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. However, due to the steep increase in fuel costs, there is a surcharge of $10 – $15 to dive these reefs depending on how many divers (minimum 4/maximum 6) and which reef.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where will we dive?
Q: What is the typical profile?
Q: What types of tanks do you use?
Q: Where do you pick-up divers & what time do you depart?
Q: What is the water temperature in Cozumel? Do I need a wetsuit?
Q: How many divers do you put on each boat?
Q: What will we see?
Q: Is there a restroom on the boat?
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
Q: How do I secure my reservations?
Q: How do we check in with you when we arrive in Cozumel?
Q: Do you require a check-out dive?
Q: Do you require dive insurance?
Q: Do you allow Junior Divers (10 to 15 year olds)?
Q: How much does a private divemaster cost?
Q: Do you offer shore diving?
Q: Do you offer packages with any all-inclusive hotels?
Q: What is the single supplement for your hotel packages?
Q: What is the standard tipping procedure for diving in Cozumel?
Q: Is it safe to drink the water/ice in Cozumel?
Q: Do you accommodate cruise ship passengers?
Q: Where will we dive?
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 80 ft 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 $12 per fill with proof of certification. AL 100s 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 hotels south of downtown for two-tank dives including:
-El Cantil Condos
-Cozumel Palace
-Barracuda
-Hotel Cozumel
-Blue Angel Hotel
-Villa Blanca (you must be a guest of this hotel in order for us to be permitted to pick you up here)
-Casa del Mar (you must be a guest of this hotel in order for us to be permitted to pick you up here)
-Park Royal (pier owner charges $3 per diver/day)
-La Ceiba (you must be a guest of this hotel in order for us to be permitted to pick you up here)
-Presidente
-Fiesta Americana
-Sabor/Aura/Residencias Reef formerly Wyndam (Reef Club) – (pier fees of $3 per diver/day may apply)
-Allegro
-Occidental Grand
**Please be aware that we do not offer pick-ups at Iberostar hotel, effective Feb. 10, 2010 due to outrageous pier usage fees imposed by hotel management. Although we discourage booking at this hotel, we can pick up on the beach just to the north of the pier.
We depart daily at 8:00am unless otherwise notified. 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 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 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.
Hotel pier pick-up or transport to the marina (pier pick-up is available at all piers south of town excluding Iberostar; however, pier fees may be charged by some hotels. Due to significantly increased fuel costs and added pier fees downtown, complimentary downtown pick-up is reserved for those who book their hotel through Blue XT~Sea Diving. A surcharge of $5 per diver per day will apply for divers requesting downtown pick-up who have not booked a downtown hotel package through us.
Afternoon boats when scheduled depart 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 toward 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 highlight 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
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 Banamex branch. Account information will be provided upon request. This payment method must be completed prior to your first dive day with us.
- Personal check – We can no longer accept checks or travelers checks
- MC/VISA – This payment method is offered as a convenience to those who prefer not to bring cash or to use the ATMs. Please DO NOT e-mail your credit card information.
- ZELLE Pay or Google Pay – information will be provided upon request
**PayPal is ONLY accepted for security deposits to secure reservations – NOT for final or full payment of your diving. Thank you for your understanding!
Q: How do I secure my reservations?
A: We require a minimum deposit of $100.00 USD per diver to secure your reservations. Please contact us via e-mail for reservations and we will send a PayPal request or provide other options for submitting your deposit.
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 or direct bank deposit
Q: How do we check in with you when we arrive in Cozumel?
A: Don’t worry about coming to our shop to check-in! Just give us a phone call on our local phone to let us know that you made it to the island safely!
We will either come to your hotel the evening of your arrival to pick-up your gear and complete paperwork or we can meet you at the pier the morning of your first scheduled dive! These details can be arranged via e-mail prior to your arrival!
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 diver’s expense if the 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
- 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 diver’s 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 $60 for a two-tank dive. This is not $60 per person, but $60 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 $10usd depending on the location and the shop.
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 which have provided us with reduced rates for our divers.
We can put together custom packages for you with Casa Mexicana, Suites Bahia, Suites Colonial, Hotel Cozumel, and Blue Angel – as well as a variety of condo and villa options.
Q: What is the single supplement for your hotel packages?
A: Many people are misinformed about the term single supplement. Single supplements apply when booking all-inclusive (AI) packages which are based on double occupancy.
Booking a regular hotel is much different than an AI package. Hotel charges are 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 other words, 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. If tipping in pesos, please be sure to use the correct conversion rate – note that the exchange rate IS NOT 10:1 and has not been in many years. Current exchange rates as of July 20, 2017 are $17 – $18 pesos/$1 USD
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 dive master 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 accepted 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: No, we no longer accept cruise ship passengers. Due to the poor environmental practices and destruction of our natural resources, we can no longer support or provide services for the cruise lines or their passengers. We encourage you to visit the island and stay locally.