Cancellation Policy for individuals and groups
NO CHARGE for date changes and cancellations received in writing before 60 days prior to check-in.
Charge of $25 per room when date change or cancellation is received between 59-31 days prior to check-in date.
Charge of $100 per room when date change or cancellation is received between 30-01 days prior to check-in.
100% CHARGE of the Package (No Refund) for "No Shows"
Last Minute Cancellations or Date Changes must be received by the Club in Cozumel, (local phone 52-987-21800 or 21822) between 9 AM - 4 PM (CZM TIME) one day prior to check-in date, to avoid "NO SHOW" penalties.
No Refunds for Date Changes or Cancellations received on the same day as check-in. No refunds for unused portions of any package. Diving days and meals are not transferable.
Please allow 30-45 days for refund to be processed.
CHECK-IN TIME IS 3 PM **** CHECK-OUT TIME IS 12 NOON
PALANCAR NATIONAL PARK
Please remember you will be diving in a National Park. IT IS FORBIDDEN to break coral, collect shells, marine life or take anything out from the water. PLEASE PROTECT THE REEF BY STAYING OFF THE CORAL. Our Divemaster are there to assist, you in anyway and also to protect the reefs.
THE PIERS located inside Scuba Club Cozumel are for the EXCLUSIVE use of SCUBA Cozumel" dive boats. No other boats will be allowed to dock at these piers. NO EXCEPTIONS!
TWILIGHT DIVES TRIPS
The hour just before sunset is the most exciting time on a coral reef. Fish get prepared for the journey back to their night resting places and others take advantage of the low light conditions to make their feeding moves. You can experience Dusk Diving at Palancar Reef by taking a 2-tank Twilight Dive. One dusk dive in Palancar reef and one night dive in Tormentos reef. Sign up.
Continue your dive education - Upgrade your certification while you are here in Cozumel!
NITROX
Learn what Nitrox is all about and extend your bottom time using Enriched Air. You must be at least 15 years old and have Advanced Certification. Omni Divers can provide this service.
RENT AN UNDERWATER CAMERA!
Take home a memory of your dive vacation. Rent a Sea & Sea 35 mm Underwater Camera and shoot your own, or have a Video of your dive made by our staff. Contact the Dive Center for more information. Improve your photographic skills, Underwater Photography, Advanced Underwater Photography and Underwater Videographic courses are available.
THERMAL PROTECTION
Water temperature averages 78 F all year, sometimes dropping one or two degrees in winter. Lycra suits, are good for the summer months. Polartec or neoprene are recommended for the winter and spring months.
AIR TEMPERATURE
LOW: Jan / Feb 62 F - 83 F
HIGH July/Aug 72 F- 94 F
RAINY SEASON
June through October
VISIBILITY
Average 100 feet +
Fat Grouper Restaurant
FAT GROUPER HOURS
MORNING COFFEE 6:30 AM
BREAKFAST 7 AM - 9 AM
LUNCH 12 PM - 3 PM
DINNER
First Sitting 6 PM - 8 PM
Second Sitting 8:30 PM - 10 PM
KITCHEN CLOSES AT 10:00 PM
LAST DRINK ORDER 10:15 PM
CLOSING TIME 10:30 PM
The restaurant will have coffee ready each morning from 6:30 AM. Breakfast will start at 7 AM. The usual scrambled eggs with bacon or hash browns, hot cakes and French toast will be served with plenty of fresh fruit. Be adventurous and try the local favorites: "Huevos a la Mexicana", "Huevos Motulenos", " Huevos Rancheros or "Burritos". To satisfy your sweet taste, try the "Pan Dulce" freshly baked every day.
FAT GROUPER
New selections, like "Golden Quesadillas" and "Flautas". have been added to the "Diver's Lunch" served daily in the "Fat Grouper" Restaurant. Lowfat "Grouper in Cilantro Salsa", is now part of the dinner menu. For groups over 20 people a MEXICAN BEACH PARTY can be arranged.
Wherever you go in Mexico, the influence of corn or 'Maiz" is evident. The natives harvested it and stripped the stem of its kernels which were soaked overnight in water and lime and then ground into fine flour. A dough or "Maso" was mode from the flour and used to shape the thin, round disks or "Tortillas". Nowadays the tortilla serves as the basis for many dishes such as tacos, Quesadillas, enchiladas and tostadas. Maso is also used to shape "Tamales".
Everyday a special lunch is prepared to be ready when divers return from the day of diving. They arrive hungry and do not like to wait. The lunch consists of a combination of Mexican, Yucatecan and native Maya dishes, giving you the opportunity of tasting the traditional foods from this region. Old time favorites like "Tostadas de Polio", "Frijoles con Corne" and "Chiles Rellenos" combined with Typical Maya dishes such as "Tamales" and "Polio Pibil" (Chicken wrapped in banana leaves to give it a special flavor). "Corne a lo Yucateca" will give you a little of everything: beans, guacamole, fried platains, chips and flank steak basted with recado rojo (annatto seasoning). Of course, if you can't live without a sandwich or hamburger and fries, you can order them from the menu. Please understand that when you order from the menu, it will take more time to prepare, since the kitchen is starting from scratch.
Dinner takes a more continental flavor. Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico and meat from the northern states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. Poultry and pork, introduced by the Spaniards are now a principal part of the Mayan diet. Everything in the kitchen is prepared taking advantage of fresh produce grown in the Yucatan Peninsula and using local spices and sauces dating since pre-Hispanic times. Due to the Yucatan's years of isolation from the res of the country, many dishes are still referred to by their Maya name, such as "Pescado Tikin-shik" (achiote seasoned peached fish) and "Papadzules" (rolled tortillas stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, covered with punkinseed chimole sauce, garnished with pickled onions). "Horchata" is a refreshing drink made of rice water mixed with ground almonds, cinnamon and vanilla.
From Spanish influence we have "Sopa de Lima", the classic Yucatecan chicken soup and "Pollo Valladolid", marinated chicken with bay leaf, oregano and x-catic sweet peppers. Seafood has a Caribbean flavor in "Pescado a la Veracruzana" (fish baked in a tasty tomato, olive and pepper sauce) and "Camaron al Mojo de Ajo" (shrimp in garlic lemon butter). You will learn to respect the fiery hot "Chile Habanero" (only grown in this area). Get to know the nutritious "Chaya", a vegetable similar to spinach. Every house in Cozumel grows at least one in their garden.
VEGETARIAN MEALS AND SPECIAL DIETS need to be notified at the time of making the reservation or prior to your arrival. Please state what you can and cannot eat. TIPS ARE NOT INCLUDED. We suggest you tip at the end of your stay. For your convenience a tipping guide is provided.
You will be asked to sign for all your meals as you leave the restaurant. "RMD" Packs include breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. If you arrive early and decide to take breakfast and lunch, you will not have them included on the day you leave. Your PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE: coffee, tea, iced tea, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages or extra helpings (like guacamole, nachos or quesadillas) These will be charged to you at the end of every meal. The "Fat Grouper' does not handle cash. You can open a bar tab by leaving a CREDIT CARD IMPRINT or CASH DEPOSIT at the front desk and settling your bill upon check-out. There are no refunds for unused portions of any package, nor any portion of your package is transferable to another person, including meals.
As in any restaurant-bar back home, it is improper to introduce outside drinks into the "Fat Grouper" dining-bar area.
TAKE ONLY PICTURES *** LEAVE ONLY BUBBLES *** KILL ONLY TIME
ALL CANCELLATIONS FOR DAILY DIVING MUST BE MADE BEFORE 7:30 AM
ATM'S
You can get a small amount of pesos (approximately US $100) with your VISA and MasterCard credit card. You can get US TravelersChecks through the local American Express office, when you present a personal check and your AE credit card.
MONEY EXCHANGE
Local currency is Pesos. Travelers Checks are accepted everywhere. Identification will be required for cashing Travelers Checks and payments made with credit cards. Bring plenty of US$1 and $5 bills. Do not bring biIIs larger than $20. The official rate varies daily. Exchange hours at the bank are 10 AM-12 PM, only on weekdays. On weekends and after hours you can use the Exchange House in town. The hotel front desk can exchange small amounts, of money, however their exchange rate is not, the best. ALL EXCHANCES ARE INTO PESOS.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL CALLS: The Front Desk will make only collect calls from 7 AM - 9 PM. There is a service charge of US $2 each payable at the time of placing the call. You must present an AT&T International card to be able to charge a call. Capital Network provides long distance service collect or billed to your credit card. Be sure to ask for rates before placing your call. LOCAL CALLS: Dial (9) from the phone located under the stairs, next to the Front Desk, BOOTH #2
WATER CONSERVATION
We would appreciate your help in conserving the fresh water supply at the hotel. Being an island, we have to rely on underground wells and rain. City water at times becomes so scarce, water has to be trucked in. You can help us by not letting the water run in the rooms needlessly, reporting any leaks or faulty plumbing and using the rinse tanks for your scuba equipment. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
DOCUMENTS
U.S. citizens need to bring with them one of the following: Valid Passport or Birth Certificate with raised seal along with a valid picture I.D. such as a drivers license. Citizens, of other countries need to check with the Mexican Embassy. A visa may be required.
TIPPING GUIDE
Tipping the waiter is a personal matter. Using the normal 10% to 15% is standard for the island. Here is a general guide line based on averages suggested by former clients.
Waiters and Restaurant Staff $ 5 to $ 6 Dollars per day/ per guest
Maids $ 1 to $ 2 Dollars per day/ per room
Divemasters $ 3 to $ 4 Dollars per day/ per guest
Boat Crews $ 2 to $ 3 Dollars per day/ per guest
Bellhops 50 to 75 Cents per bag
Again, this will depend on you and the service you received during your stay. For your convenience we have a tip located in the Lobby, near the entrance, where you may leave your tips. Tip envelopes are available at the front desk.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOU WRITE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE TIP ENVELOPE:
Your name, your room number and the name of the person for whom the tip is intended. Please use a different envelope for each area, such as Divemaster, Restaurant, Chambermaid and Dive boat crew with the name of the boat, noting very clearly the name and amount each person is to receive, If you feel there was someone that went out of their way to make your vacation more pleasant, please make a separate envelope with that person's name only.
NO PERSONAL CHECKS PLEASE, LOCAL BANKS WILL NOT CASH THEM!
Traveler Checks must have your name, address, phone number and drivers license or passport number written on the back of each check. Do not fill in the "Pay to the order' blank space on the travelers checks. This will make it easier for the recipient to cash them and Please ....... don't forget to sign them!
COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS MAY BE LEFT IN THE SAME BOX
FRONT DESK 7 AM - 11 PM
LONG DISTANCE CALLS 7 AM - 9 PM
SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES 7 AM - 9 PM
S.C.U.B.A. - COZUMEL DIVE CENTER 7 AM - 6 PM
RETAIL DIVE CENTER 8 AM - 7 PM Across the Street Closed Sundays
DOWNTOWN SHOPS 9 AM - 9 FM Some Close Sundays
BANK HOURS 10 AM - 12 PM Closed Weekends
EXCHANGE HOUSE 9 AM - 9 PM
SAFETY BOXES
Access: 7 AM - 9 PM daily
SCUBA Club will not be responsible for valuables left in the rooms. The hotel offers safety deposit boxes free of charge for your convenience. They are located at the front desk and can only be accessed from 7 AM -9 PM daily. Please use the same precautions for your personal items as you would anywhere else you travel. Do NOT LEAVE TEMPTATIONS laying around your room an please lock your patio and entrance doors at all times.
STAMPS
Only Mexican stamps can be used for mail from Cozumel. Stamps are sold at the front desk. Bring your post cards and letters ready to go and we will mail them too. Be sure all your letters have a space left to place the stamp and that all of them have an address.
LAUNDRY
There are several places in town to get your laundry clone. Please ask the front desk to call one of them to pick up your clothes. Sometimes, they will take one or two days to get the job done. This service must be paid in cash.
DRINKING WATER AND ICE
They are available in the restaurant's bar. The water served in the restaurant is bottled water and the ice is purified. Bottled water is sold at any store in town. The water in your room is potable but not suitable to drink. Drink only BOTTLED water.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
The Club policy is NO VISITORS IN THE ROOMS. If you are expecting visitors, please advise them to check-in at the front desk when they enter the hotel. This is done for your own protection and helps us to keep the club exclusive for our guests. Night watchman is on duty from 8 PM to 8 AM.
CHILDREN
Children 10 years and under can stay free in the same room with their parents. All children must pay extra for all their meals. Children's Meal Plan is available. In order for children to ride on the boats, they must be at least 10 years old and must have an adult supervisor to take care of them at all times while on board. Parents must pay snorkelers rate for both.
JUST IN CASE
We want you to enjoy your stay here. Sometimes an air conditioner acts up and your room is not coot enough. The plumbing in your bathroom decides to spring a leak. A waiter is not feeling well and does not understand what you want. The kitchen is not doing a good job. Your Divemaster had a fight with his girlfriend and he is a little distracted. You want to dive with your friends and they are in another boat....... Please, give us a chance to solve these problems right away! LET THE FRONT DESK KNOW IMMEDIATELY. They will do their best to solve the problem. Your business is important to us and by making you feel at home, we hope you will consider coming back in the future.
The in-house dive operation for the Scuba Club Cozumel, PADI 5-Star "S.C.U.B.A. Cozumel" International Dive Center, has added a new dive boat to their fleet. The "Reef star" will be taking daily dive trips to Palancar Underwater Park. It was custom made in Florida with spacious platforms, two wide step ladders and rinsing tanks for cameras.
LOCATION
Mexico's largest island is 12 miles off the Yucatan peninsula. The island is 28 miles long by 9 miles wide. Cozumel follows Eastern Standard Time.
LANGUAGE
Spanish! and Maya. English is widely spoken.
GETTING AROUND
Taxis are plentiful and very cheap. If you need a taxi it is faster to flag one down as they pass by. Always ask how much the fare is before getting into the taxi. All taxi drivers must carry with them a rate sheet listing the approved fares. Taxi drivers are notorious for never having change. Try to have small bills handy. The usual fare between the SCUBA Club and town is approximately US $4. (It is only a fifteen minute walk).
CAR, JEEP AND MOTORCYCLE RENTALS
They are available through the front desk. Minimum rental time is 24 hours. OVERNIGHT PARKING: You must park your car across the street from the hotel. NO PARKING ZONES are marked with RED LINES painted on the curbs. It is OK to park along yellow lines.
Not all roads in Cozumel are paved and there are pot holes in unexpected places. Use more common sense than you would back home. Traffic laws are about the same as in the States, with the exception that when someone commits a traffic violation in Cozumel the police CONFISCATES THE VEHICLE. Experience indicates that is safer to rent a car for several persons, than to rent mopeds for each one. If you do decide to rent a moped please wear a helmet and watch your speed.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL
Cozumel has an international airport, fully equipped for both large jets and private planes. International arrivals are expected to fill out a Customs Declaration and a Mexican Tourist Card (remember to sign the backside of the form, on both copies). You first clear the Immigration Area, where your passport or proof of citizenship is required.
MEXICAN CUSTOM and IMMIGRATION
After going through immigration, you proceed immediately to the Baggage/Customs area. After you pick up your luggage and present your customs form to the officer, you will be asked to press a button on a machine resembling a stoplight. It flashes at random, either a green-Go or a red-Stop. Green means your luggage will not be inspected, red means it, will be quickly checked. The whole process, from getting off the plane to getting out of customs, takes about 15 minutes, rarely longer than 30 minutes, speedy, by US standards.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
Transfers are not included in your package. Before you exit the airport you need to buy a TAXI ticket approximately US $7.50 per person. Be sure your luggage has been loaded into the Suburban before getting in. Remember the taxi # and keep your taxi receipt. The ride is only 10 minutes.
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX Set aside US$20 per person in cash to pay when you leave. Travelers checks and credit cards are not accepted.
COZUMEL October 7, 1998