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#358
Planning dive next dive trip: West Palm Beach or Cozumel?
pphan13 - 10/06/2012 11:22 AM
Category: Travel
Replies: 15

Hi, I’m trying to plan my next dive trip. Looking between West Palm Beach or Cozumel, never been to either places. Anyone dive both and have a preference or thoughts? I’d rather go back to Bali but plane tickets are pricey. I’d like to get great diving in warm water with the best bang for the buck.
#5828
Agojo - 10/06/2012 2:34 PM
Best bang for your buck is to drive from SC to Pompano Beach and dive with South Florida Diving Headquarters (SFDH). Easy to do 4 dives/day with them for $110 + fills if you have all of your own equipment. You will get wreck dives, and drift reef dives and don’t spend a lot of time getting to dive sites from there dock.
#20281
Smithsgold - 10/06/2012 2:36 PM
I ’ve been to Cozumel twice and that would get my vote every time !!!!! Where ever you end up going enjoy your diving !!!!!
#2086
zielit - 10/06/2012 7:20 PM
Yeah I second Cozumel, unless you don`t like drift diving....
#358
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pphan13 - 10/06/2012 7:28 PM
Thanks for the replies. From what I hear both Palm Beach and Cozumel are drift dives. I definitely like the sound of being able to do 4 dives a day though. Still have a lot of time to decide though.
#358
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pphan13 - 10/06/2012 7:29 PM
Oh, and as for Cozumel, any recommend resorts/dive operators?
#20384
LatitudeAdjustment - 10/07/2012 11:47 AM
From Agojo: Best bang for your buck is to drive from SC to Pompano Beach and dive with South Florida Diving Headquarters (SFDH). Easy to do 4 dives/day with them for $110 + fills if you have all of your own equipment. You will get wreck dives, and drift reef dives and don’t spend a lot of time getting to dive sites from there dock....
The trouble with SC in February is there is a higher chance of him getting blown out than in Coz. The SE will be cooler than Coz but both are warmer than from where he is coming from in Afghanistan
#20281
Smithsgold - 10/07/2012 2:49 PM
We stayed at Casa Del Mar both trips I’d rate it at 3 and ahalf out of 5.
The first trip we Used Del-Mar Aquatics there the in house dive shop at Casa Del Mar the second trip we used Dive House both were good I’d dive with either of them again.
There links to both dive shops on my profile if you’d like to check them out.

Good luck and enjoy your trip

Jeff
#20384
LatitudeAdjustment - 10/07/2012 4:31 PM
From Usmcphan: Oh, and as for Cozumel, any recommend resorts/dive operators?...
BlueXT Sea, Christy over on D2D comes highly reguarded as does DB’s own Chucho Divers, http://www.divebuddy.com/profile.aspx?MemID=15112 Both also can help you with a place to stay.
#358
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pphan13 - 10/07/2012 6:55 PM
Thanks again everyone. Those places will still be warmer than Southern California in February time frame. And I can get down to 70 degrees in the water and still be warm. Big thing that’s drawing me to Palm Beach is the Blue Heron Bridge site which I’ve heard so many great things about.
#2086
zielit - 10/08/2012 2:35 AM
I stayed at Allegro Occidental Cozumel, decent 3.5 to 4 I also heard neighbouring Grand Occidental and Iberostar are quite good, but even though they all have their own onsite dive operations many people were coming over to dive with our - Pro Dive Mexico. My whole trip (flight+all incl. resort for 7 days) and 16 dives I think I did on 2K budget.
#75
remick - 10/08/2012 6:50 PM
Cozumel? The Blue Angel...built for divers! 2 tank dives a day and all the shore diving you can handle.
#642
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MaryW - 10/09/2012 3:02 PM
From LatitudeAdjustment: BlueXT Sea, Christy over on D2D comes highly reguarded as does DB’s own Chucho Divers, http://www.divebuddy.com/profile.aspx?MemID=15112 Both also can help you with a place to stay...
we have used BlueXT and they are very good. In fact we’re going the first week of November and using them again. They keep your gear, clean it every night, and set it up for you the next day. Christi also has some great recommendations for restaurants. Full disclosure, she is an acquaintance of mine, but I wouldn’t use her again if I didn’t like the experience.

We rented a condo at Residencias Reef, and repeating that as well. There’s a resort next door that lets the Residencias Reef tenants use the beach and pool. Very nice!

Sally at barefootincozumel.com is also not to be missed. She offers Ashiatsu massage. Amazing!

Have fun wherever you decide to go!
#358
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pphan13 - 10/09/2012 7:44 PM
Thanks everyone for the help. It be nice we all just had the time and money to dive any where and every where.
#136
Rosko - 10/18/2012 8:49 AM
I dive Palm Beach and Pompano a few days a week. Let me know if you have questions about either. Blue Heron is okay if you like shallow diving and photography. You have to go at just the right time of the tide though or there’s strong currents and no vis. Palm beach has stronger currents than Pompano. You can do free shore dives all day in pompano. Plus the water is warmer in Pompano. I dive wrecks in Pompano and Lauderdale By the Sea every weekend, amazing place!:)
#358
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pphan13 - 11/03/2012 12:17 AM
Everyone’s been awesome with helping me out on a decision. After all the research of the two places I’ve decided to go back to Bali instead!!! lol. Yes, it wasn’t even one of the two places I decided. It is definitely the more bang for the buck dive wise, plane ticket wise a little bit more pricey...by a lot. But on the other hand, I get a lot more diving done. After pricing everything out, it was only a couple of hundred dollars more for a lot more diving. Got an dive itinerary worked out with the dive shop, just need to get an exact date. Planning on 7 days of diving with a total of 24 dives.

1 day pick up in airport

Overnight in Santai Hotel

2 day check out and transfer to Secret Bay for 3 day dives and
1 night dive

Overnight Aneka Bagus Pemuteran

3 day check out and 2 dives in Menjangan + 1 night dive in
Tulamben

Overnight Toraja Tulamben

4 day Tulamben 3 day dives and 1 night dive

Overnight in Toraja Tulamben

5 day Seraya 3 dives and 1 night dive in Seraya

Overnight in Toraja Tulamben

6 day Check out, Seraya 3 dives after diving to Sanur

Overnight in Santai Sanur

7 day Manta Point/Nusa Penida 3 dives

Overnight in Santai Sanur

8 day Manta Point/Nusa Penida 3 dives (no change)

Overnight in Santai Sanur

9 day transfer to airport