Blazinator
Contributor
Sorry for not telling you all about this earlier, cuz it seems either a secret (most resorts and shops know about this place, but won't make money telling people about it), or maybe folks just don't know about it (or both).
Anyway, my wife and I have shore dived plenty in Coz, just not in front of the top rated resorts like Blue Angel and SCC or the plane @ LaCieba, so we do know a "typical" shore dive in coz is either somewhat featureless with small heads (which we like - lots of life for photography), or with some man made features like the "bridge" rubble in front of Moneybar (which is cool - we love it).
My wife won't do boat dives due to being a new diver, the flustered process of jumping in with so much sensory overload and fear of large things underwater (she'll freak at the canyons of coz, but my goal is to ease her into it), and I can't do boat dives anymore because of chronic sinusitis, but I tolerate burst blood vessels @ 40ft max and the following headache, so shoredives are really our goal these days, not to mention that they are on our lazy schedule, and you can do the best photography without a group (Just did a week in Bonaire - super spoiled now).
So last year we took a cab to see Chankanaab, but it was closed on Sunday, and the cabby said "why not try Playa Corona Bar?" and the rest was simply a dream come true.
We met Jeremiah, the on-site divemaster, and he said that Playa Corona was the only place on the island where the named reefs are closest to shore. (end of Tormentos, I think) If you do a google satellite view, you can see darker blue water very close to shore where a mini wall drop off is from 15 to 35 ft. Jeremiah picked up tanks for five of us the next day and he took us out to see two huge coral head structures (4 minute swim), where we we spent the whole time. Next day we swam north to see the caves that Jeremiah told us about, and sure enough, there were two cavernous overhangs, one large enough to swim into - but it was too dark, and I plan to bring my light next time. Might even fond the wall next time too. No current BTW (that week at least).
As example of how little traffic is on this reef - we saw five lionfish on one coral head the size of a small bus. Eels galore, and free swimming sharptail eels.
I asked Jeremiah and the bartender there if they minded if I told folks about this place on SB, and they had no problem. The fich tacos and drinks after your dive are the best anywhere.
Doesn't compare to Santa Rosa Wall, but way fun for our leisurely pace. Need to visit first to reserve tanks for following day.
Easy to find - it is the next little beachside bar just south of Chankanaab park, called Playa Corona. Seems like only locals go there (saw a few gringos like us), but they all were super nice, so order food and tip well. Ill add more pics later.
Anyway, my wife and I have shore dived plenty in Coz, just not in front of the top rated resorts like Blue Angel and SCC or the plane @ LaCieba, so we do know a "typical" shore dive in coz is either somewhat featureless with small heads (which we like - lots of life for photography), or with some man made features like the "bridge" rubble in front of Moneybar (which is cool - we love it).
My wife won't do boat dives due to being a new diver, the flustered process of jumping in with so much sensory overload and fear of large things underwater (she'll freak at the canyons of coz, but my goal is to ease her into it), and I can't do boat dives anymore because of chronic sinusitis, but I tolerate burst blood vessels @ 40ft max and the following headache, so shoredives are really our goal these days, not to mention that they are on our lazy schedule, and you can do the best photography without a group (Just did a week in Bonaire - super spoiled now).
So last year we took a cab to see Chankanaab, but it was closed on Sunday, and the cabby said "why not try Playa Corona Bar?" and the rest was simply a dream come true.
We met Jeremiah, the on-site divemaster, and he said that Playa Corona was the only place on the island where the named reefs are closest to shore. (end of Tormentos, I think) If you do a google satellite view, you can see darker blue water very close to shore where a mini wall drop off is from 15 to 35 ft. Jeremiah picked up tanks for five of us the next day and he took us out to see two huge coral head structures (4 minute swim), where we we spent the whole time. Next day we swam north to see the caves that Jeremiah told us about, and sure enough, there were two cavernous overhangs, one large enough to swim into - but it was too dark, and I plan to bring my light next time. Might even fond the wall next time too. No current BTW (that week at least).
As example of how little traffic is on this reef - we saw five lionfish on one coral head the size of a small bus. Eels galore, and free swimming sharptail eels.
I asked Jeremiah and the bartender there if they minded if I told folks about this place on SB, and they had no problem. The fich tacos and drinks after your dive are the best anywhere.
Doesn't compare to Santa Rosa Wall, but way fun for our leisurely pace. Need to visit first to reserve tanks for following day.
Easy to find - it is the next little beachside bar just south of Chankanaab park, called Playa Corona. Seems like only locals go there (saw a few gringos like us), but they all were super nice, so order food and tip well. Ill add more pics later.