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#132
Cozume, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
aukukino - 3/19/2015 6:37 PM
Category: New Diver Q&A
Replies: 4

I am going to backpack to a few Central American countries and I would like to dive ad rack up experiences as well. I am a new diver who travels alone. I am excited but lacks research. Which dive operator to scuba dive with?

Any advise will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
#20387
LatitudeAdjustment - 3/20/2015 4:52 AM
If you look on Scuba Earth up on the tool bar there are a few dive ops on Cozumel that are members here on DB, my favorite is divebuddy.com/profile.aspx?MemID=15112

The Dive ops I saw in Belize City had questionable rental gear and boats.

When you say Honduras, I assume you mean the Bay Islands like Roatan or Utila. Most backpackers end up on Utila, I’ve used Utila Lodge but all of the shops there looked good.

Same for Roatan, the resorts all have good operations but you backpacking will probably end up in West End. I haven’t used any op there.
#4002
Subscribed
WarmWaterTurner - 3/20/2015 6:40 AM
Here is my two cents worth -

Cozumel - Blue Angel - also has a nice reasonable HOTEL.
Belize - Hughs Resort - close to Belize City
Roatan, Honduras - Anthony’s Key is my only choice.........
#38
frankscott_dm - 3/23/2015 8:35 AM
I’m a relatively new diver. I started diving 3 years ago in Cozumel; resort course and then a 2 tank follow-up at Palancar Gardens. Last summer I got my OW in Coz and did a follow-up two tank dive also in Coz. And then over Thanksgiving we stayed in Playa Del Carmen and I got my AOW. And earlier this month I was on a liveaboard in the Bahamas, diving off a nassau and in the Exumas. I’ve just returned from Cancun where I got my Deep Diver specialty cert. diving cenotes.

So hearing that you’re backpacking, I’m assuming you are trying to do this on the cheap. Is that right? I totally understand, I spent $1k for the liveaboard. That was cheap. I would recommend hostels. I know they are abundant Cozumel (usually about $15 - $20 a night) and Playa. I’d imagine the same is true for Cancun. I used Deep Blue in Coz for the 2 tank at Palancar when I first got started, they were good. In Playa, I got the impression the hostels might be a little more expensive, but I love the euro feel of Playa. You can ferry between Coz and Playa (45 min / $26 round trip). You can take a bus if you want from Playa to Belize City (I think it’s a 10 hour ride.). You might also consider spending some time in Tulum. I used ScubaPlaya in Playa and was happy with them. There’s a number of good shops in the area. Then when I was in Cancun, I used Deep Life Divers. They took me to the cenotes in the Tulum area; Angelita and The Pit. It was my first experience in a centoe and it was awesome. Note, those two locations require you to be at least AOW certified. Deep Life Divers did a really good job and I’d use them again. They’re pretty close to full service. They have contacts in Playa, Cancun, and Cozumel so can be a 1 stop shop for your diving in Mex if you want. In all my experiences, the rentals have been satisfactory.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.
#40
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DivemasterInternship - 9/18/2018 4:21 AM
GoPRO Blue Magic
Blue Magic’s Divemaster Internship Program is a complete package. In fact, we are the only Cozumel Divemaster Internship program from a real dive shop, let alone at a PADI 5 Star IDC Center. The crystal clear Blue Magic waters of the Caribbean offer, in addition to the great diving, an ideal location for training. Cozumel sits at the beginning the Great Mesoamerican barrier reef, the second largest reef system in the world. With clear water offering typical visibility of over 100 ft. (30 meter) and 100’s of species of corals, sponges, fishes and other marine life, one never gets bored diving here