Cozumel-Schnorcheltour ab Playa del Carmen

Book with another provider. The transportation was poorly coordinated, we snorkeled at two locations for about an hour each and did not include El Cielo. The equipment provided was substandard including cheap inflatable safety vests with snorkel gear of questionably hygiene standards. The food was sparse and the buffet lunch had a long line with no seating, which didn't matter because the food was in edible even though I was starving. The place is beautiful and staff friendly but this company was a mistake.

The provider promotes this as a snorkel tour. In fact, it is for both divers and snorkelers - their name is Pro Dive Mexico. Of course, you do not know that they are a dive company until you book. And even then there is no indication that you will be paired with divers. A dive tour and a snorkel tour have clearly different objectives. Our trip had 7 divers and 7 snorkelers. But 3 of the snorkelers were related to the divers, so they were there for that reason. Our party of 4 was the only group interested in snorkel only since we booked a snorkel tour. The only other review on viator was from a family that had their own tour and thus got to snorkel at shallow reefs.

The tour went to two reefs one 20 feet deep, one 50 feet deep. They skipped what their board had listed as their snorkel reef Columbia Shallows. So basically, the reef was in accessible. Also, door to door the trip took 11 hours. Once they get you to Cozumel, you take an hour long boat ride to their shop. And after the trip, an hour long boat ride back to the ferry. Long day, expensive day, very few fish and none within 20 feet. They took no blame for our experience. However, Viator stepped up to the plate and made it right.

I would avoid this tour, unless you like fish very far away.

We were greeted by a friendly driver on time and driven from the hotel to the Playa del Carmen ferry terminal. At the terminal we were greeted by another guide from Australia and then were introduced to Gustavo. He was amazing, funny, helpful and explained everything well. After the ferry ride to Cozumel, we then transferred to another smaller vessel which took us to the Allegro Cozumel Resort where we were to get our gear. I would stay away from this resort and dive shop locations the local dive shop employee, handed out gear to my kids that he just received back into inventory from other local hotel guests without washing or cleaning the snorkle tubes. Gustavo tried to help out but the employee still straight faced lied to us about what we just witnessed. I am lucky enough to speak spanish and explained to Gustavo and the employee that I did not appreciate him sharing snorkle tubes that were not washed or cleaned, I watched the employee accept another snorkel and mask from a local hotel guest and he put it right back into circulation with no cleaning or sterilization of the mouthpiece or mask and handed it to me. This almost had us cancel the trip. Gustavo finally got tired of the employee handing out the dirty gear and went to find clean gear for us, even cleaning it himself. What a guide. We love Gustavo.
Once on the snorkel location, the views were AMAZING. Gustavo watched out and explained things to our children and he on more than two occasions took our camera down on a free dive to photo. We were shown barracuda, stingray, lobster, local reef fish, shark and a sea turtle.
We highly recommend you book this trip with Gustavo. Gustavo has great customer service skills, cares for his guests and is a great entertainer and problem solver. Ask for Gustavo to be your guide!!!
Remember stay away from the Allegro Cozumel Resort dive shop - being given dirty gear is not worth the risk or getting sick - which could ruin your vacation.