We provide our guests the necessary gear to enjoy the water. Of course, you are welcome to bring your own snorkeling gear if you prefer. Guests who fit in the "big and tall" category, in particular, may feel a bit cramped by our masks and fins. The price of our tours is the same regardless of whether you use our equipment or your own.

The Paso Doble and Pacific Breeze boast high-quality sound systems for the entertainment of our guests. We have a varied collection of music to fit a wide range of tastes. Our guests are also welcome to plug in their smartphones or bring aboard their own CDs.

The Paso Doble is considered a mid-size catamaran, measuring 46 feet in length. Our boat can comfortably accommodate 40 passengers, plus our crew. The Pacific Breeze is considerably larger, with a length of 75 feet and a capacity of 60 guests. Many of the catamarans that sail the Mexican Caribbean are large-size vessels, with capacity for 100 or more passengers. We feel that the size of the Paso Doble and the Pacific Breeze offers a more intimate setting and allows us to maintain our well-established reputation for quality service.

We are very concerned about hygiene. That's why we wash our equipment after each tour with soap and bleach. (You'll even find our on board bathroom to be among the cleanest in the Riviera Maya.)

Safety is our top priority. Our tours are generally smaller than those operated by the cruise ships and our staff is highly professional. At minimum, each of our snorkel guides is certified in rescue diving and most are full-fledged divemasters. They have also received extensive training in first aid, including CPR. We keep our first aid kit well stocked and carry oxygen on board.

Our 46-foot flagship catamaran, the Paso Doble, and our 75-foot luxury catamaran, the Pacific Breeze, are docked in Marina El Cid in Puerto Morelos, about midway between Playa del Carmen to the south and Cancun to the north. Driving distance from either location to Marina El Cid is about 30 minutes.

Our online reservation system is designed to enable you to update your reservation as needed. In most cases, you may change the date and/or time of your tour and add or subtract group members almost up to the day of your excursion.

If space is available, we are happy to accommodate last-minute guests. However, you will often be disappointed if you have not made reservations. It's generally a good idea to book your tour in advance. If you're reading this, you're only a few clicks away from reserving online.

If you wish, you can bring a copy of the email we will send you when you make a reservation. However, it's really not necessary. When you book your tour online, the details of your reservation are safely stored in our database and will appear on the manifest used by the tour operations staff. When you arrive for your tour, we'll be ready and waiting to show you the best of the Mexican Caribbean.

You can make a reservation through our online reservation system up to a year in advance of your tour. By the same token, you can book a tour, if space is available, almost up to the last minute. In general, it's wise to make your reservations a few weeks ahead of time.

Our web site employs industry-standard encryption to protect your personal information when you make a payment. The information we collect on the checkout form is required by financial institutions to verify your identify. We do not record your credit card number.

You will need to pay a deposit to make a reservation. You may make a credit card payment through our secure online transaction system using Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. If you reserve far enough in advance, you have the option of paying for your deposit by check.

The balance of your reservation must be paid in cash with US dollars or Mexican pesos at the start of your tour.

We do not have the capacity to process credit cards at the tour departure point. If you wish to pay your balance in advance by credit card, we can email you instructions that will enable you to make a payment through our secure online transaction system.

Our reservation system automatically sends out a confirmation email when you complete your booking online. Unfortunately, overzealous spam filters often misdirect automated emails. If you can't find our email in your "inbox", you probably need to check the "spam" folder of your email account.

if you have a Hotmail, MSN, or Live email account, delivery was probably blocked by Microsoft's SmartScreen. You will need to adjust the options of your email account to add paradisecatamarans.com to your list of "safe senders". Once you have made the change, please email us and we will be happy to resend your confirmation email.

When you place a reservation through our online booking system, you will automatically be sent a confirmation email. In addition, we will email you a reminder notice with meeting instructions about 14 days before your tour.

Unfortunately, using the Internet is not without frustration. If you're having difficulty making a reservation online, you might want to check the privacy and security settings of your web browser. Your browser must accept "cookies" if you wish to book your tour online. There are other technical reasons, such as firewalls and anti-spyware programs, that may interfere with your ability to use the online reservation system.

Of course, we'd be happy to handle your reservation by telephone. Please call our customer support office in the United States at 401-946-4544.

Yes, US dollars are accepted in the Mayan Riviera. (In fact, most businesses generally prefer payment in US dollars.) It's often wise to carry a few US dollars in small denominations for tips and quick snacks. Be aware, though, US coins are not accepted.

ATM machines are available in Playa del Carmen and other cities for withdrawing Mexican pesos. Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are generally accepted by larger businesses. However, smaller operations often require purchases in cash.

Our web site includes a section featuring information about Playa del Carmen and other highlights of the Mayan Riviera, including historical background, a fact sheet for travelers, and links. Please visit the introductory page of our Local Info section.

If you are calling from outside Mexico, you will need to follow the rules for placing an international call. Before the 984 area code, you must enter 00-52 (e.g., 00-52-984-111-2222). If you are in Mexico, you must enter the 984 area code before the local number (e.g., 984-111-2222).

Many of the major brands of sunscreen, such as Coppertone, Banana Boat, Panama Jack, No-Ad, etc., contain chemicals that harm the flora and fauna of coral reefs. PABA, octinoxate, and oxybenzone are among the common ingredients that have been linked to damage of the coral reef ecosystem. Only biodegradable sunscreens are permitted on the Mayan Riviera. Also, please look for sunscreens that are "waterproof" so that your application doesn't dissolve in the water. Biodegradable reef-safe sunscreens are widely sold on the Mayan Riviera. If you have any questions about availability, please ask your resort or hotel.