Blue Magic Hostel

I stayed here with my daughter and had a great time. At 50, it was my first hostel stay. We were there in mid-November, outside peak season, and the hostel was nearly empty. There was just one other person in our mixed dorm. The beds were comfortable and the showers were hot.

The dorms are very clean, the beds are okay, and after a full day of diving I doubt you'd mind them. The bathrooms are clean too, and the showers are probably the best you'll find, even compared with a hotel. It can be a little noisy at night, but for the price, it's hard to beat. I'd recommend it. There's a friendly atmosphere and lots of shared space to meet a dive buddy. The staff are helpful, and the hostel is close to everything you need: the ferry, dive shops, good restaurants, and bars.

I had a great three-night stay and it was easy to meet people. The common area is huge, and the rooms are relaxed. There are two kitchens, a grill, books, a guitar, hammocks, and a steady supply of coconuts. Taco spots with tacos for 20 pesos are all around, and there's a big supermarket about a four-minute walk away. I spent time with people taking dive master courses and staying longer. One night we had a cozy BBQ where everyone brought a little something; other nights we went out to jump into the ocean, swim, and have a few beers. I rented a bike, but the tire went flat on two different days. They changed it each time at no charge. I'd highly recommend doing your Open Water Diving Course here, since the room and transport are free, and you'll have advice from a group of divers. Damn, that was a good stay!

The hostel is basic but clean, on a quiet street that's close enough to walk everywhere while staying away from the tourist area. Staff are friendly and helpful, the Wi-Fi works, and there's a small garden and bar out back. The dorms feel cramped and there's nowhere to hang clothes or wet towels. Toilets and showers are unisex, though the showers have plenty of room. There were lots of mosquitoes, but reception provides spray. Most guests are divers or work at the dive centre, which is probably why you're here. Check-in also means agreeing to a ridiculous number of rules, more than I've seen at any other hostel. A free hostel night is advertised if you dive with Blue Magic, but dive and hostel availability rarely line up, which makes it hard to book. The dive centre and hostel are in separate locations and don't seem to communicate much; it would make more sense for them to be together or next door to each other. When I arrived, the hostel had no availability and my booking hadn't been made. I had to wait an extra day and book a hotel so I could dive and get my hostel night. I asked if they could just refund the hostel cost, but they said they couldn't or wouldn't, even though it was only about 20 out of the 145.