Sure can! But the time schedule is not nearly as flexible. You can book your Cancun > Cozumel leg online with Mayair. Flights are usually around $70usd one way. I will note that flights are non-refundable if you miss your connection, which is not uncommon when flying into Cancun. As a resident that lives here I’ve gotten into the habit of taking the bus / ferry combo on the Cancun > Cozumel leg to avoid those hassles, but enjoy the ease of a flight on the Cozumel > Cancun return leg.

You can, of course, always fly directly into Cozumel. This is our preferred option as it is the easiest, but also the most expensive. 

After you exit customs you will be funneled into the time share and tour package sales area. Our Salty Endeavors representative will meet you there. We will have your bus passes ready for your group. From there you will be directed to the mini-bus that will take you to Suites Turquesa.

Below are the taxi fare charts that were accurate as of January 1. 2016 (yes I know it says 2012 on the images). You can use these to not only ascertain the expected cost to your rental unit from the ferry, but also all taxi rides for the duration of your stay. Please note the fare chart from the airport is different.

Many USA and Canadian phone carriers now offer a per month International roaming rate that is often reasonably priced. It is worth a phone call or email to your phone carrier to inquire about company and package specific details. This is often the easiest path to using your mobile device in Cozumel.

If your phone is “unlocked” you can get a SIM card locally from one of the many TelCel branches. If you do not speak Spanish you may wish to use the company headquarters store. Be sure to request the USA plan when setting up the SIM card. It is a free option that must be enabled by a company representative and it allows you to phone and text the USA with no additional charges.

Alternatively, there are many free app-based options including WhatsApp and Skype, but all of them require data (WiFi). You can easily get WiFi and most any restaurant or bar on the island, but obviously is not as convenient.

If you can easily acquire a small amount of peso prior to leaving home it would be helpful, but it is not essential. Often the exchange rate in the airports is not great, but good enough to get a small amount. Enough to cover your taxi / bus / ferry fares should be sufficient. However, US dollar is widely accepted, but often at a poor exchange rate. Once you are on the island (or mainland Mexico) there are banks and ATM’s which you can use to receive peso. We suggest not getting US dollar from Mexico ATM’s even when possible as it often incurs additional hidden “currency conversion” fees.

Spending money and knowing the best way / currency to do so is often tricky. Most tourist-oriented operators, ourselves included, quote prices in US dollar. In that instance it usually best to pay in US dollar. However, if a restaurant or bar tab is quoted in dollars you are best off to politely ask them for the peso amount. You will want to pay in peso when possible. If you choose to use your credit / debit card, kindly request they charge your card in peso. Your bank will calculate the exchange rate for you, which is almost certainly going to be better for you than allowing the establishment to decide the exchange rate. If you are using services away from the tourist zone expect to pay in peso only, including not being able to use a credit / debit card.

Yes! Traditional Sun Block is very damaging to a coral reef ecosystem. As such the Cozumel Marine Park has banned the use of all Sun Block. There are alternatives, however. Salty Endeavors recommends the use of our “Sun Screen Package” which includes a Salty Endeaovrs’s logo’s hat, face gaitor, and long sleeve rash guard. 

You may practice yoga at any time you desire. The schedule we suggest allows for yoga from 6 – 8am and again 5 – 7pm daily. 

We expect each yoga studio to supply their own yoga instructor. This is generally the Group Leader. Cozumel does have plenty of local yoga instructors available should you desire the assistance.

Yes! Once everyone in the group is a certified scuba diver, our scuba and yoga instructors will introduce underwater yoga skills. You will earn your Perfect Buoyancy scuba certifiecation and your Scuba Yoga Recognition. 

Yes, you may bring all your own equipment and yes, we will clean and store your gear for you for the duration of your stay, including your neoprene, with our VIP service.

We also offer, at no extra charge, drop-off and pick-up service of your gear at Cozumel Scuba Repair. They charge you $120 for yearly storage, which includes a full cleaning of your regulator once per year! When you consider airline baggage fees plus yearly regulator service, financially this is a savings. For more information…

Yes, you can rent all your equipment from us. Please refer to our rental gear page for more information about our available rental gear.

Yes, we rent all of that and more. Please refer to our rental gear page for more information.

Every diver is different in regards to their needs for warmth insulation. The majority of divers on Cozumel can comfortably use a 3mm neoprene year-round. If you know you traditionally are colder than most people you may wish use a 5mm neoprene. Some people may be comfortable wearing nothing more than a rash guard.

If you have neoprene we suggest you bring it. You can always choose to not use it if it is not needed. Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

We have available for rent 3mm neoprene, however, should you desire to not bring your own or do not own neoprene. In the event you get cold easily we recommend you double up with 2-3mm neoprene for a total of 6mm.

Yes, we offer both pool refresher classes and 1-tank shore / ocean options. For more information please contact us.

When you’re lucky, you get to see a shark. Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very rare and, with respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behavior. Most of the time, if you see a shark it’s just passing through and a rare sight to enjoy.

We can and will visit any dive site location around the island. Please note there are many locations which demand advanced divers. In this event we will require you do at least one full day of diving with us prior to visiting the advanced locations. This allows us to assess your safe-diving skills so we can ensure your ability is compatible with the preferred locations. Your safety is paramount in our dive site selection.

Additionally, some locations become unreachable during certain weather conditions. Salty Endeavors and it’s Captains may limit locations on any given day in the interest of personal comfort and / or safety.

This obviously varies from one diver to the next, but we will have you begin your ascent to safety stop depth when you or your dive buddy reaches 50 bar / 700psi or 60 minutes bottom time (whichever comes first). If you charter your own boat we will begin the ascent at 50 bar / 700psi or 75 minutes, whichever comes first.

We aim for a 60 minute surface interval, unless otherwise agreed upon in advance. Usually, our surface intervals generally work out to be 70-75 minutes by the time you back roll and descend.

The minimum age is 10 years old (in most areas). Student divers who are younger than 15 earn the Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15.

All student divers complete a brief scuba medical questionnaire that asks about medical conditions that could be a problem while diving. If none of these apply, sign the form and you’re ready to start. If any of these apply to you, your doctor must, as a safety precaution, assess the condition as it relates to diving and sign a medical form that confirms you’re fit to dive. Please contact us with any questions in regards to this form, or to receive a copy of the document for your doctor. Although we are not medically trained doctors, nor can we or will we attempt to at any time replace a medically trained professional, we can sometimes offer basic advice as it may pertain to scuba diving and various ailments.

Before completing the Open Water Diver course, your instructor will have you demonstrate basic water skills to be sure you’re comfortable in the water, including:

• Swim 200 meters/yards (or 300 meters/yards in mask, fins and snorkel) without stopping. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you prefer.
• Float and tread water for 10 minutes, again using any methods you prefer.

Each diver must have a personal set of the learning materials to use during the course and for reference after the course. There are several options available, depending on your learning style and technology preference, including:

• Open Water Diver Online (web-based)
• PADI Open Water Diver Touch™ (combines manual and video in tablet-based learning)
• Open Water Diver Manual, and watching the Open Water Diver Video on DVD either on your own or with your instructor.

By participating in the PADI Discover SCUBA or the SSI Try SCUBA option, we can have you underwater in less than one hour.

A lot of that answer depends on you. We have a finite amount of air we can breath in one air tank, and when it is gone it is gone. Everybody uses air at a different rate of consumption and many factors play a part, but normally most dives will last more than 30 minutes and if you are really good with air consumption it can last over 60 minutes. After only a few dives most divers can achieve 60 minute bottom times.

10 years of age and older can participate in SCUBA.

With our virtual classroom you can begin your e-Learning class at home and finish within two days of arriving to Cozumel. For more information check here.

The book work portion of the class can be completed online prior to arrival in Cozumel (recommended), or with your instructor in our classroom. Reviews and/or exams will take place either in our classroom or on location at the dive site depending upon various factors.

Confined water portions of class will be mostly completed within our on-site private pool. This is especially important in Cozumel due to the prevailing currents which make Cozumel diving so special. As beneficial as the currents are for our reefs, they can be difficult for students attempting to complete skills on day one. By working the jitters out in a confined pool in a relaxed, stress-free environment, students are more prepared to face the currents on day two.

You must also complete a minimum of four open water dives. We go into the big pond for this  (the ocean). We usually like to split these up between shore diving and boat diving. This provides us the opportunity to teach both methods (shore/boat) for entry, exit, and navigation.

No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your ear drums. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how. If you have no difficulties adjusting to air pressure during flying, you’ll probably experience no problem learning to adjust to water pressure while diving.

Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory or heart function, or may alter consciousness is a concern, but only a doctor can assess a person’s individual risk. Doctors can consult with the Divers Alert Network (DAN) as necessary when assessing fitness to dive.

Any individual who can meet the performance requirements of the course qualifies for certification. There are many adaptive techniques that allow individuals with physical challenges to meet these requirements. People with paraplegia, amputations and other challenges commonly earn the Open Water Diver certification. Even individuals with more significant physical challenges participate in diving. Please contact us with any specific questions.

There are essentially two types of contact lenses: hard contacts and soft contacts. Hard (gas-permeable) contacts will often float off an open eyeball underwater. So if you flood your mask, ensure you keep your eyes closed. You will never find a contact lens after it has left the eye since they are essentially invisible under water.

I would not recommend any water sports with hard lenses.

Soft contact lenses contain their own percentage of salt water (same concentration as blood, which is much lower than seawater), so a flooded mask is much less of a problem. My advice is to dive with disposable soft contacts (not permanent ones) because, in the unlikely event of losing one, they’re cheap to replace.

All contacts can become irritating in a dive mask and you can’t rub your eyes to fix it. An alternative is prescription masks. We do rent prescription masks. If you know your prescription you can contact us to confirm we have your prescription mask on hand. Alternatively, optometrists regularly construct masks and you can have your own made for you. There are very reasonably-priced ones and very unreasonably-priced prescription masks; so do your homework first. The success of these is dependent upon your prescription, so consult your optometrist first.

Aside from pregnancy, no. It is recommended that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. In most cases menstruation in a non issue.

With the necessary training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 40 meters/130 feet. Beginning scuba divers stay shallower, no deeper than 18 meters/60 feet. Although these are the limits, some of the most popular diving is shallower than 12 meters/40 feet, where the water’s warmer and the colors are brighter. Most skills performance for classes will be around 7 meters/21 feet and not deeper than 12 meters/40 feet until dives 3 and 4.

People find the “weightlessness” of scuba diving to be quite freeing. Modern scuba masks are available in translucent models, which you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed in. During your scuba diving training, your instructor gives you plenty of time and coaching to become comfortable with each stage of learning. Your scuba instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each skill necessary to become a capable scuba diver who dives regularly.

You will have professional, expert, and knowledge guides with you at all times during your land excursions.

Purified drinking water is available on all excursions. X’Kanha and the Jeep tour provide no additional food or bevrages. The Catamaran excursion provides lunch and a snack plus beverages. 

Yes! you will be fitted for an appropriately sized helmet before departing on the bicycle excursion.

Private photographers are available at all times of your tour. Individual outings or a week-long packages, let us know how we can help!

Unfortunately, no. The catamaran excursion sails to areas that are uninhabited which means there is no where for you to go even if we did drop you ashore. If you feel you may get sea sick we highly suggest taking over-the-counter medications to relax your symptoms, or skip the excursion entirely.