Barracuda Hotel, Cozumel

Advantages: This hotel offers a very good diving school.
Disadvantages: The food in this hotel was good, but they had a problem keeping the food warm.

...to Hurricane Katrina. The second day of being there I noticed that they where offering free scuba lessions in the swimming pool and I thought I would give it a go. I found it that good and decided to sign up for a discover scuba course. The instructors on this course where very friendly and helpful. There was one point that I never nearly went on the dive due to nerves, but the instructor reasured me. I'm glad he did because the dive was probably one of the best experiences of my life. They even filmed it on DVD. Also to mention that the island of Cozumel is close to the second largest barrier reef in the world and was very easy to reach by boat. The only downside to the hotel was, that they had a problem keeping the food warm and the eating areas are open. Which caused a problem with the flies. I think they where trying to close the eating... Read review

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Advantages: Crystal clear warm water
Disadvantages: Going Home

...I did my open water course in May 04. I was staying in the Fiesta Palladium grand resort and spa which had a dive shop in it's grounds. I decided to give it a try and signed up for the beginners course, just half a day from classroom to sea. The dive site its self was part of the mezo american reef which runs from cozumel down to honduras. the viz on my first dive was about 30m and the dive site itself (umberella reef) was absolutly spectacular. There were barrel sponges, sea fans, staghorn coral, all varieties and colours of soft coral, all at only 12m. We saw southern ray, baraccuda, trumpet fis, parrot fish, angel fish and many others. As it was my first dive it only lasted just over half an hour and I really loved every minute so I signed up for the full open water course. I did 4 more dives altogether, on Ruina Maya, Ruina... Read review

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Advantages: Within easy reach of Playa, some lovely beach clubs
Disadvantages: Some less than lovely beach clubs

...Cozumel is an island about 30 mins ferry ride from Playa del Carmen. It is also a resort in itself, boasting various posh and not-so-posh hotels, and is on the stopping route for many Caribbean cruises. While staying in Playa, we spent a couple of weekends on the island, swapping our beach for theirs in an attempt to see if the grass is greener, or rather if the sand is sandier, on the other side of the bay. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Trip # 1 At 9.30am we set off to catch the ferry to Cozumel. It's mega crowded so we sit inside instead of up on the deck in the sun. It takes half an hour to get there and then about 15 mins in a taxi to our destination - Uvas beach club. Taxis over here don't have meters, so you're supposed to haggle. We fail miserably... Read review

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