I started visiting the Cancun area in 2002. I was offered a free SCUBA "demonstration" class by my resort. After a quick intro and a swim around the pool, I was hooked. I signed up for the resort diving course and began diving. My first dives were unpleasant/pleasant experiences. The sights and the sensations of being underwater were fantastic. The feeling that I could be "forgotten" kept me on edge. You know, crammed on a boat with up to fifty other divers and snorkelers. My wife and I took three trips to the area. On each trip I dove with a different company. Every dive was a variation of the same theme. If the boat was not full, there were too many divers for the divemaster. Things were rushed. I always felt that the schedule was far more important than the quality of the experience. I was ready to give up on Cancun.

Before what I thought would be our last trip to Cancun, I happened upon a small website, Nautilus Divers. I sent an inquiry and got a quick reply. I asked a bunch of rather pointed questions. To my surprise, I got answers I liked. I made a reservation...

Needless to say, that was not my last trip to the area. That trip I met, Gonneke (now returned to Holland), Octavio, and Clemente. I felt like I joined a family. The warm welcome, the time spent talking about my likes, and dislikes, and the attitude of everybody associated with this company made me a convert.

Since that trip, I have made at least 30 dives with Octavio and Clemente. These gentlemenmen opened up the world of SCUBA for me. Octavio is serious. He has a quiet, confident demeanor--Let me emphasize, confident like competent; NOT confident like reckless. Clemente's demeanor is a little less serious. He is a safe, fun, guide, but he keeps things lighthearted. Rest assured. You will be in good hands with either of these two men.

Years later after a dive-I was still diving on a resort course-Clemente encouraged me to get certified. I went home and got my Open Water. Then, on my next visit to Cancun, I studied for and passed my advanced Open Water with Octavio.

I have seen Octavio handle some very skittish first time divers. I have watched as Octavio held a lady's hand though most of her dive. I've never seen someone have a serious panic issue underwater. I remember when I was new to diving. It seemed that he knew I was nervous, he would look at me and flash the okay sign. Knowing that someone is watching you that carefully is VERY reassuring. Octavio must have some sort of magic. He calms even the most nervous divers.

After you dive with these folks, you are in the family. They are like having a personal contact in the area. Do you want to know where to eat, what to see, where to shop, anything...? Ask. they will give you the information you need. And usually without the "tell them I sent you".

If you want personal service, call Octavio. If you want safe diving, call Octavio. If you want to be a family member instead of a dollar sign, call Octavio...

If you have any questions, email me.

Tom

Scuba Fred’s (formerly Nautilus Diving) which is located in the Cancun Clipper Club on the lagoon side. Fred is a former employee of Manta Divers and I remember from before when I dove in Cancun before.

The only people diving were me, the Clemente (I hope I spelled his name right), the divemaster and a Mexican tourist whose name I do not remember. We did 2 dives, one wreck called C-58 in about 80ft of water for 32 minutes and a reef dive called Punta Negra (technically also did Grampin as well) at 50ft for 44 minutes. Both dives were good.

A lot of people knock Cancun diving but I actually think it is still very good just not a nice as Cozumel. Unfortunately, Cancun does not have anything near the reef structure that Cozumel has but it’s always teaming with a variety of fish life. Saw a nurse shark and a couple rays (one was actually dead).

The wreck dive had lots of barracuda and the 2nd dive had massive schools of fish. In my opinion, the schools of fish are always larger than one would see in Cozumel. If you’ve never dove Cancun I would say, you may want to try it at least once, you might be surprised.

Scuba Fred’s was a great dive op and based on my experience I would recommend them anytime.

After finishing up my dives in Cancun, Clemente showed me the pictures he had taken on the wreck. Most of them came out great so I decided to buy a CD from him since I had no pictures of myself under water. He also included pictures of lots of local sea life taken previously. The price was also very reasonable. If anything, I figured I would do my part to help the local economy. Please do not be deterred by the swine flu media frenzy. Cancun is perfectly safe and desperately needs your business. The economy has been hit hard and many businesses are struggling.

After burning me a CD, Clemente was nice enough to offer me a ride to the ADO bus terminal where I would leave to spend 3 nights in Cozumel. Cozumel is actually the main reason I booked this trip. The diving there is fantastic and the people and culture are extremely great.

Thanks to Fred and Clemente for a wonderful albeit very short Cancun experience. Wouldnt hesitate to dive with them again.

I recently returned from Cancun where I dove with Scuba Fred's. Last year Clemente gave me the opportunity to try scuba. I then returned to the US and became certified. I am now an Advanced Diver working on my Master Diver certification. Scuba Fred's run a great facillity. They are smaller and deal with smaller groups. Clemente is a fantastic diver and a wonderful underwater photographer with great patience. I dove 4 dives in 2 days, including a wreck dive and lots of sea life(nurse sharks, eagle rays, parrott fish, moray eels, sea turtles). Clemente definitely knows how to show you a good dive. He also is a very experienced and safe diver. This was a wonderful experience and I will use them every time I go to Cancun and no one else. I recomend them to anyone with any level of experience.

See ya next year Clemente !!!!!!!!!!!

I had read on trip advisor about Octavio and Nautilus Diving. I stayed at the the Hyatt Regency and bumped into two ladies at the excursion desk. We both discussed how we wondered if the trip advisor rating was real or not. They assured me that they had just gone out with Octavio a few days earlier and how it was a wonderful experience for them. My buddy and I walked over to HOTEL BEST WESTERN CANCUN CLIPPER CLUB and left a note for Octavio to call us about going out. He called us back at our room and setup time for us to go out and dive. I won't go into all the details, but let's just say that it surpassed my expectations. I had never dived before and felt completely safe during the whole experience. I had taken an under water camera with me but never used it (1st dive, taking pictures was the last thing on my mind). Octavio took pictures(70+) with a digital camera and burned them to a CD, delivered to my hotel(see attached pictures). Buy his pictures and enjoy the dive, it is well worth it. I hope to go back to Cancun sometime in the future and have my wife take the dive training with Octavio.

P.S. - Octavio, if you read this, thank you again!!!