Cozumel diving for novice scuba divers

How do I start?

Here goes advice from other people who scuba dived in Cozumel either as their first dive, or who are already experts.

Question: I don't have any PADI certification or other document they ask for at dive resorts in Cozumel or elswere in the world, but I still want to scuba dive during my next vacation in Cozumel. I also do not want take those long classes on scuba diving. How do I start, anyway, if I am going on a sea cruise specifically to the Mexican part of the Caribbean with the main destination being Cozumel?

This is an answer we found on Yahoo answers:

My husband and I just went this past summer on a carnival cruise. We went to Jamacia, Grand Caymen and Cozumel. We really wanted to try scuba too so we inquired with some people we knew that had been to all three places. We were told that, while Cozumel and lots of aquatic life, the under water landscape was still pretty baron and still recovering from a massive hurricane a few years back. We were told that Grand Caymen was a better place to try scuba if we wanted the scenery. If you're alos going to Grand Caymen I highly recommend scuba diving in Parrot Bay. Now, in Mexico we opted for a "three reef snorkel" excursion in Cozumel. I enjoyed the snorkeling very much, and the guide bring food to attract the fish, so they make sure you have fun. There really wasn't much in the way of coral or anything other than fish to see. Beware though, the place that most of those excursions go for snorkeling is a very high traffic place. After a while I started getting a little nauseated at the smell of gasoline in the water/air. Also got stung by a little jellyfish so watch out for those little guys too.

Another one, this time from an experienced PADI Divemaster:

I'm a SCUBA instructor and you mentioned you are taking a cruise, why don't you enquire if the ship has a dive instructor and take what is known as a "resort course"? It consists of about 45 minutes of theory, and if they have a pool on board, try out in the pool. When you get to the port your instructor may even have an open water excursion planned you can go on. The resort course is the fastest way to get to dive, and then later you can advance to open water, and advanced open water...