This is an efficiently-run dive operation, and also offers a lot of group snorkeling opportunities. We dove with ADS through Blue Experience Diving, and we were pleased with the facility and the dive sites offered. The boats are small, with room for 8 or 9 divers. Back roll entries are required, as these boats aren't large enough for a dive platform. The boat captains were very good and able to deal with both calm and rough water efficiently. They also helped carry gear when needed, and helped divers deal with gear as they got on and off the boats. I observed ADS dive staff working with student divers, and they seemed patient and thorough (I'm a dive instructor myself, so I can recognize when other dive pros are doing a good job). Safety was a high priority. Overall, a great experience and we were glad to have a chance to dive with Blue Experience Diving and the Akumal Dive Shop. read more

We came here to visit the sea turtle sanctuary as part of our tour through Cancun adventures. The dive center itself is cute. They had bathrooms with showers as well as outdoor showers. I did not appreciate the requirement to wear a life jacket in shallow water to snorkel with the turtles. The amount of people in the snorkeling areas was way too much. People were kicking up sand, flailing in the water and pushing people (me) to get in front of where any turtles were. It was extremely disappointing. The only reasons I got any photos was because I have a GoPro on a stick. I would NOT do the turtle thing again. I would however go scuba diving. That seemed like they took out small groups on small boats so it wouldn't be overcrowded. read more

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We did a refresher course and a couple of dives on our short vacation to Akumal. Great shop, reasonable prices, and the instructors are experienced and fun. Dive sites are super close, equipment was quality, and we saw tons of turtles, nurse sharks, some cool eels, grouper, squid, etc. We dove with Quito and he was awesome! Great spotter, super fun, and he took some photos and videos for us on our last dive. Hope to come back and dive with Quito again soon! read more

Akumal Dive Shop earned my highest recommendation and vote of confidence. My daughter and my brother took the Scuba Discovery course at Akumal Dive Shop today. The aim of this class is for people who have never scuba dived before to try it so they can decide whether they would like to pursue a diving certification. The class starts with an instructional video, then the dive instructor provides in-person instruction at the dive shop, then they put on all of the equipment they learned about. Then they go into a shallow roped off area in the ocean and practice with the equipment and techniques under water. Then they return to the dive shop and make any adjustments to their equipment. And finally they board a boat and go out for their first real dive at 12m/40ft, which lasts about 30 minutes. We were completely impressed with Akumal Dive Shop, the personnel, and this course. First, since my daughter is only 17, I wanted to hang around for her class to make sure she was totally comfortable. The dive shop happily accommodated us. The dive instructor, Fido, was a wonderful instructor. He is a world-class instructor and we were very confident in his knowledge and abilities. He speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish fluently and he is a very refined gentleman. We loved everyone we interacted with at Akumal Dive Shop. They were all kind and helpful to our family. A few days earlier we went on their "snorkeling with sea turtles" trip and that was great too. But it was Fido and the professionalism of the dive program that really made us feel that Akumal Dive Shop is a first class operation. My daughter benefited enormously from the class and learned a ton. She decided to skip the last step and not do the dive from the boat today. There was nothing that the instructor or dive shop could have said or done, because she's always slower to adopt new things. She just has a trepidatious personality. We told her that would be a fine choice before the program even started. Using her regulator and breathing underwater was a great experience for her, so even though she opted out of going for the real dive off the boat with her uncle and the other divers, she loved the program and she thought Fido was the best. The dive shop tried to offer us a partial refund or another attempt at a different dive for her on a different day during our visit to Akumal, because they were trying to compensate us. We refused their generous offer, because we felt that we received the full value of their program and she truly loved it. They definitely did not owe us anything. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because I want to make it known that these are wonderful people who operate their business with integrity, generosity, and compassion. read more

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I showed up at this dive shop because of the good reviews. If you're an inexperienced diver and you're used to driving in a fairly busy, impersonal organization this place will suit you fine. They follow all the protocols for dive safety. I found it lacked a certain warmth and customer satisfaction that I've seen at other dive operations. I wasn't all that impressed. Not that helpful or clear, a bit disorganized. Even though they go with small groups it's still too many people on the small boat. I probably wouldn't live with them again. read more

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Sadly, our experience back in July was really disappointing. We booked a snorkel tour, arrived about 15 minutes early, and ended up waiting nearly an hour for a group of Brits to finally show up so the tour could leave. Unacceptable, and it wrecked our schedule for the rest of the day. The crew was great - no complaints. Friendly, spoke fluent English, and had a great eye for marine life. If you are looking to see things other than turtles, this may not be the tour for you - they are extremely focused on turtles and require that you swim with the guide. So, if you spot something you'd like to look at, you probably won't have much time to do that. However, if you're on this tour to see the turtles, they do a great job finding them. This would have been a decent experience had it not been for the wait. Again, it's unacceptable to keep those arriving on time waiting for that long in favor of people who didn't show up for the tour they booked. read more

Very pleased with this dive shop! Staff is great and super knowledgeable! We took our certifications there and never have I felt more comfortable in the water. Dove open water and many cenotes for fun too! Every dive was a great new experience, each better than the previous! Never had a weight issue! Their recommendations were amazing! Going back soon again for more certifications and fun! read more

Akumal Dive Shop - Sporting Goods Near Me - Akumal, ROO

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This was the best experience. Our Dive master was outstanding and showed us so much care in the refresher course and then when we went out, he made us feel so safe and comfortable and showed us so many cool animals and different things on our dive! read more

Diego was amazing! We went snorkeling yesterday here and he helped us to see several turtles which was obviously the goal here. He even showed us a sting ray and took great photos on his Go Pro of us and what we saw which was much better than the pics I got with my phone with plastic case over it. My phone was not working under water really . Last night he sent us the photos he took though. He really went above and beyond! read more

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Great overall experience! The staff was very knowledgeable,helpful and accommodating during the entire certification process. read more

Akumal Dive Shop - Sporting Goods Near Me - Akumal, ROO

Wow! Can diving get any better than this? I visited Akumal Dive Shop for a refresher course before diving on the reef, since it had been a few years since my last dive. My divemaster, Adiel, was funny, friendly, and very knowledgeable. Both of my dives with him were excellent, and he was extremely talented at pointing out turtles, fish, invertebrates, and other interesting life on the reef. Prices were very fair, one morning I came as a walk-in and paid about $65 for a one hour dive and full equipment rental. It's about $40 if you already have your own equipment. My one criticism is the lack of organization when it comes to booking. I tried a few times to book in advance, and my reservations were always lost. At least they are very flexible and got me on the dive boats the same day anyways, even during a relatively busy part of the season in January. read more

Akumal Dive Shop - A divemaster/instructor, boat captain, and underwater photographer accompany you on a private refresher course dive (~$100) - Sporting Goods Near Me - Akumal, ROO

We had the best time on the Robinson Cruise! The captain and deck hands were very assertive and knowledgeable. The food was amazing and fresh! They prepared it right in front of us. It was the most amazing day! Well worth every dime! We didn't want the day to end!! Also, I wasn't paying attention and over paid. 2 days later I get a message from Sergio and he refunded me my over payment that I didn't even realize I had done. The employees were so kind and helpful!! We are ready to go back!! read more

We booked a snorkeling tour but was not able to get to Akumal from Cozumel due to the rough winds this past week. We had put a deposit to secure the tour, which they refunded me right away after I sent an email to them explaining the situation. They were prompt with their replies every time I asked a question and gave me a refund for my deposit with no questions asked. We will definitely reach out to them in the future, as we plan to see the turtles in Akumal some day! read more

Such a fun experience!! Would definitely recommend taking your family to see all of the beautiful sea animals! My family and I enjoyed this experience! I really loved the fishies!!!!! My kids especially loved the experience, and so did I. I swallowed a little bit of salt water and hacked up for a few minutes, but other than that it was the best experience! read more

While in Akumal for a family wedding, the bride and groom decided to fill up a couple of boats from Akumal Dive Shop for some pre-wedding SCUBA. Seeing as how almost everyone in E's entire family - mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, aunt - is certified, as well as a couple friends of the bride and groom, we were a group of 12! Due to the large group, we got 4 dive masters, which was a good ratio, and two boats. E and I have our own gear, so we didn't rent, but their rental equipment - BCDs, regulators, etc - seems high quality and worked well! Also, everyone in the shop is so incredibly friendly. We had a good day of diving the first day, visibility wasn't stellar and we didn't see as much variety as we have before in Cozumel, but we did see a few turtles! We also had a dive master/photographer (Xavo) who accompanied us and took some great pictures that we later purchased! Later in the week, E and I returned for another two-tank dive. Weather was still not fantastic, and the surface waves were bigger and rowdier than the previous trip, but we stuck it out. We ended up having an amazing 110-foot dive to kick things off (the group that day was smaller - only three others besides ourselves - and more experienced, so our DM took us deep) and then a second, much more shallow dive with only one other person to finish things up. Our DM, Saul, was absolutely awesome, and pointed out so many neat things - flounder, turtles, conches, lionfish, a ray, a school of grouper. Even with some nasty waves up top and poor vis, we had an amazing time! Probably the best thing about this shop is how nice everyone is. We loved that we were remembered by name when we returned to book our second dives, and all of our DMs and captains were fantastic. Nothing else is particularly fancy, but they are a good group of people. We really enjoyed diving with Akumal Dive Shop! read more

No better place in Akumal to dive - immensely professional and friendly staff who take care of you every step of the way for a really fair price! read more

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The okeydoke grift is strong in these parts, dont fall for it! Dont get conned by the tour guides and "officials" out front, you can swim with the turtles all on your own, for no fee. Of you need equipment, you can rent high quality gear at the Akumal dive shop right on the beach for dirt cheap, and it is pro-grade. We saw at least 9 turtles, including two baby/mom pairs, 100 species of fish and a dozen huge rays. The beach is quiet and clean, the water is calm and crystal clear, it is an incredible experience. Skip the schtick and rent a mask and snorkel, swim out 50 yards and be at one with las tortugas! Day snorkel gear will run you like $10US tops, with tons of reasonable upgrades and excursions. All bonafide. Amazing place. read more

I came here and rented equipment to snorkel with the turtles. The whole process was really easy and the staff was helpful and friendly. I rented two sets of snorkel equipment with life jackets and a locker. The price came to $24 USD total. Great deal compared to what the surrounded vendors charge and how much tours are that you buy at the resorts. We walked down the beach a couple minutes and then went out into the water. We found huge turtles, stingrays, and fish within 10 minutes of getting into the water. The whole experience was great. Just a tip but keep walking past all the people trying to sell you on going on their snorkeling tours. It definitely is annoying and can get to be a little much but just tell them you already have a reservation at the dive shop, they seemed to leave me alone after I told them that. read more

Me and my boyfriend had an amazing time diving with Aitor and Xavo, these guys made our experience so unique, we felt like we were just hanging out with friends! It was my first ever dive and Aitor was beyond amazing at making sure I was feeling comfortable and enjoyed the experience at full. We couldn't recommend this place more, such a welcoming atmosphere, very clean facilities and overall good vibes. Thank you guys!!! read more

Needed my last two open water dives for cert, and had a great experience at ADS. Instructor Ivo was terrific, went above and beyond. Rental equipment was good. Reefs are in great condition, plenty to see. read more

Well run, great guides and beautiful beach. We booked a snorkeling guided tour on what ended up being a windy, choppy day. Our guides made sure we saw plenty of turtles and sting rays. We had a couple people in our group who weren't strong swimmers and our guides made them feel safe, had them hold onto a life preserver and pulled them around. They were nervous at first but ended up having a wonderful experience! read more

Akumal Dive Shop (ADS - SHOP not any other dive shop/center) was fantastic. Mariana and Chino absolutely the best! The entire staff are dedicated to professionalism, safety and FUN! I moved here a month ago and needed to have a refresher course. A 4 hour class that was thorough, enjoyable, educational. Anyone of the staff sees that everyone has a most enjoyable time. Diego getting you set up is the beginning of a good time. There are numerous dive shops on the Mayan Riviera. ADS is definitely one to consider and enjoy the warm, clear Caribbean Sea. Diving like no other place on Earth! Mike M read more

Reserved ahead of time to take a refresher course for myself and discover scuba for my wife. The email exchange was straightforward and friendly. When we arrived, we met with the instructor, Marco, who was as friendly as can be and made the training and pre-dive course information easy to understand for my wife. We then did some basic training in Half-Moon Bay and Marco was very patient with my wife, who had never scuba'd before, as she went through the skills and swam around the bay. After he was comfortable with both of our skills, we refreshed our tanks, got into a boat and went a few hundred yards from the shore and got back in the water. My wife, who was very nervous at the start of the day, had a great time and came up with a smile. We even came back to do it again two days later. The dive shop is organized and the equipment is well maintained. Lockers and showers are available -- the shower is really warm, a necessity after a couple of dives. The accompanying divemasters, Eduardo and Isha, also took some great photographs and video of us on our dives. We can't give enough praise for Marco and the divemasters, who were wonderful company. If you want to dive in Akumal, this is the place to go. We'll be back. read more

Nicest staff and great snorkeling gear at great rate. Huge lockers and showers included. Don't rent from the little huts along the beach, they are so rude if you don't get their tour! read more

My wife and I did a discover scuba class, no certification needed for this. You learn the basic skills with dive instructor in shallow water. After you feel comfortable you go on a 1 tank dive to about 40 or so feet. We did a second dive for extra charge. It was amazing. David our dive instructor was awesome, felt like we had know him for years He was professional and funny. He got as on the ocean floor right next to a giant sea turtle. The facility is clean with lost lockers for your stuff. Also showers on sight. All the staff really did a great job. Definitely we be coming back. read more

Great beach to swim with turtles. We took our family of four and had booked with another tour provider that had to reschedule. The dive shop was very helpful in making sure we actually got to do the excursion. Swimming with turtles was an amazing experience and a very easy swim fro the kids. read more

Take the boat tour out to the reef and ask for Diego! He's a great guide and we had an amazing time!

We just did a cenote dive at Dos Ojos with Luis. He made the trip fun, safe, and adventurous. It was the best part of my vacation and best dive I've ever done! Thank you! read more

Went to Akumal yesterday to see the turtles. Upon entering the shopping area an "official" asked if we were there to swim with the turtles. (This is a local scam. You don't need a guide but must wear a life preserver to go outside of designated areas. This is to stop people from diving down to touch the turtles.) We informed him that we were headed to the Dive Shop and working directly with them. This got him off our back. When we jumped out of the cab, we were approached by several other fellows peddling their services as "guides" and we informed them we were headed to the Dive Shop and they left us alone. When we got to the shop their prices were posted. Snorkels, masks and life jackets for two came to about $20 U.S. We also rented a locker for a nominal fee. The Dive Shop os clean and professionally run with top notch equipment. The whole process was super easy and kept us from getting mixed up with the illegitimate "turtle guides." read more

We've made 3 diving trips down to Akumal and done each one with ADS. I looked it up in my log and that's 24 dives including 3 cenote dives and a night dive on a local reef. Vis is normally about 50' and the range of sealife is very good. We've seen Stingrays, Eagle ray, Moray eels, cowfish, triggerfish, tang, tons of turtles, puffers, octopus, one very unexpected crocodile in Casa Cenote and the list goes on and on. The staff has always gone above and beyond to make our dives exceptional. From the front desk to the DM I can't say enough good things about them. David and Saul stand out as excellent instructor/guides and there is great diving from 40 to 100' and beyond. So if you're OW cert with a 60' floor or doing a discover scuba trip at 30-40' you'll have plenty of beautiful things to see. We don't rent equipment other than tanks and weights but I've been on boats with plenty of people that do and I can say it all looks fairly new and in great shape. I'm thinking it was mostly Aqualung gear which I like and dive myself and the rental computers were Suunto Zoop Novo which I also think is a great little computer. Our tanks were never below 3000 psi and sometimes up to 3200 so you don't feel like your being shorted on gas. Boat trips are really only 5 to 15 minutes out to the reefs so they don't have to be yachts and are more that adequate for the job. read more