All Inclusive Resort Advise down South

[tkechef]

So we are both divers and we are looking for an all inclusive resort where we can get a little R&R and maybe a couple of dives. But what I am really looking for is a resort where we can go snorkeling right off the beach and hopefully find a nice house reef. I have done tons of diving in the red sea maldives thailand hawaii etc... It was always nice to just walk off the beach and see a reef right there. Is there anywhere in Mexico or the caribbean where you can do this??

I have done a little reading and see that Cozumel has lots of places to do some snorkeling but haven't really found a place where you can do it right on the resort.

Any tips would be great, we are planning on doing this in January so the waters are going to be a little colder but coming from Canada anything is warmer!!

[mwhities]

Welcome to ScubaToys!

I'm staying at Hotel Cozumel in October and we are going to be diving right next to the pier with my 10 year old nephew. I'm sure my wife and my brother-in-laws wife will be snorkeling above us. They have a small beach next to the pier that we will be frequenting quite a bit.

Maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

Michael

[MSilvia]

I hear Bonaire has the best shore diving in the Caribbean. You might look there.

[TRACI]

Just got back from Bonaire, lots and lots of shore diving and snorkeling available from the resorts. All the reefs I did were a short swim. I stayed at the Carib Inn, which had a pretty good house reef.

Coral Princess in Cozumel has some good snorkeling, alot of marine life, but not too much coral to look at. Casa Del Mar also has some good snorkeling, but it seems like the boat traffic was pretty heavy the last time I stayed there.

[TRACI]

Coral Princess and Casa Del Mar both have a optional meal plan if you want to go all - inclusive.

[scubarobin]

go to Bonaire!!!!

[bfisher]

I've been to Bonaire and Cozumel many times.

For snorkeling or shore diving Cozumel is not it. Yes you can do both, but there is very little to see. As mentioned you also have a lot of boat traffic. There are a few places that have AI plans, such as Hotel Cozumel and Resort, but there is virtually no shore diving of any interest.

Boanire is, by comparison, the cat's meow in the snorkeling and diving arena. Almost any resort you stay at has a house reef that is just a short swim (100' or less) and are very interesting both in the coral and critter catagories. Thing is, I don't know of any places that have AI plans. Most have restaurants on site, but it's pay as you go. Of course there are lots of interesting places to eat in town, and town is like 5 minutes or less from most of the more popular resorts.
To be honest, I've only stayed at two places on Bonaire. Plaza Resort is one of the few with a nice beach, beach bar, pool w/pool bar. etc. It's also one of the more expensive and is spread out a bit, but the rooms are large and clean. The other would be Buddy Dive. The house reef there is just a tad short of incredible. Easy diving, easy snorkeling, food on site. The rooms were decent, the place isn't huge and it's a kind of cozy place in that respect. However, there is no beach. I guess ya just can't have it all.
I'm heading to the Plaza in a couple weeks, but to be honest I go to Bonaire for the diving and really prefer Buddy's. Maybe I'll try some of the other places in the future.

Another place I've been once and like was Sunset Waters in Curacao. You can check out details on their website, but this little jewel of a resort is pretty nice. Good house reef that can be dove or snorkeled. Nice beach---and a nude section. Food was pretty good for an AI plan. If it has a down side it's a long way from town, but there is a daily shuttle. It really doesn't matter to me. I go to dive. I'm not a tourist, although a trip to town for one day is worth the effort. Curacao has some really nice public beaches along the coast, most with all the emenities, but ya need transportation to get to them.

I would have a hard time deciding between Bonaire and Curacao. But having been to Coz and Bonaire a half dozen times each in the last 4 years I'd have to say there is no comparison for the snorkeling and shore dives. Coz doesn't make the grade in this respect.