Blue Bubble

Posted on 08/20/03
Name: Holly
State: MA

Traveled: August, 2003
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Excellent
Highly Recommended
Value: Excellent Value

Promptness: 10
Policy: 10
Friendliness: 10

Comments: Based on recommendations from this board and Scuba Board I dove for six days and 16 tanks with Blue Bubble last week. I am an experienced diver but had not been diving since 1997. The divemasters (Pedro Pablo especially) were experienced, mature, and truly love the reefs. Instructor Juan helped me get back into the swim. I also liked all the people with whom I shared their intimate service. Diving on a six-pack or eight-pack fast boat with wonderful companions and caring divemasters makes for a great experience! We saw lots of macro and micro reef life including a big eagle ray swoop down and grab a conch and crush it in its huge mouth! I can't wait to go back, and Blue Bubble was the best. They are professional, and go above and beyond to make their clients have a great dive experience.

Posted on 05/20/03
Name: Dale & Lorie
State: CO

Traveled: April, 2003
Stayed: Cozumel
Weather: Good
Highly Recommended
Value: Good Value

Promptness: 8
Policy: 9
Friendliness: 10

Comments: Trip date - 4/13/03 - 4/20/03, Cozumel
My wife and I (along with many friends) have dived with Blue Bubble over the last 3 to 4 years with approx. 120 dives each. They offer us divers choice
of sites (depending on agreement of the divers on the boat) which we really appreciate. We don't have to repeat sites. Their boats are fast (6 pack and 8 pack).
The 8 pack is very comfortable (wide) while the 6 packs are somewhat cramped given I am 6'7". I won't complain much since all boats are very fast and since
we stay at the south end of the island, the trips are very short (depending on site). So short that in some instances we barely have enough time to gear down.
All their boats have covers so the sun is easier to deal with. In the past Blue Bubbles prices were a little higher but they have lowered them - I think this is due to
new ownership and staying competitive. They just recently began providing better snacks (which my wife partakes in but I do not). Perhaps I'm still tasting
the omelet from breakfast. I was told by a friend who dives with them (and us in Coz) that they have some sort of prepay option (kind of like lay away) for
dive packages prior to the dive trip. I have not verified this option. They try to put the same level of experience of the divers on the same boats however it's
not something we can always count on, although it's usually good. I must assume that every dive operation has to deal with it - it's a business. The DM's always
assist anyone needing it (buoyancy, equalizing, apprehension, etc). They will get this out during the briefing and at the shop beforehand.

They pick us up from the pier at our hotel so no cab rides unless we dive the north end of the island. They usually arrive a little later in the morning, which is OK with me -
I usually like to have a few at the bar the night before and don't want a 7 am boat ride on an empty stomach. If we arrive at a site that already has many boats then
they allow us to change sites (by agreement of course). The boat captains are very good but not overly talkative, however they understand English and are professional.
Once on a previous trip wanted to do Devil's Throat but when we got there the visibility was so poor + sanded up (verified by DM going down a bit to check) that
we were offered the option to continue that dive or to go to another site. We chose another site and they did not charge us the extra fee for the southern sites.

Normally we dive with DM's Raul and Pedro Pablo. Elvis is no longer with Blue Bubble. The instructor, Juan does (obviously) instructing but now also splits time with
Paula in the office. Juan will also fills in on the boats as DM when necessary. Each of them has their own styles - Pedro Pablo likes to just drift along while Raul
likes to fin a bit. Both are very good at spotting interesting critters and invertebrates. Once I found a scorpion fish and called the DM to verify and he saw a 3/4" seahorse a few inches away that
I didn't even see (of course I didn't admit that).

Normally we haul our gear (we bring all our gear with us) from the room to the boat and back. Normally we rinse it out at the hotel. However this trip we decided,
apprehensively, to allow Blue Bubble to clean and store our gear in their downtown shop. We made a trip to town to do an inventory sheet (required). The storage
worked well - our gear always showed up and was never mixed up. My wife especially liked it since her wetsuit never smelled - they say they wash it every day with
enzyme cleaner. I normally dive in only swimming trunks and t-shirt (colder days and night dives excepted). I like to dive with AL 100's which I request at the
beginning of the trip (usually via email along with other pertinent details) and they provide them every day for me.

Our night dives are usually set up the day before (impromptu) depending on how many other divers want to go. In fact, I guess we use them so much that usually
only a phone call the night before to advise them of our plans is all it takes. At the end of the trip we settle with Blue Bubble giving us the package rate determined
by the number of dives.

Lastly, the previous trip to Cozumel (using Blue Bubble), they charged me the cash discount rate instead of the credit card rate (I paid with credit card). Afterwards
we discovered I owed $75 more and I offered to pay on the next trip but they said not to worry about it - they had made the error. Needless to say their tips went
up this time.

I am pleased with their service

Posted by JennyO on 01/03/02

We have been diving with Blue Bubble since 97'....
And have always been very pleased with the boats, staff and equipment. Their boats are smaller as the dive groups max at 6-8. But you will notice that you leave later than other dive ops, and arrive at the same time or pass up many other boats as Blue Bubble boats cruise!

I highly recommend diving with Elvis or Javier. Vicki will help you get set up in the office. I would also email her at the Bubble. She can help set up reservations at different hotels. This has saved us money versus going direct to hotels.

Enjoy your trip!

Posted by Darcy on October 12, 2000

Blue Bubble- Signed up and paid ($60)for a 2 tank dive to leave at 8:30am the next morning. When I arrived the next am- they did not have enough people to go, but had arranged for me to dive with another shop (Deep Sea or Deep Blue??). I never did dive with Blue Bubble as they did not go out for 4 days- but they seemed helpful in getting me on a diveboat-even if it wasn't theirs.

Posted by scucoz on 10/09/00

My boyfriend and I have used Blue Bubbles several times. They have very fast boats and they take small groups....usually 4 to 6 divers. We have only had 4 divers and a DM on our dives with Blue Bubbles. We have had several of their DM's and each was very unique. One who enjoyed showing us lots of tiny creatures, etc that you do not see unless someone takes the time to do so. We have also gone on wonderful dives to Maricaibo Shallow (2 times) and had a nice dive with DM Elvis at the C-53 sunken ship. They have two locations, will add you to their e-mail list and Leo and all of his staff have been very nice and helpful. I would highly reccomend Blue Bubbles.....no troubles!

Posted by on 10/08/00

I have been diving with Blue Bubbles since 1988
I have never had a problem with them and they have
very reliable and responsible DM's... They run small (FAST) 6 diver boats so you are never diving with a crowd. If you do have a group larger than 6 they can get a larger boat to accomodate 10 or 12 divers if you want to keep everyone together. They offer competetive dive packages and have 2 locations on the island. The first location is in town 1 block behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken and the other location is on the waterfront at Yucab close to the Casa Del Mar Hotel...... Check them out on the web at www.bluebubble.com if you like email or call them and Leo will be glad to help you in any way possible....They, like all other dive shops, will pick you up at the pier in front of your hotel..... Happy Diving.....Blue Bubbles....No Troubles.........

chris vandeventer
rsa - adventure tours usa

"Say you saw it on TravelNotes.cc!"