Isla de Mujeres-Lodging and Dive Ops info needed...

I am having to go to Isla de Mujeres for a friend's wedding. Have any of you been diving there? I need recommendations for lodging and dive operations on the little tiny island. Thanks for the help!

I was there in Feb, Isla Mujeres has 4 dive operators: Aqua Adventures, Mundaca Divers, Garafon Centro de Buceo and Coral Scuba, all small shops with ponga style open boats and small compressors at their shops. Very basic all of them. There is no shore diving, boats either dive the bay between Cancun and Isla Mujeres at a reef called Manchones (35' max) or take you back behind the island to "the caves of the sleeping sharks" which could any one on 15 sites depending on the operator, the time of day, the zodiac sign of the dive guide etc if you get my drift. There is a fast ferry to Puerto Morelos just north of Cancun with Marina Ultra Mar for $8 usd round trip. The dive operators in Cancun dive a wider variety of sites and have better boats and facilities, and of course more divers on the boat. Try Scuba Cancun www.scubacancun.com.mx (ask for Tomas or Mijali) or Aqua World www.aquaworld.com.mx (ask for Richard Chang) who also run day trips to Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and the Cenotes Taj Majal, and Grand Cenote. Aqua World may even offer a ferry from Isla to their Marina in Cancun. There are several spectacular reefs off shore is 50-80' feet of water: the wrecks of the C-55, C-56?, which are 200+ foot long mexican navy frigates upright with good marine life (eagle rays, schools of black grouper, and baracudas) and STRONG currents. Grab the wreck to take a photo and your bubbles go horizontal and your mask slides across your face. Grampin is another great site in 50' of water with wall to wall fish (and again a fairly strong current. Overall the marine life is excellent, the vis 30-70 feet, the currents ugly off shore in deeper water. The island is quite charming and laid back though, and you should have a great stay. Sorry but I am unfamiliar with the hotels, I have a house in Cancun for my frequent trips there. Hope I helped some.

Doug Kaufman