It took a month to get all the info I requested via email, but now I have all the quotes needed to organize my next trip to Mexico.
Xibalba Dive Center replied quickly to my enquiry with an acceptable offer: 20 cave dives at 85 USD/dive when doing two a day or 110 USD when only doing one (including guide, transport & doubles filled with nitrox, but excluding cenote entrance fees).
→ Xibalba Dive Center
Xibalba now also has its own hotel, but it being priced over my budget as solo traveler, I tried, tried and tried again to contact Villa Matisse in order to check room availability & prices. Not getting any response whatsoever, I reluctantly googled my way through virtual space to some other decent looking guesthouses, the more affordable and well rated of which would cost me 70 USD/night when staying for at least 3 weeks... a bit too rich for my wallet.
→ Posada Luna del Sur
After several attempts getting connected to Villa Matisse, I finally managed to talk to Señora Lourdes, who promised to write me back, which she did several days later, with a pretty good deal: 2500 Pesos per week incl. breakfast, when staying for nearly a month. Currently, that's only about 140 EUR or 180 USD/week. Thereby bringing me back on track to realize my fifth trip to Tulum. That is, if I can still book an affordable flight from Munich to Cancun.
→ Villa Matisse
Showing posts with label dive-center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dive-center. Show all posts
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Planning
After having sent out several inquiries into cyberspace, today I already got the first replies from Villa Matisse and Xibalba dive center. I know both from my last stay in Tulum and they're each my first choice for respectively homelike accomodation and professional dive support.
Whereas February is already fully booked, the good news is that Señora Lourdes still has a studio available for me in March & April, at 150$/week - almost twice as much as 2 years ago, but still a lot cheaper than staying at the beach or elsewhere in town.
Robbie's wife Aneke also sent me a relatively good deal price-wise regarding cave diving: 20 cave dives at 75$/dive, in stead of the listed 120$/dive. That's excluding cenote entrance fees at about 10$/dive, 15$/stage and 7$/tank for nitrox 32.
Whereas February is already fully booked, the good news is that Señora Lourdes still has a studio available for me in March & April, at 150$/week - almost twice as much as 2 years ago, but still a lot cheaper than staying at the beach or elsewhere in town.
Robbie's wife Aneke also sent me a relatively good deal price-wise regarding cave diving: 20 cave dives at 75$/dive, in stead of the listed 120$/dive. That's excluding cenote entrance fees at about 10$/dive, 15$/stage and 7$/tank for nitrox 32.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Xibalba dive center
I moved my dive gear down the road from Aktun to Xibalba dive center. This new cave diving school is run by Robbie, ex Aktun instructor and active explorer of the region's many underwater cave systems.
Robbie set up his own dive center about two years ago and recently equiped it with a pretty impressive brand new and almost silent compressor.
From what I can see they're quite busy - unlike the other dive centers in town. Robbie employs several enthusiastic freelance cave explorers who know a lot of cenotes I don't, so I plan on doing some guided dives in caves I haven't seen yet.
Robbie set up his own dive center about two years ago and recently equiped it with a pretty impressive brand new and almost silent compressor.
From what I can see they're quite busy - unlike the other dive centers in town. Robbie employs several enthusiastic freelance cave explorers who know a lot of cenotes I don't, so I plan on doing some guided dives in caves I haven't seen yet.
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Aktun dive center
My old working place... Unfortunately it doesn't seem to go too well with Aktun dive center these days.
Gunni, my ex-boss, who set up the place, sold it and went looking for new adventures and challenges in sports & travel photography.
The new owner apparently didn't last long, so there's currently no dive center manager, just an hired instructor who doesn't really care about the center's future.
All that is missing is a 'FOR SALE' sign...
One of the compressors is out of order. The jeep gave up, a relic from Aktun's short exploration past, rusting away on the parking lot. One of the vans has no reverse and one of its tires is ready to give up anytime. The other van is slowly falling apart, its rear doors held together with nylon string.
But, they still have some decent doubles and one compressor to fill them. Having my own gear and knowing a handful of cenotes, that's all I need really, besides a ride. And I'm allowed to use one of the old vans (read: monster trucks) if I dare.
Gunni, my ex-boss, who set up the place, sold it and went looking for new adventures and challenges in sports & travel photography.
The new owner apparently didn't last long, so there's currently no dive center manager, just an hired instructor who doesn't really care about the center's future.
All that is missing is a 'FOR SALE' sign...
One of the compressors is out of order. The jeep gave up, a relic from Aktun's short exploration past, rusting away on the parking lot. One of the vans has no reverse and one of its tires is ready to give up anytime. The other van is slowly falling apart, its rear doors held together with nylon string.
But, they still have some decent doubles and one compressor to fill them. Having my own gear and knowing a handful of cenotes, that's all I need really, besides a ride. And I'm allowed to use one of the old vans (read: monster trucks) if I dare.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Aktun dive center
Located at the entrance of town, on the crossroad leading to the beach, the center, Coba and Playa Del Carmen, Aktun dive center & hotel El Meson are indeed very conveniently placed for cave diving the nearby cenotes - most of them less than a 15' ride away.
The fan rooms are basic but decent enough, though not very charming and rather noisy due to the heavy traffic driving by all day and night.
Besides Gunnar Wagner, the owner and IANTD instructor-trainer, there are two full-time instructors at the moment and one driver-handyman. Plus the hotel management and staff. And they have two jeeps, two suburban vans, two compressors, lots of tech gear for rent and several UW scooters for people in a hurry.
I used to work here as a dive guide & instructor, so this will always be a special place for me...
The fan rooms are basic but decent enough, though not very charming and rather noisy due to the heavy traffic driving by all day and night.
Besides Gunnar Wagner, the owner and IANTD instructor-trainer, there are two full-time instructors at the moment and one driver-handyman. Plus the hotel management and staff. And they have two jeeps, two suburban vans, two compressors, lots of tech gear for rent and several UW scooters for people in a hurry.
I used to work here as a dive guide & instructor, so this will always be a special place for me...
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