Q: Where is your shop located?
A: We are conveniently located downtown less than a block from the waterfront. Our address is:
Calle 5 #400-B between Av. Rafael Melgar (waterfront) and Av. 5

For reference, McDonald's is on the corner and we are 3/4 of the block down on the right hand side in a white house with blue trim and blue bars on the windows...just before you get to the first corner.

Our administrative office hours are:
Monday - Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday by appointment only

Q: Where will we dive?
A: Dive sites are selected the day of the dive as a group based on many factors including weather, surface conditions, currents, visibility, experience level of divers, what sites were dove the previous days, and of course divers choice plays heavily into the decision provided that conditions are favorable. Maracaibo, Punta Sur, Columbia and the northern reefs (must obtain permission from harbor master the day prior to the dive) are part of our normal routine, and we do not charge a surcharge to dive these reefs.

Q: What is the typical profile?
A: All of our dives are tailored to meet the desires and objectives of our divers. However, a typical day with us would be a wall dive to a depth of 80ft to 100 ft, multi-level, with a bottom time dictated by your air management and computer. We will spend an hour to an hour and a half at a local beach in between dives where you can relax and off gas so that your next dive is not restricted. The second dive is typically a shallower dive between 40 and 60 ft. Our average bottom times range between 55 minutes to an hour or more.

Q: What types of tanks do you use?
A: We offer AL 80 tanks with fills of 3000psi. Tanks are inspected and cleaned every 6 months or more frequently if necessary. We also offer nitrox fills for an additional charge of $11 per fill with proof of certification. AL 100 can be requested and are available for an additional $5 per tank. We typically offer the larger tanks for heavier breathers, not to increase bottom time for those who already have exceptional air management.

Q: Where do you pick-up divers & what time do you depart?
A: We pick up at the downtown pier and most hotels south of downtown for two-tank dives including:
-Downtown Aldora pier (T-Shaped pier)
-El Cantil Condos
-Cozumel Palace
-Barracuda
-Hotel Cozumel
-Caribe Blu
-Villa Blanca
-Casa del Mar
-Park Royal (hotel charges $3per diver/day)
-La Ceiba
-Presidente
-Fiesta Americana
-Wyndam(Reef Club)-(hotel charges $3per diver/day)
-Allegro
-Occidental Grand

**Please be aware that we no longer offer pick-ups at Iberostar hotel, effective Feb. 10, 2010 due to outrageous pier usage fees imposed by hotel management. Please contact us for more information and to find out how you can help!

Our first departure of the morning is the downtown pier and we depart at 8:00am. If we have divers to pick up at the southern resorts, the last pick-up is typically between 8:30 and 8:45am.

We return to the downtown pier anytime between 1:00pm and 2:00pm depending on where we dive, bottom times, surface intervals, sea conditions and weather.

Please note that we do not pick up at southern resorts (south of Fiesta Americana) for night dives as we dive sites near town and the marina for night dives for safety reasons. Site selection for day dives may also be limited for guests of southern resorts as we cannot dive north of the southernmost hotel of our guests due to logistics and additional fuel consumption required that is not factored into our costs. Divers staying at southern resorts wishing to do night dives and/or northern dives will be required to taxi or drive to the marina for departure and/or drop off on days that they wish to do these dives.

Afternoon boats when scheduled depart from the downtown pier at 2:00pm and return between 6:00 and 7:00pm.

Q: What is the water temperature in Cozumel? Do I need a wetsuit?
A: The water temperature ranges between 76 and 78 in the winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb); 78 and 80 in the Spring (March through May) and warms up to 82 - 84 in the summer months. Exposure protection is a very personal decision and should be determined based on your tendency to chill. Keep in mind that if you will be doing multiple dives over multiple days, you will probably chill towards the end of the week. A good all- around suit for Cozumel is a full 3mm.

Q: How many divers do you put on each boat?
A: My boats go out with a maximum of 6 to 8 divers (usually no more than 6). We will accommodate larger groups upon request, but 95% of the time, the divemaster ratio will remain 6:1 and NEVER more than 8:1. Larger groups with larger boats can be accommodated upon request and with reservations.

Q: What will we see?
A: Of course there are never guarantees, but Cozumel has a wide variety of marine life including turtles, spotted eagle rays, sharks (nurse sharks, black tips, and occasional hammerhead sightings), schools of snappers, grunts, and triggerfish; barracudas, seahorses, and the Splendid Toadfish which is endemic to Cozumel. The highlights of Cozumel diving is the natural wonder that made Cozumel diving famous, the majestic coral formations!

Q: Is there a restroom on the boat?
A: No there is not. Not to worry, we spend our surface intervals on the beach where there are public restrooms, fresh water showers and a restaurant. There is always the ocean if you are REALLY desperate!

Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Click here to read our cancellation policy (link)

Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: Final payment is due in full upon arrival for all reserved and confirmed dives. The following payment options are available:

• Cash - USD or MX pesos
• Direct Bank deposit - In the US at any Bank of America branch; or in Mexico at any HSBC branch. Account information will be provided upon request.
• Personal check - We can accept checks mailed to our US address if received no later than five business days prior to your arrival. We can also acept checks in Mexico if drawn on a MEXICAN bank account. Address will be provided upon request.
• MC/VISA - This payment method is offered as a convenience to those who prefer not to bring cash or to use the ATMs. The exchange rate for credit card transactions varies based on exchange rate fluctuations, but all cc transactions are charged in pesos at the current days exchange rate. Due to local bank policies, procedures and security, we must physically have the card in order to charge it and therefore cannot accept credit cards by phone or e-mail.

Q: How do I secure my reservations?
A: If you are ready to secure your reservations, please complete a reservation form from the reservations page of our website.

We require a deposit of 25% for multi-day packages (or $100pp minimum) to secure your reservations.

If coming by cruise ship or diving only one day, a deposit of 50% or $50pp minimum is required to secure your reservation.

Once your deposit and reservation form are received, you will be notified, via email, with a confirmation. Without a deposit, we cannot guarantee your reservation.

Deposits can be made via paypal by clicking the paypal link on our home page or at the bottom of the reservations page. Personal checks (drawn on a US bank) are also accepted at our US address. Mailing address will be provided upon request.

Q: How do we check in with you when we arrive in Cozumel?
A: We ask all divers to check in at the shop no later than the afternoon/evening prior to your first dive. If you are unable to make our office hours due to your flight schedule, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.

Check-in hours are Monday - Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Saturday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Please bring final payment and your certification card when you check-in. We cannot allow you to dive without proper verification of certification.

You may bring your equipment to the shop when you check-in, or bring it to the boat the first day and we will transport, store and rinse your gear each day for you.

Q: Do you require a check-out dive?
A: To ensure the safety and enjoyment of ALL our divers, we reserve the right to require a private divemaster for the first day (and subsequent days if necessary) OR a refresher dive with an instructor at the divers expense if:

• a diver has not made a dive in more than 18 months
• is a new diver with less than ten ocean drift dives
• is a nervous diver needing special attention
• a diver cannot maintain a safety stop at 15 ft on his/her own

Q: Do you require dive insurance?
A: We strongly recommend scuba diving insurance such as Divers Alert Network (DAN) www.diversalertnetwork.org . This insurance should be secured before your arrival in Cozumel.

Blue XT~Sea is a member of the Meditur Hyperbaric Chamber, located on Calle 6 North at the San Miguel Clinic. The hyperbaric/diving physician is Dr. Pascual Piccolo.

Q: Do you allow Junior Divers (10 to 15 year olds)?
A: Yes we do, with a few conditions. We require all junior divers under 15 years old to have a private divemaster due to the depth limitations. Per local marine park regulations, all dives must be guided by a local divemaster or instructor and the dive groups must stay together at all times. The depth limitations for Junior divers cannot be imposed on the entire group, therefore a private divemaster is required for Junior Divers at the divers expense. This is for the safety and enjoyment of all divers on board.

Q: How much does a private divemaster cost?
A: A private Divemaster for those requesting one or for those who are required to have one per our policies is $50 for a two-tank dive. This is not $50 per person, but $50 per private divemaster (up to four divers per private DM).

Q: Do you offer shore diving?
A: We do not provide tanks for shore dives. We do not have a facility on the waterfront nor are tanks kept in the shop. All of the tanks on the island are filled by a central fill station and delivered to the marina each morning for the boat dives. They will not deliver tanks for shore dives except to shops that are in the resorts on the waterfront. Anywhere that shore diving is available (very limited and not really anything to see) there is a dive shop where you can rent tanks and weights for a nominal fee of $5 to $6

Cozumel was never touted as a great shore diving destination, and this is even more true since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It is very different than places like Bonaire or Curacao in that regard.

Q: Do you offer packages with any all-inclusive hotels?
A: No we do not. The hotels we have chosen to work with are the hotels we can personally recommend and those whch have provided us with reduced rates for our divers.

We can put together custom packages for you with Casa Mexicana, Suites Bahia, Suites Colonial, Vista del Mar, Caribe Blu, and Casa del Mar.

Q: What is the single supplement for your hotel packages?
A: Many people are misinformed about the term single supplement. Single supplents apply when booking all-inclusive packages which are based on double occupancy.

Hotels charge per room, per night rather than per person (except for all-inclusives). Rooms are the same price whether there is one or two people staying in the room. Therefore, if you do not have someone to share the room with, you simply have to pay the entire room cost.

Q: What is the standard tipping procedure for diving in Cozumel?
A: The average base is $5 to $8 per tank per diver. In otherwords, if you do a 2-tank dive, an appropriate tip would be $10 to $15 for each diver. The crew pools the tips, so no need to tip them each individually, unless you want to give something extra to one of them. In that case, you should specify that it is only for them.

Tipping daily or at the end of the week is also a personal preference. We try to keep you with the same crew all week, but sometimes this isn't possible due to crew off days, turnover in divers, crew illness, etc. If you decide to tip at the end of the week, and had the same crew...then give it to the divemaster or the captain. If you had different crew members throughout the week, then it's usually best to give it to Christi and she will see that it is divided up appropriately.

**Tips CANNOT be paid by credit card - so please bring cash for crew tips!

Q: Is it safe to drink the water/ice in Cozumel?
A: Not even the locals drink the tap water...and all of the ice on the island in restaurants, hotels, etc. is purified. Any water/ice that you are served anywhere on the island will be purified, so not to worry. As I said, not even the locals drink it, so why would they give it to a tourist? No one wants you getting sick on vacation.



Some of the larger and nicer hotels/resorts do have water filtration/purification systems. If this is the case in your hotel, there will be signs in your room or they will inform you of this when checking in. If in doubt, ask the hotel staff. Potable is ok to drink, not potable is not ok to drink.

Q: Do you accommodate cruise ship passengers?
A: If the ship arrival time gives you time to make our normally scheduled departure time (8:00am), we are happy to accommodate you.

You will need to allow yourself no less than one hour from the ship's arrival time until the time you can reasonably meet up with a dive boat, as dive boats other than those contracted by the ships are not permitted to pick-up at the ship piers.

If you have a later arrival time, we will reserve a boat for you with a minimum of four divers (max six) provided that we have a boat available to hold. We cannot alter our normal departure time to wait for cruise ship passengers if we have other land based divers on board.

We can accommodate you for afternoon dives provided that we have at least four divers signed up for an afternoon dive. However, if four divers are not confirmed, we cannot guarantee the afternoon dive.

If trying to plan an afternoon dive, please note that if your ship leaves at 6:00pm or earlier, getting back to the ship on time is going to prove challenging for any dive operation to get you back on time. It's not advisable to book an afternoon dive in this case.

Please note that two-tank afternoon dives are not normally available November through February due to limited daylight hours. We can offer a two-tank afternoon/twilight dive or a two-tank twilight/night dive if your ship schedule allows.