Where to Dive: Belize or Costa Maya?

[Bellfree Bat]

We will be on a RCCL cruise in a couple weeks and can't decide where to dive. We are stopping at Costa Mayuma, Belize and Cozumel. We've done Cozumel a few times and need to decide on are Belize or Costa Maya. Any opinions are out there?

[cccole]

We haven't been in those ports for about 4 years but the divers in our family really enjoyed Belize. They thought diving in Costa Maya was o.k. but not great. So...we would choose Belize for diving or snorkeling. JMO Have fun. Cherie

[CRUISEMAN72]

The big blue hole one of the best dive sites in the world. Up until recently it was for scuba only now snorklers can go. Its aways out. Also its called ambergris caye. Too say you dove there is too say something. Spend the money and go you wont regret it.

[bruce-r]

The big blue hole one of the best dive sites in the world.

You're kidding, right?

 

Up until recently it was for scuba only now snorklers can go.

Seriously, it is only a deep hole. Why would someone snorkel there?

Its aways out.

Do you mean it is a ways out? It sure is. It is so far out that you couldn't get there from a cruise.

[Bellfree Bat]

Thanks, Bruce...:p

[themons]

Unless they've cleaned their act up in the last year, you won't want to dive in Costa Maya with Dreamtime. They seem to be the one the cruiseships use.

 

They're:

 

1. Too lazy to have a place other than the parking lot to change in.

2. Too lazy to keep weight on the boat.

3. Too lazy to give you the proper amount of weight you ask for.

4. Too lazy to fill their tanks past 2800, if that.

5. Too lazy to carry extra tanks on board the boat in case there is a problem with any of them.

6. Too lazy to do maintenance on their boats so they don't sink.

7. Too lazy to help you with anything except asking for a tip.

 

Did I mention that they're lazy? Next time I go out of Galveston, I'd rather not dive then dive with them.

[Bellfree Bat]

Unless they've cleaned their act up in the last year, you won't want to dive in Costa Maya with Dreamtime. They seem to be the one the cruiseships use.

 

They're:

 

1. Too lazy to have a place other than the parking lot to change in.

2. Too lazy to keep weight on the boat.

3. Too lazy to give you the proper amount of weight you ask for.

4. Too lazy to fill their tanks past 2800, if that.

5. Too lazy to carry extra tanks on board the boat in case there is a problem with any of them.

6. Too lazy to do maintenance on their boats so they don't sink.

7. Too lazy to help you with anything except asking for a tip.

 

Did I mention that they're lazy? Next time I go out of Galveston, I'd rather not dive then dive with them.

 

WOW! :eek: Did you have a boat sink or take on water along with the rest of the other problems?!:eek:

[themons]

The other boat with the remaining passengers from the cruise ship began to sink. They told the divers if they went on their first dive the boat would be on the bottom by the time the dive was over.

 

The divers chose to return to the dock in order to get another boat that was in better shape. On the second boat, they could not get the engines to start.

 

By the time they got the second boat started they only had enough time to do one instead of two dives. Since they were already short on time, the people on the boat elected to do a single short deep bounce dive to 105 feet rather than a longer shallower dive.

 

After the bad experience by both us and the other divers, I began researching Dreamtime. Apparently their short comings are well known in Costa Maya among the limited dive community there. There is something know as the Dreamtime Wave. Its holding your nose with one hand and waving goodby with the other while you're sinking.

[libertycall]

I really enjoyed the diving in Belize out by Bannister Island two weeks ago. A lot of soft coral and fishies.

[georoc01]

Of the three mentioned, Cozumel is the best combination of quality diving with the logistics of getting to good dive sites.

 

Costa Maya is a minimalist port. The diving we did from there was so-so and looked like it was fished out.

 

Belize the challenge is getting to the dive sites. The cruise ship tenders in to Belize City and there is no diving there. As said above, the diving is out on Ambrigis Caye and the atolls.

 

As far as the Blue Hole goes, while the hole itself is more of a logbook dive to drop down and see the stalactites and the sharks below. Its a very quick dive as you drop down to 130' and then work your way back up. But the other dives around the Blue Hole (Aquarium is one) on the lighthouse atoll is up there as the best dives we have done in the Aquarium. But its 3 hours out from Ambrigis Caye, not feasible for a cruise.

 

When we a dive from a cruise ship, we used the ship's tour, which was Hugh Parkey and took us to Turneffe atoll. They are nice dives and take you directly from the ship to the island and back. Its still a good 90 minute boat ride, but easier logistically.

 

Ambrigis Caye is the 3rd option. What people do is take the tender to Belize City, then a low level flight over to Ambrigis, do their dives, and then fly back to Belize City to take the tender. Having spent a week diving on Ambrigis Caye, the diving just wouldn't be worth it for the logistics, of the tender/taxi/flight/taxi/dive and reverse with all of the operations running on island time.

 

If you are looking for variety, how about the Cenotes from Playa Del Carmen. its a Ferry ride, but a neat dive.