DRESSEL DIVERS Iberostar Cozumel
Iberostar Cozumel is part of the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts portfolio and home to Dressel Divers Cozumel. Located near the southern tip of the island, this smaller resort is surrounded by tropical jungle and a frequented by scuba divers and families. 306 rooms are set up in a rustic bungalow style. This family friendly resort had something for all ages with three restaurants, three pools (including a kids pool), kids club, spa and nightly entertainment. Entertainment staff also frequent the pool and beach areas to create fun activities throughout the day for guests whether they be young or old. A tropical path leads you through the flamingos, peacocks and iguanas as you wind through the grounds.
The pools offer a fun vibe with lots of activities but during the busy season can also get very crowded with little ability to find lounge chairs.
If you are staying at Iberostar Cozumel, Dressel Divers is the company chosen by the Iberostar Hotel chain to run diving activities for its hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico. Dressel Divers has a dive center directly on the beach of Iberostar Cozumel Hotel. Being a European company, you will meet divemasters who come in from all over the world, to guide dives here because Cozumel diving is so fabulous.
On a 2009 trip to Cozumel, I took my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course with Dressel Divers Cozumel while staying at Iberostar Cozumel. I had a great experience with the advanced diver certification process. I was able to study on the beach and have a private instructor for my class and certification dives. In 2011, I headed back with my daughter and her best friend where they studied during the week and finished their open water certifications before going home and we enjoyed a number of dives while staying for our vacation.
A few years later when my son turned 12, I planned a dive trip with a group of friends and my 12 year old who did his SSI open water referral (by then I was an assistant SSI instructor) and did his check out dives during our stay. It was a great experience for him and a fantastic environment for him to practice his skills.
Lots of diving site options are available as you can choose 2 dives am and/or pm and the dive sites along the southern tip are nearby. The surface interval is usually spent on a trip to the dock for a quick bathroom break and pickup/drop off of divers. Water and fruit are typically served as a snack.
Always a great way to spend the afternoon after some amazing diving is on the beach watching the amazing ocean views and gorgeous sunsets.
Pros:
convenience to southern reef dive sites
staff are all very personable, dive guides are usually very experienced and professional
Cons:
Large operation, the boats usually full and do take more than one group
Short dive times 45-50 minutes
The dive site schedule is set
Boats only visit southern dive sites and you miss exposure to the full reef system