Which way does water flow in Cozumel?

[Torontonian]

North to south, or south to north. It was a few years ago that I dove in Coz, but don't remember for sure.

This is also for consideration if we start a dive/snorkel trip somewhere, then can be dropped off at a beach after the diving/snorkeling.

Thanks.

 

[idocsteve]

It flows from south to north

 

[Papa_Bear]

The water around the Caribbean flows in a clockwise direction and turns north along the Florida east coast to become the Gulf Stream that warms England and runs down Europe's west coast until it recrosses at the equator! Were it starts north again around the Caribbean! Local currents can change for a day or two depending on Lows and highs in the area! I have seen it go the other way!

 

[idocsteve]

Local currents can change for a day or two depending on Lows and highs in the area! I have seen it go the other way!

In that case, let me rephrase.

On the day I did a shore drift dive, back in 2006, the current was south to north.

 

[DandyDon]

The water around the Caribbean flows in a clockwise direction and turns north along the Florida east coast to become the Gulf Stream that warms England and runs down Europe's west coast until it recrosses at the equator! Were it starts north again around the Caribbean! Local currents can change for a day or two depending on Lows and highs in the area! I have seen it go the other way!

This is the North Atlantic Gyre...

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It passes between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba from south to north. Eddies close to shore can sometimes be the opposite but the general flow of the Cozumel channel will be south to north.

 

[deborahdelamar]

For shore dives and snorkeling, you should find a knowledgeable local to brief you and make a plan with exit point before you jump in. Where I live, the current near the shore is consistently north to south. In other places, it's south to north or may continuously reverse. This is due to the shape of the seabed and the shoreline. And suface wind can be a big factor on some days. Best to have good info before you get wet.

 

[greylion]

Cool map Don. Tidal changes, especially during new or full moons can cause some dramatic changes in direction too.

 

[BrewingDiver]

We did a shore dive from south of the lighthouse back to Scuba Club one day when an el Norte wouldn't allow the boats to go out. Nice dive, but mid-way thru the current switched, and we had to swim against the current the rest of the way. Towards the end I switched to my snorkel to avoid running the tank dry.

 

[DandyDon]

Cool map Don. Tidal changes, especially during new or full moons can cause some dramatic changes in direction too.

Columbus knew about the Subpolar Gyre and how the Vikings rode it some while sailing to Iceland, Greenland, Vineland and back from his studies in Ireland, but he wanted a more direct route for southern Europe, erroneously thinking he would land in Asian spice areas. He found it ok. I bet he hated trying to take a southern route back. By Ben Franklin's time, they were well aware of the Gulf Stream heading to England and how to avoid it sailing to North America, skirting the Saragossa Sea in the middle of the Gyre. That map doesn't well illustrated how the Stream warms the UK, but it does.

One night we went in at Blue Angel, swam into the current on our diver around stingray prison and beyond with the intent of riding the current back, then it changed! Started to swim into it back but when I asked my home bud to shoot a compass bearing to the edge of the ray pen, I learned that he'd forgot how to use his. :silly: Knowing how well he follows me, I called it and we went out at the stairs and walked home.

 

[sddiver]

As others have said the drift is predominately southeast to northwest, but at various points along the shoreline there are eddys that swirl the other direction. Around Dzul Ha/Money Bar to Fiesta Americana is one area.

Rich