Blue Angel Resort, Cozumel, Mexico.
The Blue Angel Resort is a great choice if you want to just concentrate on the incredible diving opportunities. The resort has an attached dive shop/facility. There is also a small, but comfortable lounge area (open air) just off the entry. There is a small pool and deck area that overlooks the beach and boat dock. The whole hotel is rather small and offers few amenities. The basics are addressed though and the rooms are comfortable, but not luxurious. Our door lock was very loose and concerned me initially. We experienced no theft or security issues during our 8 day dive trip, and I suspect that there are very few reported at this resort. The staff was very friendly and helpful with any our questions/requests. The rooms have air conditioning, and offer a very welcomed escape from the temperature and humidity of Cozumel.
The attached restaurant was excellent. Prices were reasonable and the food was delicious. The drinks were good as well. There was entertainment on some evenings and was lower keyed and was superb. It added a beautiful background to the relaxed atmosphere of the resort. Definitely low-key atmosphere. This actually is the main attraction of the resort, if you are looking for less hassle from the locals trying to pry every cent from your pockets. Included in your room price and dive trips you plan through them, is the ability to dive from the beach. The water at the beach may be a little cloudy close to shore, but improves quickly as you head out. 50 yards from shore, you have pretty clear water and the depth is about 25 feet. Just right for getting a surface dive, at shallow depths, in between your boat dives.
The dive shop does not really have a selection of dive equipment, but does have gear for rent. Rentals can be any time frame you specify. Their rates are reasonable. You are also then eligible to access a relatively secure dive bin that will house most of your gear. There are wash tanks and a shower at the dive shop. The shop operators were very friendly and helpful. The gear was pretty good and any issues were quickly remedied. The dive shop is where we made all our boat dive trip plans. The dive shop employs and contracts it's trips. The dive masters were excellent and the boats were very comfortable. The boat operators were very knowledgeable and exhibited the right amount of discipline to ensure a safe dive trip. The dive masters were excellent and always held our safety as a top priority. They were very helpful and knowledgeable, without an ego. They were very friendly but, like the boat operators, safety was the first priority. The dive masters spend a lot of time at all the dive sites and know them intimately. They also have a very good knowledge of when and where to dive given the changing weather, tide, and current sea-life conditions. They also took into consideration the experience level as a group and selected appropriate locations. Cozumel has predominantly drift diving, with sometimes very fast and strong currents that can be tricky for novice divers.
The resort is a little isolated, but may be the reason for the more relaxed atmosphere. There are very few restaurants within walking distance. If you are not renting a car, you will be walking about 1.5 miles to the main downtown area. Not too bad.
I would have no reservations in recommending this resort. Cozumel as a whole has some of the most impressive dive locations in the world, and should be experienced. Be prepared to spend a lot of money. Almost everything cost twice as much as the price that is quoted. A tip is expected for just about everything you do. At 20%, tips can add up fast.
