Nitroxjunkie - Bluewater Dive Travel

Nitroxjunkie

Nitroxjunkie

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Reviews (58)

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Riviera Maya, Yucatan

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For traveling divers, the Yucatan is the gateway to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, the Riviera Maya, and little known Holbox island. Its easiest to fly to Cancun, pick up a rental car, and explore. Two of the best Mayan archeological sites in the world are located in this area: Chitzen Itza and Uxmal. These should be considered no-miss destinations when traveling here.

Merida, in the northwest part of the state, is the capital and the largest city on the Yucatan peninsula. It’s a beautiful colonial city with a rich history and culture. We enjoyed the central market while shopping for handicrafts and eating at the food stalls.

At the north end of the peninsula, is the city of Chiquila where you can take a ferry to Holbox island. The main reason to come here is to swim with whale sharks. It is in the migration path and your chances of seeing the world's largest fish are excellent. This is a natural paradise with giant flocks of flamingos, an island that serves as a bird sanctuary, and a small island with a natural freshwater spring in the middle, which forms a pool for swimming. We saw whale sharks, breaching mantas, and thousands of migrating golden rays. It’s a very small island with golf carts used as the primary form of transportation. We stayed in a beautiful small boutique hotel near town and walked everywhere. If you’re able to visit here, it should also be considered a no-miss. We have traveled here many times and never get tired of this wonderful destination.

I've visited the Riviera Maya many times. We've always based ourselves in Playa del Carmen and ventured out from there. Playa del Carmen is an easy drive from Cancun and a rental car is essential. Each time, we have rented a beachfront private villa within walking distance of town. Fifth Avenue is the main street in town and is pedestrian only. This is where you will find a great number of restaurants, bars, and shops. Many dive shops are scattered around town. This is the main embarkation point for the ferry to Cozumel.

The main reason divers come to this area is to dive in the cenotes. These are ancient limestone caves, now filled with water, and making up the largest underwater cave system in the world. You can dive the cenotes without special training because they are considered cavern dives where you never lose sight of the entrance. Any further exploration requires cave diving training. The dive shops in Playa del Carmen will all arrange guided cenote dives led by certified cave divers. Some will also arrange high-speed boats to Cozumel for a two tank dive on the world-famous walls.

As you continue south of Playa del Carmen, you'll come to the town of Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, and Akumal. Cenotes are scattered throughout this entire area. Akumal has a wonderful, calm bay perfect for snorkeling and is usually occupied by a large number of sea turtles, including green, hawksbill, and loggerheads. There is also a beautiful white sand beach. Tulum has an ancient Mayan archeological site that’s quite extensive and certainly worth a visit. Coba, another Mayan site, is only a short drive from Tulum and is also an excellent side trip. Some of my favorite cenotes are Dos Ojos, Angelita, Dream Gate, and Gran Cenote.

Bottom line: The Riviera Maya & Yucatan are an outstanding area to experience world-class diving, fantastic Mayan ruins and cultural sites, incredible nature sites, and large marine animals, cenote diving, authentic Mexican food, beautiful beaches and a welcoming and warm local population. It's family-friendly, with plenty of things to do for both adults and children.

Visited on 06/2017 - Submitted on 03/10/2020
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Riviera Maya

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I've visited the Riviera Maya many times. We've always based ourselves in Playa del Carmen and ventured out from there. Playa del Carmen is an easy drive from Cancun and a rental car is essential. Each time, we have rented a beachfront private villa within walking distance of town. Fifth Avenue is the main street in town and is pedestrian only. This is where you will find a great number of restaurants, bars, and shops. Many dive shops are scattered around town. This is the main embarkation point for the ferry to Cozumel.

The main reason divers come to this area is to dive in the cenotes. These are ancient limestone caves, now filled with water, and making up the largest underwater cave system in the world. You can dive the cenotes without special training because they are considered cavern dives where you never lose sight of the entrance. Any further exploration requires cave diving training. The dive shops in Playa del Carmen will all arrange guided cenote dives led by certified cave divers. Some will also arrange high-speed boats to Cozumel for a two tank dive on the world-famous walls. As you continue south of Playa del Carmen, you'll come to the town of Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, and Akumal. Cenotes are scattered throughout this entire area. Akumal has a wonderful, calm bay perfect for snorkeling and is usually occupied by a large number of sea turtles, including green, hawksbill, and loggerheads. There is also a beautiful white sand beach. Tulum has an ancient Mayan archeological site that’s quite extensive and certainly worth a visit. Coba, another Mayan site, is only a short drive from Tulum and is also an excellent side trip. Some of my favorite cenotes are Dos Ojos, Angelita, Dream Gate, and Gran Cenote.

Bottom line: The Riviera Maya is a family-friendly area with fantastic cenote diving, exquisite Mayan cultural sites, authentic Mexican food beautiful beaches, and a welcoming and warm local population.

Visited on 06/2017 - Submitted on 03/10/2020
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Cozumel Diving

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I've traveled to Cozumel at least a dozen times. There are many direct flights from US gateways, making it very easy to get there. I have stayed in hotels, private rental villas, and one dive resort. San Miguel is the main town on the island where all the action takes place. It's filled with restaurants, bars, shops, and dive operations. There are dozens of dive operators to choose from. I stayed at a hotel within walking distance of town and found it very convenient to everything. I've also stayed many times on the southern end of the island. It is much quieter here, but I believe the best diving is in this area and has shorter boat rides than staying close to town. A rental car is recommended if staying here.

I also stayed at a dive resort due to a recommendation from friends. Divers usually come here for the drift diving along Cozumel's walls. Some of my favorite sites are Punta Sur, Maracaibo, Devil’s Throat, all three sections of Palancar Reef, and Santa Rosa Wall. Cozumel is still a place where you can frequently see large groupers. This is one of the most visited dive destinations in the Caribbean. Cruise ships also visit here and it can get very crowded if several are in port at the same time. I have come here with my non-diving family and friends, and they enjoyed their time very much. There is great snorkeling here, some Mayan ruins to visit, and great tourist shopping. I suggest that you bring home some Mexican vanilla. It is very good and is reasonably priced.

Bottom line: Cozumel has world-class diving, dozens of excellent restaurants and great tourist shopping. Its definitely family-friendly, and easy to get to. If you love drift and/or wall diving, Cozumel is for you.

Visited on 06/2017 - Submitted on 03/10/2020
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Bonaire Diving

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I have traveled to Bonaire twice. Once I stayed in a private villa and did one day of boat diving and 6 days of shore diving. We used a dive operator that has several locations around the island for exchanging tanks. We had a rental pickup truck and drove from one dive site to the next. The dive sites in Bonaire are marked by yellow rocks next to the roadside. It was easy to make 4 dives a day and a night dive.

The second time, I stayed at a dive resort and did mostly boat diving, with a couple of shore dives . These dives were at Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. Three dives a day and a couple of night dives in front of the resort. Bonaire is famous for large baitballs and we also saw frogfish, seahorses, and all the usual critters.

Many dive operators and dive resorts are available to choose from. There are also plenty of hotels, condos, and private villas for rent. Kralendijk is the main town and capital. This is where you’ll find the majority of shops and restaurants, including our favorite, a Mediterranean one serving delicious food. The town can be very crowded if a cruise ship is in port.

On non-diving days, a visit to Washington Slagbaai National Park is an interesting diversion if you have a sturdy vehicle. The windward side of the island also draws windsurfers from all over. The population is mostly locals and Dutch expats. Everyone was super friendly and the island seemed to be really safe. Be sure to pick up some salt produced here. It’s very good and does taste different than ordinary salt. We will be glad to return at any time.

Visited on 07/2019 - Submitted on 03/04/2020
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Isla Mujeres

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Isla Mujeres is the small island getaway that Cozumel used to be. A short ferry ride from Cancun will bring you to the Isla Mujeres ferry terminal right in town. Shops, restaurants, and bars are within walking distance. El Centro (the downtown area) has Hidalgo Street, a pedestrian only shopping mecca. Our favorite place to eat, an excellent Mediterranean restaurant, is also downtown. The primary forms of transportation are taxis or rental golf carts. We rented a golf cart so we could explore the island. We also stayed at a small B&B on the central part of the island, so the cart was handy for going into town. There are several hotels on the north end of town in the area called north beach (Playa Norte). Many people come here to use the public beach and swim. At the south end of the island (Punta Sur) there are Mayan ruins and beautiful views from the seaside cliffs. Not too far away is the local turtle farm and small aquarium, which can be toured for a small fee. The island is small and we were able to see most of the attractions in one day.
We found restaurants serving seafood, Mexican food, Mediterranean food, Cuban, New York pizza, and menus with a variety for everyone. Hint: Avoid the restaurants along Hidalgo Street. They are geared toward day trip tourists and the food is mostly mediocre and the drinks are watered down.
Accommodations range from hotels, B&Bs, and rental villas.
Scuba diving is available to see sleeping sharks, a pair of shipwrecks which attract squadrons of eagle rays in the spring, and local reefs. The real attraction in the spring is snorkeling with sailfish feeding on bait balls at the surface. In the summer, this is a prime area to see whale sharks. There are many dive shops to choose from.
Bottom line: Isla Mujeres is the place to go for that small island vibe, the friendly Mexican people, excellent food, and great diving. We have been there several times and will continue to return.

Visited on 01/2020 - Submitted on 02/26/2020
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Belize

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I have traveled to Belize twice. The first time was to Ambergris Caye. The trip required a short flight from the international gateway of Belize City to San Pedro, the main town, where you can find many great restaurants, shops, bars, and dive operators. We stayed in a private villa, toward the south end of the island, that was oceanfront and had a 100 foot dock. The dive operator I used picked me up here every morning. Accommodations include rental houses, hotels, and resort. We traveled here with several non-divers and they enjoyed themselves very much. Travel around the island is basically by golf cart. See if you can watch the feeding of the saltwater crocodile toward the south end and join in at the “Chicken Drop" in town. I did local diving in Belize around Ambergris Caye and also long range boat diving to the Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef. The Great Blue Hole is a fascinating bucket list dive. See stalactites and sharks, and prepare for a dive to about 130 feet. The dives at Lighthouse Reef were on spectacular, pristine reefs. This was my favorite area to scuba dive.
My second trip was to St. George’s Caye, a small private island accessed by a short boat ride from Belize City. The island has one resort that is all inclusive. This is truely an island getaway destination. We did local diving and trips to Turneffe Atoll. Other guests were non divers and some honeymooners and they said they were very pleased with their stay.
Overall, I found the scuba diving in Belize to be excellent, the food delicious, the people very friendly, and the culture to be diverse and interesting. When you visit, be sure to taste and take home some of my favorite hot sauce, Belize's famous Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce.

Visited on 11/2018 - Submitted on 02/26/2020
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St. George's Caye Resort

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My buddy and I visited St. George's Caye Resort to try diving in this area of Belize. We were met at the airport in Belize City by resort staff and taken to the harbor to meet our transfer boat to the island. After a pleasant, short boat ride, we arrived at St. George's private dock. We were met by the island staff who took our bags and had a cold island cocktail ready for us. We were led to the main lodge for check-in and an extra rum floater in our drinks. We were then taken to our overwater bungalow set with two single beds, perfect for two guys. Meals are served in the great room of the main lodge. It is a fixed menu for all meals and served communally. The food was hearty local food packed with flavor and enjoyed by all. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are available to all guests. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful and treated us like family.

While we were there, the dive boat broke down a couple of times, preventing us from diving. On another day, the one and only divemaster was injured and diving was canceled. We missed 1½ days of diving. We understand that sometimes unavoidable things happen and that they shouldn't spoil your vacation. We spent the downtime in their beautiful pool, sipping island cocktails. The resort refunded us for all the missed dives and was very apologetic. We still made some great dives, including two trips to Turneffe Atoll and local diving which included a lionfish hunt. Overall, a great place, but some improvements could be made to the dive operation.

Visited on 11/2018 - Submitted on 02/26/2020
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Puerto Galera

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I booked a package at a dive resort in Puerto Galera and arranged for my own transportation, including transfers. I chose to use a public transit bus from Manila to Batangas and the ferry to Puerto Galera. Dive resort staff met me at the ferry dock and led me across the beach to the resort. The town of Puerto Galera has a beautiful white sand beach backed by hotels, restaurants and bars. Although I spent a great deal of time at the resort, both diving and eating, I used off time to walk into town. During the day, people are enjoying the beach and eating at the beachside restaurants. There is a bustling nightlife after the sun goes down. The bars are loud and fun.

The diving at Puerto Galera is quite diverse. We did reef diving, wreck diving, and some “muck" diving looking for critters. We also did a trip to Verde Island. All of the diving was beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Bottom line: Puerto Galera is a warm, friendly place with a welcoming population, superior diving, and top-notch food. I loved my time spent here and would return again.

Visited on 02/2016 - Submitted on 02/21/2020
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El Galleon Dive Resort, Puerto Galera

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I booked an all-inclusive trip to El Galleon. I was met at the ferry dock by resort staff, who took my bags and led me on a short walk across the beach to the resort. I was given a welcome drink, checked in, and was taken to my room. After getting settled, I went to the on-site dive shop, Asia Divers, and checked in for diving starting the next day. They filled me in on all the procedures and the diving schedule. Meals are served at Arthur's beachfront restaurant where all meals are prepared to order from an extensive menu. There is a beautiful pool and two bars. All of the staff is super helpful and friendly.

Asia Divers offers 4 dives a day, with some night dives. Puerto Galera has very diverse diving and Asia Divers gives you a taste of everything. Their boats get you to the dive sites with ease. Their emphasis is on safety and the enjoyment of their customers.
Bottom line: This is a very comfortable resort right on the beach. Spacious, comfortable, clean rooms are welcoming when returning from your dives. The food was delicious and the portions large. Asia Divers is a professional, experienced dive operation. I was very satisfied and would return again.

Visited on 02/2016 - Submitted on 02/21/2020
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Fiji

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I spent two weeks in Fiji and found it to be a true paradise. We flew into the international airport in Nadi, on the main island of Viti Levu. This is a large, modern airport with many amenities. We had an easy walk over to the domestic terminal to connect to the island of Taveuni. The friendly and welcoming attitude of the Fijian people is evident as soon as you arrive. Everyone we encountered was very happy and cordial. The airport staff was efficient and assisted with checking us in and tagging our bags. Our flight was on a 12 seat, twin-engine prop aircraft. It's about a 1½ hour flight, which goes by very quickly while looking out the window at the beautiful islands below. The terminal at Taveuni is very small and only accommodates small aircraft. We were met at the airport by a driver who took us to our resort on the south end of the island. During the 1 hour drive, the driver gave us a brief history of Taveuni and told us about Fijian culture. Taveuni is called the Garden Island, and it is evident why. Everything is very lush and covered with jungle.

I spent a week diving primarily on the Rainbow Reef and some local reef diving. Rainbow Reef deserves the reputation it has built over the years. Wonderfully colored corals abound. We found a lot of marine life, including blue ribbon eels, electric disco clams, many different nudibranchs, large schools of fish, etc. Favorite dive sites are the Great White Wall and Fish Factory.

We also did day excursions on non-diving days. We visited a local village, where we learned about local customs, crafts, and culture. We were given many demonstrations and sampled food cooked in a lovo and fresh prawns right out of the river. The village chief also invited us to a kava ceremony where everyone joined in. This was a really enjoyable visit. We also went to a site with three different waterfalls. Each one requires an uphill hike, but the beauty of these falls is worth it. Each has a pool to swim in after the hike. A different site has a natural water slide which also requires a bit of a hike. The slide’s a lot of fun and can be done several times before moving on. A stop at the International Timeline is mandatory. Everyone needs a picture with one foot in today, and the other foot in yesterday. Another must-stop on the island is the historic Catholic church. There are shops in town to do some shopping for food, drinks, and local handicrafts.

The second week, we returned to Viti Levu. We were met at the airport for the 2-hour drive to our resort on the south side of the island, near Pacific Harbor. Once again, our driver acted as a local tour guide, pointing out the sites of interest along the way. Fruit stands lined the roadside and food and beverages are available on the drive. Staying at a resort in the Pacific Harbor area allows you to dive Beqa Lagoon, but also the local dive sites along the Sun Coast. You also have the advantage of still being on the main island.

We found Fijian, Asian, and Western food readily available on both islands. Overall, Fiji has happy, friendly people, beautiful tropical scenery, a wonderful culture, and world-class diving. Soft coral capital of the world. Fiji is a real bucket list destination.

Visited on 10/2019 - Submitted on 02/13/2020
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