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#672
Cozumel for 8 hrs.
LiveBait - 11/23/2014 8:46 PM
Category: New Diver Q&A
Replies: 9

I’m going to be taking a cruise for the first time to Cozumel with another stop. I will be there Jan 19th(Monday), 2015 and I ONLY have 8 hours (8 a.m.- 4 p.m.). What should a NEWBIE do? Dive Shop? Buddy? Dive Spots? Anything? I know nothing.
#2229
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btw2459 - 11/23/2014 9:20 PM
I’ve never actually been on a cruise, but I’ve read many comments about cruising and diving from others to let you know that most people try and sort out their own trip rather than a trip organized by the cruise line. The reason is that there is a better chance that the one they organize will only have a few divers on it unlike the cruise organized trip which will likely have all the people on the cruise ship, that want to dive being sent to one operator that is affiliated with the cruise line.
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Agojo - 11/23/2014 11:12 PM
If you haven’t cruised before remember port time is based on time zone of your cruise departure, which may not be the local Cozumel time. This becomes very important if you set up your own trip! I have done cruise and my own trip in Cozumel and enjoyed both, but it was much better setting up my own trip, cost difference was paying the $16 round trip for taxi to meet my boat.
#51828
#51828
Greg - 11/25/2014 7:48 AM
I have always scheduled dive charters myself. It’s less expensive than using the Cruise "shore excursions" and you have more time to dive. You can also normally request where you’d like to dive. Organize the trip ahead of time through email or phone. Agree on the date and times, make sure they know you’re arriving by cruise ship and have limited time. Once in Cozumel, hop off the ship and take a taxi to whatever meeting point you previously agreed to. Get on the charter boat, enjoy the dive, tip the dive master ($20/per diver is standard), and make sure get back to the cruise ship in time.

Then log your dive on DiveBuddy.com when you return and share some pics!
#206
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Maurizzio - 11/26/2014 3:04 PM
Please remember that even after making a reservation through the cruise , it still may be cancelled since the operator in Mexico, may want to have at least 6 people in the boat, or delay the exit to get peple from other ships, which will put you to dive in the afternoon (not good), also the time changes in Mexico 1 Hr. best option is to get the reservation directly with the dive operator.i heard that this time of the year jelly fish, wear full 3 mm wetsuit, and take gloves even if they say is not allowed
#94
Namastaras - 12/24/2014 11:42 AM
Contact Rene (info@ChiliCharters.com) at Chili Charters for diving, you can easily arrange for pick up at a pier closest to your ship and they do a FANTASTIC job!!! Fast very comfortable boat. Tell them Tara sent you :)
I just spent a month in Coz (my first real time there) and they treated me like family and were SO accommodating, I can’t say enough great things about them!!!

chilicharters.com/
#35
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ScubaTom59 - 3/11/2015 8:44 AM
I know this is late for you, just posting it in case someone reads this looking for information. We were on a cruise last week booked a dive excursion in Grand Cayman with the cruise ship, we both pretty close to where the cruise ships were, it was ok nothing much to see. In Cozumel we booked a dive trip with Aldora.com on the recommendation of our dive instructor. Our dive in Cozumel was great, a short taxi ride to their office and we were signed in ready to go. It was just my wife, Daughter and myself on the boat with the guide, dive master and captain. Also with them my wife and daughter dove with LP steel 100’s I had a LP steel 120, not the usual AL80’s so we had plenty of bottom time. We had such a great time with them we are planning to fly down later this year.