Jungle Divers Cozumel: Our Scuba Diving Experience
Dory & Jefé at Palancar Caves
Jefé and I first met the team at Jungle Divers Cozumel in 2020, during COVID, when our time on the island looked a little different from a typical Cozumel vacation. We spent three weeks diving with them in June—28 dives—and returned in October for another 26 dives. After 54 dives together, we had a pretty good opportunity to get to know the team and experience how they operate.
What stood out to us was the personalized service, relaxed dive days, underwater photography expertise, and the amount of time we were able to spend underwater. Jungle Divers also played a big part in getting me more serious about underwater photography—and ultimately convincing me to put down my GoPro and buy an Olympus Tough camera.
This guide shares our personal experience diving with Jungle Divers, what made those trips memorable, and some of the things divers may want to know when planning their own Cozumel dive trip.
Our Experience With Jungle Divers Cozumel
From our first contact, Alexandra was responsive and helpful in setting up the dive itinerary for our group of six. One of the conveniences of diving in Cozumel is that participating operators can often pick divers up from piers within the reef-diving zone rather than requiring everyone to start at the marina.
When we stayed at our We’ve Gone Coastal Villa at Costa del Sol, Jungle Divers picked us up and dropped us off directly at the Costa del Sol community pier. It made our dive mornings incredibly easy—walk out to the pier, get on the boat, and go diving.
During our 2020 trips, lunch was served on the boat during the surface interval, which was a first for me. Along with fruit, water, snacks, drinks, and the coveted after-dive lollipops, having a full meal between dives was a pretty nice perk.
Jefé showing Dory some love
Underwater Photography With Stephan
One of the things that originally caught our attention was Stephan’s underwater photography. Jefé found Jungle Divers on Facebook after we kept seeing incredible underwater photos and videos, including footage of moray eels hunting.
Stephan’s ability to capture what we were seeing underwater eventually convinced me to try something different myself. During the last week of one of our trips, I put away my GoPro 8, rented Jungle Divers’ Olympus Tough TG-6 underwater camera, and took underwater photography lessons from Stephan.
Wow, what a difference.
I was still learning—and still am—but I loved the camera. Fair warning: don’t try an Olympus Tough underwater setup unless you’re prepared to want one of your own.
Yep. I bought one. 😄
I ended up buying the Olympus Tough TG-6 with its underwater housing and eventually carried three batteries—especially helpful on days when we did two morning dives followed by a late-afternoon or night dive.
Some of my favorite underwater photos came from this period. Stephan helped me slow down, look differently at the reef, and think more intentionally about what I was trying to capture rather than simply pointing a camera at whatever swam past.
Arrow Crab hiding in Vase Sponge
Web Burrfish - This may be my favorite pic of all - Thanks to your help Stephan!
Diving and Training With Jungle Divers
Jefé hanging out with a Rainbow Parrotfish
Jungle Divers is an official PADI Dive Center offering recreational diving, scuba instruction, specialty training, technical diving, and underwater photography training. Their current offerings range from beginner experiences and Open Water certification through Advanced training, specialty courses, and technical diving.
Underwater photography remains part of what they offer, which makes me smile considering that my own photography lessons with Stephan were such a memorable part of our experience with Jungle Divers. They currently offer PADI Digital Underwater Photographer training as well as dive photo and video services.
They also currently offer Cozumel reef diving, sunset and night dives, cenote diving on the mainland, and private snorkeling experiences. Because courses, schedules, prices, and trip options can change, check directly with Jungle Divers when planning your dives.
Long Bottom Times and Small Groups
Two things we loved during our own dives with Jungle Divers—long bottom times and smaller groups—are still part of how they describe their diving today. Their current reef-diving information emphasizes experience-matched groups of up to four divers and dives that can extend to 90 minutes or more when conditions and divers allow.
That certainly matches what we experienced in 2020. We never felt as though someone was watching the clock waiting to get us out of the water, and that relaxed approach was one of the reasons we enjoyed diving with them so much.
Night Diving With Jungle Divers
Some of our most memorable dives with Jungle Divers happened after dark. We did both boat and shore night dives with them, and one shore dive in particular still stands out.
We saw so many octopuses that we eventually lost count. The dive lasted about 80 minutes, and it remains one of my favorite night dives in Cozumel.
Night diving changes the reef completely. Creatures that are difficult to spot during the day become active, and slowing down with a light to look into the reef can reveal an entirely different side of Cozumel’s underwater world.
Pier Pickup and Getting to the Boat
One of the conveniences we especially appreciated while diving with Jungle Divers was pier pickup. During our stays at the We’ve Gone Coastal Villa at Costa del Sol, we were picked up and dropped off directly at the Costa del Sol community pier.
That made dive mornings wonderfully simple—grab our gear, walk out to the pier, and wait for the boat instead of driving back into town or to the marina.
Pier pickup locations can depend on the dive operator, where you’re staying, and current marina and marine-park operations, so I always recommend confirming your pickup location directly with Jungle Divers when you book.
Why We Enjoyed Diving With Jungle Divers
After 54 dives with Jungle Divers in 2020, we came away with a lot of great underwater memories—and a few new photography skills.
For us, it was the combination of personalized service, relaxed dive days, long bottom times, small groups, and Stephan’s underwater photography expertise that made the experience stand out. And considering that those dives eventually resulted in a new underwater camera obsession for me, I’d say Jungle Divers left their mark.
More than anything, this page reflects our experience diving with them in 2020. Dive operations, boats, staff, pricing, pickup locations, courses, and other details can change, so check directly with Jungle Divers for their current options when planning your trip.
“The best things happen by chance.”
Plan Your Stay in Cozumel
Exploring Cozumel is even better when you have a comfortable home base to come back to. At We've Gone Coastal, you can choose between our beach villa at Costa del Sol on Cozumel's south side or our oceanfront condo at El Cantil in San Miguel.
Beach Villa at Costa del Sol
Spacious 3-bedroom, 3-bath villa steps from the beach, Caribbean Sea, Costa del Sol's oceanfront infinity pool, and private community pier.
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Oceanfront Condo at El Cantil
Spacious 4-bedroom, 4-bath oceanfront condo with Caribbean views, a heated saltwater pool, private community pier, and walkable San Miguel location.
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Planning Your Own Cozumel Dive Trip?
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About Dory
Hi, I’m Dory—aka Shannon Coleman. I’ve been diving since 1987 and am an SSI Open Water Instructor, but some of my favorite Cozumel discoveries happen when I’m simply exploring the island above the water.
My husband, Jefé, and I own We’ve Gone Coastal Cozumel, and over the years we’ve spent countless days wandering the island, exploring the wild east side, trying local restaurants, finding unexpected stops, and helping our guests discover more of Cozumel than the usual tourist spots.
I created Dory’s Blog to share the places we genuinely enjoy, the things we’ve learned, and the practical tips that can help you experience more of the island we love.
