Early bird discount: Take $50 off until Jan 7, 2019! Use discount code COZ2019 at checkout!

April 6 - 13, 2019: Oceanblue is heading to Cozumel, and by April, you're going to be dying to thaw out!  We'll just be beginning to see the ice melt by then, but why not accelerate the warm-up with a week in the sunny Caribbean, where the water is crystal blue, the beaches are... well, sandy ...  and the weather is fair and mild.  Our package is all inclusive, lodging, diving, food, beverages,  (adult and otherwise) snacks, entertainment, and.... sunsets!

This is our ELEVENTH adventure to the sunny island of Cozumel, just opposite the Yucatan peninsula, known for great beaches, beautiful water, and of course, great diving! Enjoy 8 days/7 nights of fun and sun!

While this is primarily a dive trip,  both divers and non-divers will find plenty to do and enjoy, from just relaxing on the beach to the myriad of topside activities. 

Diving activities are scheduled and guided.  As with all Oceanblue trips, an instructor guide is provided to make sure that all aspects of the trip and diving activities are running smoothly and safely.

Never been diving in Cozumel? 

That's ok, here's the lowdown.

What to expect :

Cozumel is world famous among divers for its towering reef structures and abundant marine life. It is a marine park and there is no fishing allowed in the park.

The reefs that the run down along the western side of the island are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

From Tripsavvy:

"One of Mexico's Natural Wonders. One of the largest coral reefs in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, also known as the Mesoamerican Reef or Great Mayan Reef, extends over 600 miles from Isla Contoy at the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay Islands in Honduras."

Click here for the full article from Tripsavvy.

There are many "swim-throughs" or tunnels in the reefs that divers love to swim through and explore. It is also famous for "drift" diving, and the currents can be strong and exhilarating. 

Typical dive #1 on a two-tank dive day: Deeper

Obeying the reverse profile rules, the first dives on a dive day tend to be deeper dives, but will be tailored to the skill and experience of the members of the group., 

There are no moorings on the dive sites in Cozumel, so boats pull up to the sites, and divers drop down and follow the divemaster to descend over the shoulder of the reef.  We will explore the big reef structures, the maze of caverns,  and the swim throughs in the wall that drops down many thousands of feet. Dives on the wall tend to be in the ~70 to ~90 foot range at the beginning, and multilevel up to shallower depths. In all cases the dives and depths are tailored to the skill and experience of the divers,  

Typical dive dive #2 on a two tank dive day: Drift

After a surface interval on the boat (or sometimes at a beach club near the dive sites), dive #2 is normally a 45 - 55 foot drift dive. Again, with no moorings, the team is dropped into the water to descend on the plateau above the shoulder of the reef where we drift along in the current to see the marine life. There is seemingly an endless string of coral structures along the plateau and it is easy to spot rays, eels, turtles, schools of grunts, paired Queen and Grey Angelfish and lots more.  One special resident of the reefs near Cozumel is the Splendid Toadfish, which typically hides under ledges. Named for the sound they make, you can hear them croaking on dives!

Divemasters/instructors are generally placed at the head and rear of the group to monitor air consumption and make sure dives are running smoothly and safely.

After the dive #2, we make our way north back to the resort (usually between 12 and 1pm)  to enjoy some topside activities (lunch is usually the first priority after a couple exciting dives!),  and chill on the beach.  There will also  be opportunities to go into town and shop and enjoy the other attractions on the island.

We have two lodging options, Sunscape Sabor (affordable, family friendly) and Secrets Aura (luxurious, adults only), which are two resorts that share the same property.  The resorts are both big with loads of land and water activities, so divers and non-divers alike will have lots to do.  Are you a diver with a non-diving spouse/partner/boy or girlfriend? No problem! There's something for everyone at these resorts.

Upgrade to the premium adults only (21+) side of the resort is just $400 (diver price, PP/DO).

Details for both resorts are below.

PLEASE NOTE:  Sunscape customers do not have access to the Secrets restaurants and bars. Secrets customers do have access to the Sunscape restaurants and bars.

Sunscape Cozumel Beach, Dive and Spa Resort – a unique, affordable all-inclusive resort with 2000 feet of sandy beachfront property. Just a short ride from Cozumel’s best dive sites, Sunscape Cozumel (formally Sabor) offers a wonderful location for divers and vacationers

Complete with onsite spa & business facilities, the Sunscape Cozumel Resort has everything you need in a resort. Try a new sport, enjoy some exercise,  swim or simply relax on the beach. A busy activities board is always filled with programs for the entire week.

Sunscape Cozumel combines exclusive tropical living with modern amenities and the ever-warm Mexican hospitality. Come discover the difference today. 

Guests staying at Sunscape Cozumel can enjoy:

• Three swimming pools
• Swim-up bar
• Spa services on site 
• Pool table
• Three restaurants
• Internet access in public areas
• On site dive shop
• Security guard
• Multilingual staff
• Beauty services
• Private Beach
• Spa Tub
• Concierge Desk
• Fitness Equipment
• Three bars/lounges
• Kid's Club
• Business Services
• 24-hour Front Desk
• Safe Deposit Box - Front Desk
• Shopping Center
• Laundry Facilities
• Family-friendly section

For a more upscale vacation, upgrade to the luxury Secrets adult-only Section 

Experience the pinnacle of life in the Mexican Caribbean surrounded by a distinctive atmosphere that is synonymous with luxurious pampering. 

Aura is more than a place to unwind, it's a unique concept created to deliver a superior standard of service, accommodation, cuisine and entertainment. The foundation of Secret's Aura’s philosophy is based on creating a unique contemporary environment that caters to uncompromising guests seeking the ultimate vacation escape. 

As part of an exclusive collection of Boutique Hotels, Secrets Aura Cozumel has been incorporated within the Preferred Hotel Group, a distinguished line of hotels recognized for its outstanding quality and service worldwide. Secret's Aura is the first hotel in Cozumel with this important distinction.

Decorated by internationally recognized design consultants "Interiorismo", Aura offers guests luxury and elegance on a scale that will surpass every expectation. The 7 different guestroom categories welcome you with a warm and inviting blend of light, space, comfort and functionality.  

Classic avant-garde style decoration combined with a creative use of wood, stone, marble and tapestry ensures that Aura's 87 stunning suites harmonize with the local surroundings.

All suites feature:

• Private balcony offering magnificent ocean views
• Flat screen high definition TV
• Wireless high-speed internet access
• iPod dock with radio alarm clock
• Laptop sized safety deposit box
• 300 thread Egyptian cotton bed linen
• Comfort line king and queen sizes beds

Secrets Aura has two fabulous restaurants: Isola - meaning island in Italian - where guests can enjoy signature gourmet Italian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine created by an experienced team of internationally qualified chefs and Hava Grill - the word Hava means Aura in Turkish - serving truly delicious seafood cocktails and light Mexican-Caribbean delicacies by day and select grilled cuts of fresh meat, fish and seafood by night. 

Three bars: The resort also offers three bars - beach, lobby and solarium - which are perfect for relaxing with a specialty Martini whilst taking in Cozumel's breathtaking sunsets. Room Service is available 24 hours a day. 

Secrets Aura Cozumel offers:

• Solarium
• 3 outside Jacuzzis
• Water mirror with adjacent relaxation pool
• Lazy river leading into our magnificent interconnecting pool
• Fully equipped fitness center
• Boutique, business center
• Meeting facilities

Guests can also enjoy priority service golf at Cozumel Country Club and direct access to the wide-ranging Islander Spa. 

In this stunning all inclusive hotel, the level of quality you will experience is an emerging revolution in hospitality, consisting of design, service, functionality and lifestyle. Those who are fortunate enough to sense Secrets Aura Cozumel will capture its glowing radiance forever.

Looking for a family-friendly value packed vacation? Consider sister resort Sunscape Cozumel.

• Book your flights now  to get the best possible fare. Don't wait!  We use kayak.com to keep an eye on fares and book. They have a price prediction model that will tell you if now is a good time to buy.  
• The airport code for Cozumel is CZM. There are lots of airlines that fly to Cozumel, but there are no direct flights from major cities in the northeast. Delta, American and United all fly to Cozumel, but they (normally) connect through Atlanta, Miami, or Houston.
  
• Book your return flights so they depart in the afternoon on the day of departure: Remember, it is Oceanblue policy that you need 24 hours after your last dive before you fly.  We'll be back at the dock at around 1:00pm on our last day of diving, so make sure your flight leaves after that time on Saturday. Safety is paramount! If you have questions about this, email us!

Pro tip: Save by flying into Cancun

• When traveling to Cozumel there are often less expensive (and non-stop!) flights into Cancun (CUN), across the strait on the mainland.
  
• Getting to Cozumel from CUN: There are van services from the airport in Cancun (right outside the terminal doors) to the ferry dock in Playa del Carmen where you can get a ferry across to Coz, which will add about two hours to your journey. While it does add some time on both ends, it's easy and can help you save!
• Vans to Playa Del Carmen ferry dock: We recommend a transport company called Best Day, who will meet you at Cancun airport outside the terminal doors and take you down to the ferry dock for a reasonable price. Cost is about $15 - $20 a person each way.
• Ferries over to Coz: The ferry costs about $13 each way and takes about 30 minutes. The boats are big and comfortable and the ride is relatively short and pleasant. You can buy tickets for the ferry right at the dock (advisable because there are two separate ferry companies that operate on on an alternating schedule and you never know which one you are going to catch).

Rooming:

• Sharing: Rooms are double occupancy unless an upgrade is purchased during registration. If you're traveling single and want to double up, we will match you up with a roommate.
• Rooming requests: If you would like to room with someone specific, both parties must make a request by email††ƒ‚ and we will make every effort to accommodate you based upon availability and other roommate matching for the trip. Significant others/spouses are guaranteed a shared room.
• Availability: Room space is available by gender on a first come, first served basis until all our reserved rooms are full. Signing up early will help assure that you have a space.
• Capacity: We will do our best to accommodate additional travelers if the reserved rooms fill up, but there is no guarantee. Please sign up as early to guarantee yourself a space. It is likely this trip will fill up quickly, so don't delay, our trips have been overfilling. You are also much more likely to get a good price on a flight if you plan ahead.
  
• Rooming Guarantee:
  
  • If you sign up by the deadline for a double-occupancy room and the trip is not at capacity, you are guaranteed the double-occupancy room price even if there is no one to fill the other space in your room. This means it is possible you will have a room to yourself.
    
  • Beyond the trip capacity or after the sign-up deadline there may be additional rooms available, but at the discretion of Oceanblueƒƒ you may be required to pay for a single room until a suitable roommate is signed up.

All divers on an Oceanblue trip are required to use a dive computer for every dive they do. It is not acceptable to rely on the dive computer of your buddy, as your profiles will differ. If you do not own one, you can often rent one from the dive operation (please confirm that they are available with us if you need one), or let us know and we can rent one to you as well. Please make arrangements, there are no exceptions to this rule, it's for your own safety. If you have questions about this, you can alwaysƒ‚ email us.

By credit card:

You can pay by credit card by selecting the appropriate package on the right. 

By check:

Make checks out to Oceanblue Divers and mail to:

Oceanblue Dive
108 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06901

Important: please be sure to email us if you are paying by check to let us know to be on the lookout for it.

Please note: There are no refunds once payment has been submitted.

Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your travel investment. 

Weather events, illnesses and other eventualities that could impact your trip are covered by travel insurance providers (be sure to read the policy carefully before purchasing to see what is covered). We are partered with DAN  (Divers Alert Network), who provide travel insurance so you can insure your trip. You can purchase trip insurance by clicking below:

GET A QUOTE

All divers are required to carry some sort of dive accident insurance (completely separate and different from travel insurance, above, which insures your actual trip). 

Our recommended vendor for that is DAN (Diver's Alert Network), a not-for-profit organization that does research in the field of dive medicine, hyperbarics, and the like. Their dive accident insurance is second to none and affordable.  Any similar dive accident insurance is also accepted. 

You will be required to give your DAN membership number or similar policy number before travel documents can be issued. 

CLICK HERE JOIN DAN AND PURCHASE DIVE ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Membership is required to purchase insurance, but includes a subscription to their magazine Alert Diver, which is worth the price of membership on its own!).

Contact info:

Oceanblue Dive (store)
108 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06901

Oceanblue@NY (club)
P.O. Box 1153
New York, NY 10009

NY: 212.729.4646
CT: 203.883.1235
Toll Free: 800.688.DIVE