spend the entire trip at the resort. If I do the former, we grab breakfast and lunch at the resort and walk downtown for dinner, skipping the dinner buffet.

Same with Roatan..Do I stay at Cocoview or Anthony's Key, superior AIs with lots of dives and all inclusive meal options, or do you stay in the West End and dive with an op like Coconut Tree within walking distance to a variety of resturants at night?

Personally, I have done both depending on what I am in the mood for, the overall cost and who I am travelling with and their options. For example, If I have a non diving companion, they may prefer the beach or shopping which would lean the trip one way or another.

[peterbj7]

So how would you classify Patojo's in San Pedro?