Diving Chankanaab from ashore?

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driftin' by

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Thinking about working this in next week. Never been to the park but it looks like a good day beach for a little one and dare I say, a chance sighting of a dolphin. Deplorable, I know but she really want's to see one. Sea World, earlier this year wasn't enough.

So I was thinking I may be able to sneak in a dive while my wife and daughter snorkel above. I couldn't find any details about on their website. Is it worth hauling my gear there? My camera and strobe? IIRC, you can rent tanks and weights. What's the cost in addition to the park entrance fee? Obviously, with this being a huge attraction for pod people, we're going to have to find a day when no or few cruise ships are in port.
 
No ships on Sunday. Thursday may be the other day when it's a 'no ship' day.

Haven't been to Chan. Park in several years, but they used to have scuba ops on site with tanks and equipment for rent, although I'd probably drag my own along, and maybe lockers also, but not sure.

You'll have to get out beyond the swim area to really see much of anything, but from what I remember, from just snorkeling, that there are some small coral heads or at least rocky formations not too far off the swim area to explore.

hope someone comes up with more info, we might be interested for our next trip also if it works out.
 
Thanks sharky! I know about Sunday's but it'll be our first dive day so no can do. I found the cruise schedule on Cozumel Insider and Tuesday and Thursday, there are only 2 ships in as opposed to 3 every other day.

I surely thought other's would share their experiences or opinions. Perhaps I should read between the lines and assume it's not that great?

I'll be sure to report back when I go.
 
My wife and I dove there a couple of years ago while passing through on a cruise ship.

As you can imagine, fairly shallow (don't think we got much below 25'). Saw a variety of sea life including Barracuda, Reef Squid, etc.

Our experience was pre-Wilma, so not sure what the area is like now. We rented gear from Ramon Zapata Divers (at the time set up in a grass roofed structure right on the beach inside the park). Can't remember prices, it has been way too long.
 
Josh is your little one wearing a mask and snorkle or just crusin with mom, i can get my 3 yr olds face in the water with a mask but no snorkle yet.

Hopefully you can find the cave opening with some help from the locals at the park and check out the tarpoon that school up where fresh meets salt water, it's to your left looking out from the beach but can't remember how far down.

I'm jealous hope you guys have a great trip
 
Pre-Wilma we did dives at the park on two different occasions. There were several dive ops set up in the park, and it was mandantory to have a guided dive (at that time, anyway.) Since this is such a small dive site, the divemasters are familiar with every nook and cranny, and even hide weights at certain spots along the way, in case divers are underweighted.

I think the dive op we used both times was Sand Dollar (? my dive log is at another location right now or I would look!) You can bring your own gear, or rent. Warning- You will be rolling your bag through heavy sand before you get to your destination, it's not really very easy. I probably would just carry my reg, fins and mask in the future, and rent the rest, so you could use a backpack or shoulder bag for your things.

It is a nice dive, with some interesting underwater sights, including a stylized statue of Christ that is about 15' depth at the top of the statue. Many snorkelers freedive to the statue, and it's a great place for a family photo! The small statue of Mary is removed from the water yearly, and the locals pray over the statue for the safety of the people who use the waters around Cozumel. Pretty cool.

Your divemaster may even take you through one of the small ceynotes in the park, just relax and lock arms with him/her, enjoy the ride! It was my first blue water dive, so I will never forget it. When we exited the cavern, there were thousands and thousands of tiny silvers at the mouth, and many huge grouper hanging around. The silvers sway with your every movement, and I can be entertained by them longer than the average bear... hated to finally pull away from them when we did!

Quite a nice dive for a shore dive on Coz, and it wasn't very much $, maybe $15-20 each? We gladly paid the price and tipped our guide well, he was very helpful & accomodating, name was Carlos, an older gentleman who's lived and dived on Coz all his life. Found us a southern stingray right off the bat, and of course Chankanaab is teeming with life, even if the corals are not very healthy anymore. (Hurricanes and swimmer's kicks have done them in.)

If you want to dive with the dolphins, it's going to be quite a bit more pricey (I think around $150 each) and is in a whole different area that is roped/caged off. You will see it to your right, by restrooms, and shortly before you get to the shore dive/snorkeling areas.
Have fun!
 
Thanks all for the info. Think I may opt out of this one... I didn't even think about needing a DM. I fully understand the concept of having a dive guide in the marine park and have no problem abiding by the rules... but in a confined area like Chankanaab with it being ropped off sounds kinda silly. I can understand the need to babysit pod people that have 6 dives but for experienced, well seasoned divers seems like a scam especially if snorkelers have free range. YMMV. I looked and Sand Dollar wants $21 to dive there... dollar for dollar, sounds like better diving can be had elsewhere in Cozumel. I think we'd enjoy snorkeling just as much and not have to worry about lugging gear.

Foo:
If you want to dive with the dolphins, it's going to be quite a bit more pricey (I think around $150 each) and is in a whole different area that is roped/caged off. You will see it to your right, by restrooms, and shortly before you get to the shore dive/snorkeling areas.
I don't condone captive dolphin enterprises. We were hoping for a chance sighting from either the surface or snorkeling alongside the cage. However, I hate to say it, I maybe easily swayed to get my daughter an close encounter with one. Heck, I figure, they're already there and confined... may as well make sure they're going to be well fed and taken care of. I know that is wishful thinking. You're right, it is pricey but they have 3 different experiences ranging from $150 to $80 per person. Children under 8 can only do the least expensive one and ones under 5 are free with paying adult. So it's not too bad.

Lets Dive:
Josh is your little one wearing a mask and snorkle or just crusin with mom, i can get my 3 yr olds face in the water with a mask but no snorkle yet.

She's not comfortable with either yet but keeps trying. We got her a snorkel raft with a clear window the let's her see clearly underwater without a mask or snorkel. It doesn't promote her snorkel skills but allows here to see what we see when we snorkel alongside her.
 
Thanks all for the info. Think I may opt out of this one... I didn't even think about needing a DM. I fully understand the concept of having a dive guide in the marine park and have no problem abiding by the rules... but in a confined area like Chankanaab with it being ropped off sounds kinda silly. I can understand the need to babysit pod people that have 6 dives but for experienced, well seasoned divers seems like a scam especially if snorkelers have free range.
The area is not roped off for divers, and what I was told was that they began requiring a guide after some unescorted divers got themselves in trouble by going back into the cave instead of staying in the "foyer". That's why they won't let you carry lights, either.
 
...what I was told was that they began requiring a guide after some unescorted divers got themselves in trouble by going back into the cave instead of staying in the "foyer". That's why they won't let you carry lights, either.

Always someone p**ing in the pool and making it harder on the majority who follow the rules :shakehead:
 
Thanks all for the info. Think I may opt out of this one... I didn't even think about needing a DM. I fully understand the concept of having a dive guide in the marine park and have no problem abiding by the rules... but in a confined area like Chankanaab with it being ropped off sounds kinda silly. I can understand the need to babysit pod people that have 6 dives but for experienced, well seasoned divers seems like a scam especially if snorkelers have free range. YMMV. I looked and Sand Dollar wants $21 to dive there... dollar for dollar, sounds like better diving can be had elsewhere in Cozumel. I think we'd enjoy snorkeling just as much and not have to worry about lugging gear.


I don't condone captive dolphin enterprises. We were hoping for a chance sighting from either the surface or snorkeling alongside the cage. However, I hate to say it, I maybe easily swayed to get my daughter an close encounter with one. Heck, I figure, they're already there and confined... may as well make sure they're going to be well fed and taken care of. I know that is wishful thinking. You're right, it is pricey but they have 3 different experiences ranging from $150 to $80 per person. Children under 8 can only do the least expensive one and ones under 5 are free with paying adult. So it's not too bad.



She's not comfortable with either yet but keeps trying. We got her a snorkel raft with a clear window the let's her see clearly underwater without a mask or snorkel. It doesn't promote her snorkel skills but allows here to see what we see when we snorkel alongside her.

Ah a snorkle raft cool idea, I'll look into one.
Thanks
 
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