Thank you for visiting our web site. Here are some comments from friends and visitors that will give you a more personal picture of the quality of service we offer. We would love to have you sign our guestbook too. If you have dived in Cozumel with us and want to tell others about your trip, make a suggestion, comment on our website, or just say hello, click here to add your comments. We love visitors, both electronic and in person.
Hi Freddy, Just want to say gracias for a fabulous week of diving! You are so not like the typical dive operator. No crowds, no fuss - I love it! I will definitely recommend you to everyone I know and even divers I don't know. Next time I'm back in Cozumel, I'll be contacting you to take me diving. Gracias, Hillary
Hillary Bloom
Iselin, NJ USA - Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 13:00:18 (PDT)
But would have liked to have told you what a fantastic time we had!!!!! And your friends are super and very nice to dive with. It would be great to do that as a group again some day. I have to tell you......................when we went with that other dive center it wasn't a very good time. In fact it seemed like work and the fumes from the boat made me sick and it was just kinda like.................well, put it this way............when we were done diving that day with those guys.....I thought that maybe I made a mistake and that diving wasn't as fun as I thought it would be and maybe it isn't what I want to do more often. I was sick, tired and felt just like a "number" with those guys. They were nice, but they weren't attentive, not very much anyway. So I was a little held back when we met with you and your friends to dive. But........................thank you Lord, that we did meet up with you!!! I felt like we came home. As soon as I stepped into your boat, I felt safe and comfortable. It is crazy the difference it made. And we know with you.......we are always safe. Like a father watching his children, we know you are ALWAYS watching, and ready to encourage and/or correct in that gentle way that you have. We never feel stupid asking you things and you always can explain what we need to know. And still keep a sense of humor about things to. Your experience can be seen on your face and in your eyes and it gives a sense of relax......life is good. When we were done diving that day.......I had such a good time that I had tears in my eyes because I didn't want to go home yet. A HUGE change from the previous diving that we did. Bryon felt the same way. We both knew.................. We WILL be back again and again and again. And you can bet.........we will be calling YOU! We plan to spread the word about how great the diving was with you and your boat. WE are hoping to bring the boys back this summer so that you can take them out and get them going again. Dustin thinks he wants to train under you to become an instructor in the future and open a "Dive shop" in the Florida Keys some year. We told him one step at a time and if he stays interested and serious then we will arrange it in the future. He has a lot of maturing to do first. Ha Ha. Well, gotta go, but again .....THANK YOU for such a fantastic time and for saving our interest in diving!!!!!!
Heidi and Bryon
Valley View, Texas USA - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 22:49:42 (PST)
Hola Freddie, We have arrived back home in Canada and are wishing we had never left sunny Cozumel. We just want to thank you for the wonderful week of diving. You seem to have a knack for finding the best reefs with plentiful sealife. Eagle rays, sharks, green moray eels, turtles and all the colourful reef fish. Could it get any better? We also enjoyed tasting new and exotic fruits and help with our rusty Spanish. Please thank Enrique for all his assistance with our gear. We are already looking forward to our next trip. See you soon amigo!
Louise Coppen
Red Lake, Ontario Canada - Monday, February 11, 2008 at 08:07:34 (PST)
In 1994 I brought my OW referral letter to Cozumel in order to complete my Open Water certification. Freddie taught me and a family of four from Denver. Not only was I impressed with Freddie's instruction, but by the professionalism and tact he showed when two of the four in the family were obviously not ready to be "signed-off". Rather than embarrass the two, he commented that since they would be diving as a family, and that two were more ready than the others, he wouldn't sign any of their cards until they had another half-day lesson, WHICH HE WOULDN'T CHARGE THEM FOR! (He did certify me that day). Later in the week, I talked to the teenagers in the family and they finally did get certified after their next lesson, but only after hiring Freddie to be their divemaster/guide for their first boat dive. Freddie not only demonstrated his professionalism and tact in handling a delicate situation, he demonstrated the utmost integrity. Freddie may not remember me, but I suspect he might remember the situation. I now have logged over 100 dives - most in Cozumel - and definitely can say Freddie started me out well trained and more capable and confident than most beginning divers.
Steve Dains
Lathrup Village, MI USA - Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 13:18:51 (PST)
I have known Freddie for over 10 years and had the privilege of having him as my first Open Water Instructor. Through his inspiration I have continued to advance my skills to Rescue Diver, Master Diver & Dive Master& Asst. Instructor. When you meet Freddie, you will have acquired a true and loyal friend. I am very happy to see he has ventured out on his own, away from the cattle boats cartel, and is continuing to train divers in a very sincere and personal way.
Steve Gibson
Woodbury, Minnesota USA - Friday, January 11, 2008 at 13:13:55 (PST)
I have known Freddy Contreras since 1994 when I did my Open Water course with him, and have since also done my Advanced (1995) and Divemaster (2004) qualifications with him, and he has become a good friend. Freddy is an excellent instructor and diver, always ensuring the safest dive environment. He is also one of the best dive guides in Cozumel, and knows exactly where to look for all the really interesting stuff! He is also a very nice and caring person. Good luck with your new business venture and Mestizo Divers, Freddy! Tu amigo,
Tony Randell
Rome, Italy - Thursday, November 01, 2007 at 13:13:10 (PDT)
Three years ago I did a resort course with Freddy and he opened my eyes to the amazing underwater world. He is a truly wonderful teacher. Although I was very nervous, Freddy's warm, calm and highly professional manner inspired me with confidence from the start. I couldn't wait to go home and do my training so that I could return to Cozumel and do my certification dives with him. This summer my husband I did our Advanced Open Water training with Freddy on his splendid new boat & what an amazing experience. We were treated like royalty by his crew and had a chance to visit some dive sites that were definitely off the beaten track. Freddy's insistence on buoyancy control and breathing technique have helped me acquire good diving skills. I tell everyone that he is the best and the only dive instructor I would ever consider. I'm looking forward to doing my Rescue Diver training with him from the Mestizo next time in Cozumel. I cannot recommend Freddy, his boat and his crew highly enough.
Pam Ireland
Montreal, Quebec Canada - Monday, October 22, 2007 at 07:37:15 (PDT)
I did my PADI AOW certification with Freddy in 1992 while on vacation in Cozumel. I learned more about diving skills in that class than I did in my basic open water training. So I came back to Cozumel to do several specialty certifications and finally my Divemaster. I know that I would not have the diving skills I have perfected today had it not been for Freddy. As a professional underwater photographer I carry a 12# camera on every dive, yet people always compliment me on my perfect buoyancy skills and continued awareness of what is going on around me. When I teach underwater photography I also teach this very important skill. For the past 12 years I have traveled around the world and visited many dive destinations. I worked as a Divemaster in Southern California for five years and worked with many PADI instructors, but have NEVER witnessed an instructor who was so meticulous about teaching the important details students NEED to know and understand. Freddy has a way of making the whole concept easy to understand and easy to remember. He is in my opinion the BEST scuba instructor I have ever known. I can't wait to make my next trip to Cozumel (my 30th visit to the island) in March so I can dive on Freddy's new boat. Needless to say I highly recommend Freddy, Enrique and Mestizo Divers.
Bonnie Pelnar
Irvine, CA USA - Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 10:30:01 (PDT)
I tell people all the time how happy I am that you were my Divemaster Instructor. When Loop and I were diving with our friends in Fiji, we received many compliments from the Divemasters and instructors regarding our diving skills. They were calling us "the pros" by the end of our stay. But that was not the best part. The best part was that I felt so confident and calm in the water. I am not the same diver I was when I came to you last December.
Terese Britt
