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Dive Review of Aldora Divers in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan

Aldora Divers: "Ten years and 1200+ dives later, this combo still delivers!!!", Oct, 2021,

by Jeff Hauser, CO, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 8 reports with 13 Helpful votes). Report 11773 has 1 Helpful vote.

Photos Submitted with this Report


Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions

Cozumel Splendid Toadfish Pipehorse Juvenile Jackknife Sponge peppermint shrimp Flamingo Tongue
Porcupinefish Juvenile Trunkfish Spotted Moray Eel Caribbean Reef Shark Caribbean ReefShark
Lionfish (harvested) Fresh lionfish ceviche!

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This is my first review of Aldora Divers and Villa Aldora since 2010. I have visited them every year (other than last year due to Covid) since, staying a total of 50-70 days a year and doing 120+ dives every year. Read my old review for the basics…nothing has changed except I left out a few things.

The Villa is still my choice of a great place to stay. I forgot to mention they have free bicycles for use; great rinse and hanging facilities for gear; and currently have a wonderful (new) manager who is continuing the old tradition of friendliness and service.

This year specifically, I did 106 dives with Aldora in June and July, and another 50 in September-October. All types of conditions; all types of reefs (which is why I love Cozumel); did some lionfish hunts and my first blackwater dive (unreal!).

And I cannot praise the dive op enough. Let’s get one thing straight: nobody is perfect and shit happens. But they are a major reason why I keep coming back to Cozumel as my base for diving…variety of reefs and professionalism of the dive op (to say nothing of steel 120’s with 32/36% nitrox; adventure trips to unknown reefs up north; lionfish hunts; etc!).

One major caveat…although really just common sense: when you hear talk of 110 minute bottom times, realize that air consumption is an individual skill trait. When you hear talk of adventure dives to unknown reefs, realize that it requires experienced divers with whom Aldora has personal experience, and these dives are sometimes purely adventure (that means…we don’t see much, we fight nasty currents, seas run large, etc) with the highlight being the survival of the adventure!!! Not all diving is for everyone…but Aldora is prepared to offer the proper experience for EVERY level of diving. I can’t count how many divers I have encouraged to get certified by Aldora…and get a real training/certification experience.

Bottom line…I love these folks and I’ll be back in the spring. (I only dive mid April to mid November….I’m a full time ski bum otherwise!!!)
Websites Aldora Divers   [same]

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Florida Keys, Caymans, Aruba, CA, BVI, Cuba, Cancun, Cozumel, Bonaire, Roatan, Fiji, Indonesia
Closest Airport Cozumel Getting There American, United, Southwest and (sometimes) Delta and Frontier offer flights directly to Cozumel. I prefer to skip the bag drag from Cancun.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Tough to dive your own profile when you are doing deep drift dives with groups of divers using steel 120's (some nitrox). Divemasters superb at planning great multi-level that fit experience levels of group. If mixed group with some using nitrox, profile created for that.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Aldora’s small boats don’t have camera setups. DM’s and captains all very aware of equipment and helpful in stowing and passing equipment as needed.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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