Headed to do some scuba. I have a package at the Cozumel Palace that comes with a resort credit you can use for scuba, but only at their dive outfit,(AquaWorld) which does not get the best ratings. Any divers want to recommend a good shop?

It is also an all inclusive deal and reviews seem to like the food, but I hate to just sit at the hotel all the time. I like to explore the surroundings a bit so any restaurant reviews welcome too. Thanks.

Don't get to take advantage of any nightlife though.

 

Rent a jeep and drive around the island along the coast.

 

There is a nice list of shops here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Cozumel#Do

Also some restaurants if you scroll down.

 

The diving there was great. I don't remember the name of the dive shop, we actually went with a little tiny boat and a local guy who knew the reefs very well. I think the reason we went with him was because my dad and uncle did not have their diving cards but the guy still let us go diving. Have a great time, (yes I am jealous).

 

There's a lobster shack just across the street from El Cozumeleno. I can't remember what it's called, but it's easy to find. It's pretty expensive, but the lobster was awesome. That's all they serve, though, so don't go in there expecting to get a burger. Or even a side salad.

 

Funny you should mention that. I was looking at a restaurant guide and someone had posted a listing of a bunch of places and had a place called "El Lobsterino" or something like that and had added an edit that whatever lobster shack he had review had closed up. I wonder if that is the same place.

 

Unless it was posted in the last month, then the answer is no. I just ate there in April.
Pretty sure it's this place:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Peninsula.html

Oh.. I forgot to mention that it's cash-only, so don't bother taking plastic there.

 

Also, there was a restaurant on the south side of town that some people had recommended to me. Seems like it had the word Monkey in the name, though. I didn't ever make it over there, unfortunately.

 

As an alternative to this, you can book a trip with "Cozumel Bar Hop". It's $40 or $50 per person, includes your transportation and 1 free shot at each of the 4 bars you visit. The only downside is that you're on a timetable, but you get about 45mins at each bar to drink/socialize. The best part is that you don't need a designated driver, if you like to drink.

 

Sounds like fun, but the plan is for the doctor to have my wife good and knocked up by then if it all takes. So, it is a relax-scuba-spa (for the wife) trip with no party component.

But something to keep for when I get to organize the "guys only" scuba trip. Well, maybe someday.