Desire Resort Forums

Does anyone have info on recent Scuba Diving experiences out of Pearl? We are looking to do a dive certificate. Staff, equipment, review of?

Has anyone stayed at Pearl to dive there?

This is our second trip and we love Desire. We are a full swap couple and made amazing friends last year.
Looking forward to meeting all of you there at that time.

The staff at the dive shop is very profesional and helpfull. You can do you rcertification dives with them with no problems. All of the divesites are very close, so you can leave in the morning and be back to enjoy lunch and afternoon activiites. Dives are easy and fairly shallow - perfect for the certification. Prices were in line with any other dive shops in the world.

we love the dive staff, very nice. we are both divers and have enjoyed a chance to get wet. we have gotten extra certifications while there. if you are new to diving this is a good start. if you are going to be there more than a week a day trip to Cozumel and wall diving is something worth considering. you leave early and get back around 5pm. the issue is that requires advance certification now a days for going to 90 feet and establishing neutral buoyancy. but that is spectacular diving.

take cash since its cheaper than credit card. also, go ahead and ask for discount. remember to tip. Enjoy.

It was my first time diving and I felt completely at ease after some one on one's in the pool with Brenda. She had a way to make me feel safe since she knew I was nervous she kept her eyes on me at all times and even held my hand during the actual dive. All the staff was great, my husband did a dive with Christoph (I think is his name) to a sunken battleship which he said was amazing. May have been more than other shops for the price but it was worth the one on one attention.

The dive shop is outstanding. My wife was certified there and I was impressed with the equipment, the time they spent with her and the care they took. Brenda is amazing.

Apologize if this is a silly question...where is the Dive Shop? Is it on the premises of Pearl? Is there really a sunken battleship dive close by? I am not certified, just did the basic training in resort pool at Azul several years back, then they took us out to the reef for a 25' dive. Would I need to be certified to do the battleship dive? Our primary purpose for heading to Pearl is to enjoy the atmosphere and people of Pearl itself, and don't want to miss out on any of the fun that goes on there, but if I can get away in the morning for a dive to a sunken battleship and be back around lunchtime, I would love to take advantage of that opportunity. Any insight will be much appreciated!

Thanks,

David & Kim

Personally, I would not dive a ship without certification - it will be deep and you should have experience before attempting that - I've been diving for years and I'd start by doing your open water course first - I doubt any certified shop will take you down there without a card. However, Xel Ha, which is a day trip south is an AMAZING snorkelling experience at an all-inclusive and you can combine with a trip to Tulum to the ruins but it is a whole day trip. It is an enclosed lagoon which is packed with sea life and you can snuba with rays for an extra fee - been a few times with friends and always fun. Get certified and I'll take you diving the cenotes - amazing experience. If you want to dive sunken military stuff, including migs, cuba is the place to go! However, my bet is Pearl will consume you and you'll never leave!

AzDesertCouple wrote:Apologize if this is a silly question...where is the Dive Shop? Is it on the premises of Pearl? Is there really a sunken battleship dive close by? I am not certified, just did the basic training in resort pool at Azul several years back, then they took us out to the reef for a 25' dive. Would I need to be certified to do the battleship dive? Our primary purpose for heading to Pearl is to enjoy the atmosphere and people of Pearl itself, and don't want to miss out on any of the fun that goes on there, but if I can get away in the morning for a dive to a sunken battleship and be back around lunchtime, I would love to take advantage of that opportunity. Any insight will be much appreciated!

Thanks,

David & Kim

max4play wrote:Personally, I would not dive a ship without certification -.................... Get certified and I'll take you diving the cenotes - amazing experience.

Totally agree with Max. Another option is to get your written stuff done before you go and then have your local shop give you a referral. Then when at Desire, just show them your letter and do the open water dives with them. I know lots of people that get certified that way. If you do it this way, you wont spend your entire vacation studying and taking exams. Just open water diving.

Scuba

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I wouldn't think of doing a deeper dive without certification, I wasn't sure if the battleship dive was deep or more for experienced divers. Will be looking into a local place here in Arizona to see if I can get my book studies and paperwork done before we leave, and get the open water cert while at Pearl. Fingers crossed

Max...any ideas what our wives can do to keep busy while we head out for a morning dive sometime down the road? I bet they would figure something out

AzDesertCouple wrote:Max...any ideas what our wives can do to keep busy while we head out for a morning dive sometime down the road? I bet they would figure something out

Ok AZ, this is not the answer you wanted. But here is the solution I used. I got my lovely bride involved in Scuba with me. That way, when it comes to purchasing Scuba toys, it gets budgeted much easier.....

AzDesertCouple wrote:
Max...any ideas what our wives can do to keep busy while we head out for a morning dive sometime down the road? I bet they would figure something out

Careful now - you'll burn through your oxygen thinking this way and may not have time for a safety stop before coming up......

LOL...

I have tried talking Kim into scuba with me for years. She is just too darn scared...something about panic attacks, fear of sharks, etc...it's gotten to the point that the more I encourage her to at least give it a try, the more she holds her ground. She is a LOT of amazing things, but an adventurer she is not. I bungie jumped alone, parasailed alone, scuba alone, and will be sky diving alone. She supports and encourages me, but is just not into those type of experiences. She did go snorkeling with me off Cozumel once, and I was so proud of her because I knew how much courage it took for her to do it

Long story short (ok, short story long) she would be happy to support me in my desire to get scuba certified, and will have no problem finding things to keep her occupied while I am gone. And I will make sure I monitor my breathing the entire time!

25 days and counting!

David & Kim

All
We've dived with the team at Pearl a number of times, The dives are 5 minutes from the resort, shallow, no current and Cesar and the team really look after you. Its a perfect beginners dive. They can probably do a resort course for Kim.
Talk soon

Andy and Julia

AzDesertCouple wrote:LOL...

I have tried talking Kim into scuba with me for years. She is just too darn scared...something about panic attacks, fear of sharks, etc...it's gotten to the point that the more I encourage her to at least give it a try, the more she holds her ground. She is a LOT of amazing things, but an adventurer she is not. I bungie jumped alone, parasailed alone, scuba alone, and will be sky diving alone. She supports and encourages me, but is just not into those type of experiences. She did go snorkeling with me off Cozumel once, and I was so proud of her because I knew how much courage it took for her to do it

Long story short (ok, short story long) she would be happy to support me in my desire to get scuba certified, and will have no problem finding things to keep her occupied while I am gone. And I will make sure I monitor my breathing the entire time!

25 days and counting!

David & Kim

That's great news! Glad to hear there are options for the far-from-experts

Will definitely try to get out there for a morning dive and be back to the resort before all the fun starts!

23 days and counting

David & Kim

Just to clarify the wreck issue, it is a small coast guard type vessel that was purposely sunk. It is at about 90' and thus will require extra certifications (which Caesar will help you with if you wish).