Jane Alexander wrote:
>
> I'm planning a trip mid August.  Is the Fiesta Americana "Dive
> Hotel" really a good bet for divers, or is the general
> recommendation that the Intercontinental is unbeatable?  Let me
> know.
>
> I'd also love to hear any recommendations for dive boats.  We're not
> interested in a week of "divemaster lead dives on PADI recreational
> tables"!

Oh boy, this subject can perhaps be elevated to Spare Airs, Pony
Bottles, 7 foot hose/DIR, changing batteries in a HyperAqualand, or
other hot controversial topic :-)

Seriously Jane, "your mileage may vary" depending on your expectations
and who you ask.  Several on the list have a boatload (pun?) of their
own personal experience to varying degrees from a single visit, a
handful, a whole lot, and practically having dual citizenship in the
case of the Feeesh (Bob Ling) or having a house in Cozumel (Chuck
Hopf).  This is further complicated by the very volatile dive operations
there - operators come and go, ownership changes, crew changes, it's a
hit-and-miss proposition unless you have very recent information (which
I unfortunately can't give so I won't try; I missed out this year).
However...

The Fiesta Americana, and most of the southward hotels essentially have
cattleboat type operations or mindsets.  If you want less restrictive
diving you will likely need to book with a downtown operator (they will
stop at your pier on the way out, so you don't have to lug your gear).
I won't venture to say "which" operator you should check in to (since my
latest info is a year old), but I can say with reasonable confidence
that you don't want a southern hotel operation (or for that matter,
almost any hotel operation).

On the flip side, if you can stand the hassle, southern hotels are
closer to the reefs and save you 10-20 or maybe more minutes boat ride
to the reef.  But again, most downtown operators will pick you up at the
pier, so not much difference other than your resident operator might get
there before the masses.

My pet peeve with the southern hotels is the taxi hassle into town for
your land-based time.  It isn't that much of an expense, but it is a
hassle as opposed to staying in or near town and having walking access
to most everything.  And you can roam about and visit lots of dive
operators.

To reflect back on the Cozumel NEDFest of 1999, we headquartered at the
Hotel Bahia which is directly across the street from the downtown dive
pier.  Many, many operators in town start from there, and it puts you
right across the street.  It is two blocks from town square and dive
operator shopfronts are everywhere.  It is a surprisingly nice, clean
hotel by downtown standards (I can't say "spartan" because it isn't
applicable) but they don't have the amenities of a pool, beach-like
area, etc.  But you get a balcony (most rooms), cable TV (mostly
Spanish), fridge, etc.  Sort of like an efficiency in terms
of the states.  If you're strictly diving it's great.  If you have a
non-diving member in your party they might be bored during the day if
they expect a pool/beach/etc.  But for that matter, "beaches" are rare
on that side of the island except for a few places; the hotels have
man-made beach-like areas for that purpose.

I'm sure you'll get more comments, so I'll stop here.  Hope it is of
some use to you (and hope I don't start a raging flame-war over what
is best about Cozumel).

Jeff Kell <[log in to unmask]>