Are shore dives legal on Cozumel?

[bvmjethead]

So, is shore diving legal or not?

I seem to have missed it.

 

[ggunn]

My question is this: How is the snorkeling near shore for seeing critters? Are you allowed to do this? What about snorkeling around the hotel pier at night when more critters might be around? I would like to expose my non-diving spouse to some of that but want to know the ground rules up front.

You can see a few things snorkeling near the shore. I take my non-diving mom and sister night snorkeling at Caribe Blu all the time; there's no rule against it (outside the marine park at Caribe Blu), and we usually see squid, octopus, eels, lobsters, puffers, etc. out there.

 

[ReefHound]

It's not my "interpretation" of the regulations...they are not open to interpretation. You're welcome to contact the marine park to verify. I posted the website, the address and the director's name, who as I said speaks perfect English. It's on "that other" thread.

I'm hardly threatened or impacted financially by those who want to shore dive, and I think I can speak for other shop owners with that statement as well. That's a ridiculous claim/accusation....but hey, what do I know about the laws/regulations that govern the business I'm in? I guess I MUST have an ulterior motive other than simply trying to provide accurate and helpful information

Why do you always get so defensive? You always freak out anytime something you say is questioned and not taken as gospel. I didn't accuse you of anything, I said I'm not convinced that your interpretation of the rules (everything is interpreted, that's why there are courts... even in Mexico) is correct, and quite frankly it doesn't matter how many times you repeat it or pull rank or whatever, I'll need to see a verifiable independent source to be convinced.

You pointed to the park's website homepage, in Spanish. That's like me saying that divers in Texas must have health insurance then pointing to texas.gov and saying there you go. Are you saying you know for a fact this rule about diving with a guide is in that website? Have you actually seen it there? Can you point to the specific page? I know a little Spanish and know many who are fluent but trying to search for something that may not exist is pointless.

It just seems odd that if the park is concerned about this rule that they tell all the dive shops but make no effort to tell anyone else. It would be like having no speed limit signs on the roads, no info on speed limits given to tourist info sites or hotels, and making no effort to make tourists aware of speed limits. Then giving the speed limits just to the taxi drivers and expecting the tourists who rent cars to know and abide by the speed limits. If what you say is indeed true, then the park service is doing the most pisspoor job imaginable. The most important thing to do in any conservation effort is to GET THE WORD OUT.

As for shore diving, a diver that is diving from shore on their own is a diver that is not on a charter boat paying a dive op. So you DO have a vested interest that people not shore dive. Whether you ACT on that interest or not is another matter. I never said you did. Are you capable of comprehending the difference between having a financial incentive to support/oppose something and actually supporting/opposing it?

 

[ggunn]

Data point: I dove at Chankanaab Park. I told the guys at the dive shop there that I knew the area and didn't need a guide. They told me that the rules were that no one dives in the park without a certified local guide. The dive ops don't make a point of telling you that you can't dive without a guide in the park because if you're diving with them, you already have a local guide.

Them's the rules. As to Christi's attitude, well, for one, it's easy to read attitude in someone's post if you are looking for it; the printed word is woefully inadequate at conveying emotional content. But I can understand her being a little prickly when she states the rules, with references, and someone says "Prove it. You might just be saying that to keep people from diving for free. That reference is in Spanish and I don't understand it." If you don't believe her, do your own research and prove her wrong. She's done all she needs to, IMO.

 

[ReefHound]

Them's the rules. As to Christi's attitude, well, for one, it's easy to read attitude in someone's post if you are looking for it; the printed word is woefully inadequate at conveying emotional content. But I can understand her being a little prickly when she states the rules, with references, and someone says "Prove it. You might just be saying that to keep people from diving for free. That reference is in Spanish and I don't understand it." If you don't believe her, do your own research and prove her wrong. She's done all she needs to, IMO.

I simply expressed my opinion that I'm not convinced - I didn't even declare that she was wrong. Providing the homepage of a large website is not providing a reference. If given the precise page I'll be able to read it. She didn't even quote us exactly what the rule says in the literature she was given. She paraphrased and summarized which, by definition, makes it her interpretation.

She doesn't have to do anything more, I didn't challenge her to do anything more, I simply said I'm not going to be convinced unless I have something more.

 

[ggunn]

I simply expressed my opinion that I'm not convinced - I didn't even declare that she was wrong. Providing the homepage of a large website is not providing a reference. If given the precise page I'll be able to read it. She didn't even quote us exactly what the rule says in the literature she was given. She paraphrased and summarized which, by definition, makes it her interpretation.

She doesn't have to do anything more, I didn't challenge her to do anything more, I simply said I'm not going to be convinced unless I have something more.

Then go find it yourself or remain unconvinced. If you can show any evidence that that marine park rule does not exist, I'm sure we'd all like to see it.

I have been informed of the rule by more folks than just Christi (the dive shop at Chankanaab, for one, and the manager of Blue Angel, for another, who is a long time friend of mine). I assure you that she is not making it up. I have all the evidence I need; it's all in favor of that being the rule, and there is nothing to support that it's not other than your conjecture.

 

[paulw]

I am curious if the hotel's that offer "shore diving" inform the diver about the rules or if the hotel (and several offer it) is far enough outside the protected park it doesn't matter. In other words how would a guest know if they were doing wrong?
Christi, do you know?

 

[ggunn]

I am curious if the hotel's that offer "shore diving" inform the diver about the rules or if the hotel (and several offer it) is far enough outside the protected park it doesn't matter. In other words how would a guest know if they were doing wrong?
Christi, do you know?

In the case of Blue Angel/ Caribe Blu, it's so far outside the park, and downcurrent, that it is a moot point.

 

[vshearer]

I simply expressed my opinion that I'm not convinced ...

I posted this in the other thread as well:

I found this in reference to the National Marine Parks in Mexico. (From a 2001 article on Cancun) wasn't trying to dispute the accuracy of the statement.

" In addition, the park management
requires a minimum of one guide per ten people in the water and requires that each guide take a
one to two day course in reef ecology and care."

That's good enough for me. Actually you might want to read the whole article as it is rather interesting.

 

[old gaffer]

I am curious if the hotel's that offer "shore diving" inform the diver about the rules or if the hotel (and several offer it) is far enough outside the protected park it doesn't matter. In other words how would a guest know if they were doing wrong?
Christi, do you know?

Excellent question! curious to know the answer!

Gaffer