RellingTwin
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2000
- Messages
- 1,956
I am still working on my trip report but I wanted to post this information as soon as possible so others could hear about this wonderful trip.
I booked a snorkel/dive trip with a company called Eagle Ray Divers when I booked our Western cruise. I had done some research and had read many great reviews about this company. It looked like a great trip. I e-mailed ERD and got a quick reply. Since we had 3 divers and 7 snorkels Chillie (one of the owners) customized a trip for us. I sent her sizes and equipment requirements for the divers as well as a deposit. The deposit is fully refundable if the ship is unable to make port. Just prior to our departure for Florida I e-mailed ERD for directions to the marina, which I printed out so I could show the cab driver.
When we got to Coxumel at 10:30am and we found a van/taxie to take the 10 of us to the marina. $7.00 per person. The cab driver knew the folks at ERD and expresses pleasant surprise that we would try a non cruise ship sponsored tour. The cab ride was about 15 min.and we asked to be picked up at 5pm.
When we got to the marina I was a little worried. This was NOT a luxury type marina with fancy boats and docks. It was more a working marina with older fishing boats, including the ERD boat. The boat is an older Cozumelian fishing boat, refitted to accommodate divers. Since I was the one who booked this trip for my family and friends I worried about this first impression, but my fears were very quickly put to rest when we meet Chellie and her staff. Once the business was done (payment made and equipment put on board) we were off. While the captain took us out, Raoul briefed the snorkelers while Arturo briefed the divers. A cooler full of water, soft drinks and beer (I had requested some diet drinks which were also in the cooler) were also on board.
The divers did 2 dives, and the rest of us snorkeled at 3 reefs. The fish were INCREDABLE! It felt like we were in the middle of schools of fish. Raoul was a wonderful guide. He pointed out all kinds of things we would have missed. He kept a close eye on all of us including the 4 children (ages 6-13). We did something called DRIFT SNORKELING which was wonderful. Instead of trying to fight the current and stay with the boat we simply drifted with the current and the boat moved a little distance away. When we were ready to get on board Raoul signaled the captain and the boat came over to pick us up. Since we were going to be snorkeling all day this was important since fighting the current can be very tiring. Each place was even better then the last! The kids had a ball climbing onto the roof of the boat and jumping off while we waited for the divers to get on or off the boat. The divers were very happy with the dives. 2 of the divers were just recently certified and Arturo worked with them so they were able to get the very most of their dive. Id like to mention here that the ships diving trips had one master diver for every 10-12 divers. There is NO way my friends would have gotten the attention they needed with that large a group.
Once we were finished with our diving and snorkeling we were taken to a wonderful little restaurant where we docked and had a delicious lunch. The kids had cheeseburgers and the rest of us had Mexican fare. This was included in the price for the snorkelers, for the divers it was $10.00 extra.
The cost of this trip was in my opinion the best bargain of the entire trip. 6 hours, 3 reefs, including lunch was $60 per person for the snorkelers, and 2 tank dives, with regulators was about $80.
The equipment was all in excellent condition, the crew was excellent and our safety was always the primary concern.
The web site address for this company is www.eagleraydivers.com
I highly recommend this trip if you wish to experience some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the world.
I would like to mention also, that while waiting for our transportation after the cruise I was talking to a lady who told me they were VERY disappointed in the trip they took with another company. They saw almost NO fish!!! She told me they had snorkeled all over the world and had looked forward to Cozumel, specifically for the underwater scenery. I can only assume the difference between her experience and mine was the crew of our boat!Id be happy to answer any questions about this trip, just e-mail me RellingTwin@aol.com.
I booked a snorkel/dive trip with a company called Eagle Ray Divers when I booked our Western cruise. I had done some research and had read many great reviews about this company. It looked like a great trip. I e-mailed ERD and got a quick reply. Since we had 3 divers and 7 snorkels Chillie (one of the owners) customized a trip for us. I sent her sizes and equipment requirements for the divers as well as a deposit. The deposit is fully refundable if the ship is unable to make port. Just prior to our departure for Florida I e-mailed ERD for directions to the marina, which I printed out so I could show the cab driver.
When we got to Coxumel at 10:30am and we found a van/taxie to take the 10 of us to the marina. $7.00 per person. The cab driver knew the folks at ERD and expresses pleasant surprise that we would try a non cruise ship sponsored tour. The cab ride was about 15 min.and we asked to be picked up at 5pm.
When we got to the marina I was a little worried. This was NOT a luxury type marina with fancy boats and docks. It was more a working marina with older fishing boats, including the ERD boat. The boat is an older Cozumelian fishing boat, refitted to accommodate divers. Since I was the one who booked this trip for my family and friends I worried about this first impression, but my fears were very quickly put to rest when we meet Chellie and her staff. Once the business was done (payment made and equipment put on board) we were off. While the captain took us out, Raoul briefed the snorkelers while Arturo briefed the divers. A cooler full of water, soft drinks and beer (I had requested some diet drinks which were also in the cooler) were also on board.
The divers did 2 dives, and the rest of us snorkeled at 3 reefs. The fish were INCREDABLE! It felt like we were in the middle of schools of fish. Raoul was a wonderful guide. He pointed out all kinds of things we would have missed. He kept a close eye on all of us including the 4 children (ages 6-13). We did something called DRIFT SNORKELING which was wonderful. Instead of trying to fight the current and stay with the boat we simply drifted with the current and the boat moved a little distance away. When we were ready to get on board Raoul signaled the captain and the boat came over to pick us up. Since we were going to be snorkeling all day this was important since fighting the current can be very tiring. Each place was even better then the last! The kids had a ball climbing onto the roof of the boat and jumping off while we waited for the divers to get on or off the boat. The divers were very happy with the dives. 2 of the divers were just recently certified and Arturo worked with them so they were able to get the very most of their dive. Id like to mention here that the ships diving trips had one master diver for every 10-12 divers. There is NO way my friends would have gotten the attention they needed with that large a group.
Once we were finished with our diving and snorkeling we were taken to a wonderful little restaurant where we docked and had a delicious lunch. The kids had cheeseburgers and the rest of us had Mexican fare. This was included in the price for the snorkelers, for the divers it was $10.00 extra.
The cost of this trip was in my opinion the best bargain of the entire trip. 6 hours, 3 reefs, including lunch was $60 per person for the snorkelers, and 2 tank dives, with regulators was about $80.
The equipment was all in excellent condition, the crew was excellent and our safety was always the primary concern.
The web site address for this company is www.eagleraydivers.com
I highly recommend this trip if you wish to experience some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the world.
I would like to mention also, that while waiting for our transportation after the cruise I was talking to a lady who told me they were VERY disappointed in the trip they took with another company. They saw almost NO fish!!! She told me they had snorkeled all over the world and had looked forward to Cozumel, specifically for the underwater scenery. I can only assume the difference between her experience and mine was the crew of our boat!Id be happy to answer any questions about this trip, just e-mail me RellingTwin@aol.com.
.................they will also do combine a trip for scuba divers and snorkelers. We have never had to give a deposit. The business is run by Chellie a transplanted American and her DH who is from Mexico City. Would and do recommend them to all.
