Something we rarely do is return to the same resort, no matter how good it is. This was an exception. We visited Iberostar in Cozumel in 2004, (trip report here). Since then the resort was closed due to hurricane damage, but we had such a good time the first time, we went back. Once again it was great. Everything on my previous trip report is still true.
Air Canada Vacations, Park and Fly, Iberostar Hotels, Dressel Divers.
We booked everything ourselves. The flight/hotel package was pretty simple, we submitted an html form and that was that. Dressel Divers offers a 15% discount if you pay in advance, but you have to do by email. We did, and that inspired a phone call from our credit card company. Once we verified that the expense was legit, everything was done.
Our air travel was uneventful, but not so much the rest of it. We had direct flights and both were more or less on time. Our itinerary was pleasant as well. We left Toronto just before 9 am and was at the resort in time for lunch (1 hour time difference). Coming home, our departure was early afternoon and we were home at suppertime. This was despite a smash bang crack em up on the way out of the airport. Park and Fly uses small buses to transport their passengers. On the way back to parking lot, we got pranged by a car that ran a red light. He got us good too, he hit near the back wheel and moved us well over a foot. There was a tow truck at a gas station on that corner, so he was on the scene immediately to hook up to the car, which was quite badly damaged. Park and Fly is a rather large operation and has lots of buses, so they sent another one to pick us up and drive us the rest of the way.
The resort was great, just like last time. Actually there were a couple of differences. There was a new bar on the beach. The significance for divers is that this was now the closest washroom to the dive shop, just in case. Also, last time, there were hanging plants in clay pots on the balconies but this time there were hammocks. They were equally useless but I didn't once bump my head on a hammock whilst hanging gear, so we'll call it an improvement.
The food was also very good. Breakfast and lunch were buffets and dinner was either a buffet or you could go to an a la carte restaurant. Last time we did both and I felt that the a la carte was not as good as the buffet. This time we did both again, and I thought the a la carte was fantastic.
I really liked the dive shop. It wasn't an issue for me, but, singles were not forced to buddy up. They were also generous on bottom time. the morning dives were 60 minutes and the afternoon were 50. They were not as generous on the air fills though. My fills were anywhere from 2600 to 3000 psi. I've been spoiled by all those other shops that overfill tanks. It also meant that had to really focus on lack of effort in order to make it to 60 minutes. I'm not as good on air as some people are.
The dive boats were big, but had the potential to get crowded. We were there during a quiet week, so we didn't have that problem. A nice thing they did was to throw more guides aboard so that the underwater groups were smaller. For those who have not dove Cozumel before, it's pretty well all guided drift diving. This increases the liklihood of the divers returning to shore in the boat from which they departed.
Once again, they have a great itinerary. There are 4 one tank dives per day with about an hour between them. Coming back to the hotel between dives gives you a chance to make a pit stop if necessary, or, in my wife's case, grab a cappucino.
Some of the dive sites are still showing the effects of the hurricanes of 2005. The ones near or north of the hotel were a lot sandier than they had been in the past. This includes Punta Tunich, San Francisco Reef, Cedral Passage, and Santa Rosa Reef. South of the resort, on Palancar and Colombia Reefs, you would never know that there was a hurricane.
The water was crystal clear and 80 F. This being Cozumel, there was a current. Despite the sand, there were still lots of fish. We also saw at least one turtle a day, plus a couple of eagle rays.
Brian Nadwidney was in Cozumel at the same time, but in a different resort. We had intended to hook up. I heard later that whenever he called, we were out. Next time.
However, the gentleman who posts as ben bradlee was there, along with his lovely wife who does not post under any name. She also doesn't dive and had to amuse herself with other things while ben dove. We dove with the gentleman who posts as ben and shared a meal or two with him and his wife. They are a delightful company. You have to admit, rec.scuba is full of very nice people.
There is a $2 per day park fee. This is not part of your dive package. Also not part of your dive package is a chamber fee. However, if you have DAN insurance, that fee is waived.
The resort has North American style electrical outlets, but not very many of them. We had to unplug the alarm clock to make coffee or charge batteries. An extension cord with extra receptacles would have been a handy thing to pack.
Always wear skivvies to the evening shows. You never know when you might be asked to de-trouser yourself.
| Trip Dates2007-12-08 to 2007-12-15 | Trip Report Index |