Open Water Cert. trip to Cozumel

[stryker520]

I'm looking for travel buddies to travel to Cozumel in April 2009. My purpose is to get my open water cert. and therefore am looking for others with a similar interest. TX waters are too cloudy/dirty and cold this time of year and I need to get my open water done before my trip to Tahiti in May.

I'd like to keep the trip as reasonable as possible with still having "some" hotel standards. I refuse to stay in a dump; especially in Mexico. Not a fan of sharing my bed with cockroaches!

Anyway, $600 or less is what I'm shooting for and to include airfare and hotel for a long weekend (Th-Sun or Sat-Tues). Food and diving will be separate.

If you are a certified diver already, join in on the fun. I hear the diving is great in Cozumel!

Let me know if you are interested by replying to this post or emailing me directly via this board.

Thanks!

[scubarobin]

You should be able to do hotel and airfare from Houston for that price. Diving, including cert dives will be $$. YOur best bet is to get certified back home, or at least do the Classroom/Pool part at home. Don't waste your vacation time sitting in a classroom when you can be diving! That is what we did 9 yrs ago.... classroom and pool at home in CO, then our OW checkout dives in Cozumel. We chose Papahogs for the instruction. Mama Hog, Margaret Gerus, is awesome! She and husband Mike are both Canadian and living in Coz for 20yrs, teaching scuba, running a great dive shop. Check them out. Papa Hogs Scuba Emporium of Cozumel - Mexico
There are other dive ops that I would recommend, too. Cozumel Diving with Aqua Safari
Dive Paradise, Cozumel MX

For getting an airfare/hotel only package, check on Expedia or with one of the dive ops for their packages. Hotels on Cozumel range from "rustic" to 4star, some say they are 5star but they aren't really. It all depends what you are looking for.
Another option is to check with a dive travel agency...
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
Bay Adventures :: Dive Adventures and Island Vacations :: 888.599.3483

Have fun, you will love Cozumel.
robin

[obrules15]

Originally Posted by stryker520

I'm looking for travel buddies to travel to Cozumel in April 2009. My purpose is to get my open water cert. and therefore am looking for others with a similar interest. TX waters are too cloudy/dirty and cold this time of year and I need to get my open water done before my trip to Tahiti in May.

I'd like to keep the trip as reasonable as possible with still having "some" hotel standards. I refuse to stay in a dump; especially in Mexico. Not a fan of sharing my bed with cockroaches!

Anyway, $600 or less is what I'm shooting for and to include airfare and hotel for a long weekend (Th-Sun or Sat-Tues). Food and diving will be separate.

If you are a certified diver already, join in on the fun. I hear the diving is great in Cozumel!

Let me know if you are interested by replying to this post or emailing me directly via this board.

Thanks!

I did my cert in Coz in 1999, because I was new I didn't worry about the reefs and stayed in a hotel to the north. It is farther away from the reefs so most serious divers don't like it but it was wicked cheap and I thought it was lovely. $2 dollar taxi to town. Have fun.

[stryker520]

Thanks for the info. I'll certainly look into those links you posted.

I guess I forgot to mention that I've already done all the classwork and pool work at home. I just need my "check out" dive.

I found a good deal from Dallas (where I live) to Cozumel including hotel for $450.

Originally Posted by scubarobin

You should be able to do hotel and airfare from Houston for that price. Diving, including cert dives will be $$. YOur best bet is to get certified back home, or at least do the Classroom/Pool part at home. Don't waste your vacation time sitting in a classroom when you can be diving! That is what we did 9 yrs ago.... classroom and pool at home in CO, then our OW checkout dives in Cozumel. We chose Papahogs for the instruction. Mama Hog, Margaret Gerus, is awesome! She and husband Mike are both Canadian and living in Coz for 20yrs, teaching scuba, running a great dive shop. Check them out. Papa Hogs Scuba Emporium of Cozumel - Mexico
There are other dive ops that I would recommend, too. Cozumel Diving with Aqua Safari
Dive Paradise, Cozumel MX

For getting an airfare/hotel only package, check on Expedia or with one of the dive ops for their packages. Hotels on Cozumel range from "rustic" to 4star, some say they are 5star but they aren't really. It all depends what you are looking for.
Another option is to check with a dive travel agency...
Caradonna Dive Adventures - Dive Travel and Vacations
Bay Adventures :: Dive Adventures and Island Vacations :: 888.599.3483

Have fun, you will love Cozumel.
robin

[SynCitizen]

Just recently did 7 days at fiestamericana hotel, all inclusive and r/t airfare from Las Vegas for 635 pp
Diving not included, but got a great deal from a fantastic dive op. Dive with Martin. $210 4 days 2 tanks per day. Added night dive for $35.

[firstdive2005]

Hi Stryker520- Contact Opal at Scubamau.com, she will give you a great deal on your dives/cert. She can also get great deals on hotels etc. You will be able to do free shore dives and free night shore dives if you want. They are are blast to dive with. Mau is the instructor and he is amazing as an instructor. have fun-tell Opal kevin sent ya.

[scubarobin]

Originally Posted by stryker520

Thanks for the info. I'll certainly look into those links you posted.

I guess I forgot to mention that I've already done all the classwork and pool work at home. I just need my "check out" dive.

I found a good deal from Dallas (where I live) to Cozumel including hotel for $450.

which hotel?