Cozumel Resorts status update please

[rundep]

We are headed to Cozumel in April. Any recent dive travellers to Cozumel - How are the hotels/resorts after rebuliding efforts? Any recent visitor's recommendations? Understand many have been closed for post-hurricane rebuilding.

[brianm]

We were going to go to Cozumel this year but all the reports we were getting were that they were still not back up to speed so we went to Jamaica instead.Although when we got back there was a great deal to go to the Riu Yucatan ,"$850.00 Cdn", in Playa Del Carman on April the 5th, so we booked it. It's about 10 min to the ferry to Cozumel. It has a dive shop on site that goes to Cozumel but I've been trying to get information on if I'd be better of taking the ferry to Cozumel and booking with one of the local operators there, but I'm not having much luck. Any advise??

[bfisher]

Can't help you much with taking the ferry to Coz. I have in the past couple years stayed at the Riu complex. I don't know how good the Yucatan will be after Wilma, but it was just remodeled last year before the storm (shame). This has in the past been a top notch resort and you should enjoy it immensely.

Now, hook up with ScubaCaribe right at the beach of the resort. Although I've only made a half dozen dives while there I can say they have some pretty decent reefs of their own. Tortuga is one you have to see. If it's like the past you may see 15 turtles or more on a single dive. There is also a wreck (can't remember the name) that is pretty interesting with a big green moray inder the stern. These are not spectacular reefs like Coz, but are worth a look for just a change. It's similar to Coz in that you'll be drifting and with a guide (Divemaster).

Hope you have a good trip. I go to Playa once a year and at least twice to Coz each year. In fact I'm going in May and June.