All Covered in Sand

[TheRedHead]

But this little fella still looks pretty good to me!

The reports of extensive sand coverage are rather overblown. I was diving during two Nortes and the sand would blow and clear. This toadfish was getting sand kicked in his cute face at Cedral Pass during a Norte.

 

[robbcayman]

cool pic

 

[KidK9]

Very nice pic! I love it.

 

[plankspanker]

nice picture. What do you mean by sand coverage, you mean sand covering coral?

 

[ggunn]

But this little fella still looks pretty good to me!

The reports of extensive sand coverage are rather overblown. I was diving during two Nortes and the sand would blow and clear. This toadfish was getting sand kicked in his cute face at Cedral Pass during a Norte.

The degree of sand coverage you'll see depends on where you go. Some spots are OK, some are pretty bad.

 

[TheRedHead]

I didn't see extensive sand coverage during my dives. A light dusting here and there. Las Palmas looked a bit raggedy, but it was never a hotspot for coral formations. Spots on the bottom were covered in sea cucumbers. So many donkey dung cucumbers I thought I was diving in a litter box. Tunich evidentially took a beating, but I enjoyed my dive there nonetheless.

I didn't have any dive that I didn't thoroughly enjoy and I suppose that's what I'm trying to get across. On most of our dives we didn't see another group. Maybe we didn't dive the pretty bad spots and that's not a bad thing anyway.

One day the wind was blowing hard with big waves and we pulled into the Caletta for our SI (you can buy a mean chicken sandwich for $2.00!) and I was disheartened to see so many boats there. People are not returning to Cozumel in the numbers to support all the dive ops there. Maybe that is because of the southern hotels being out of commission.

There is no reason to stay away because of poor diving conditions. In just about every place I dived, I had a wonderful time and kept my camera busy.

We dove mostly in Palancar, Columbia, Punta Sur. Also dove Cedral, Tunich, Las Palmas, San Fransisco, Santa Rosa. Intended to dive Maracaibo, but the weather didn't cooperate. I am curious about Barracuda and San Juan?

Saw more splendid toadfish and eagle rays than I have ever seen before in Cozumel. Saw lots of nurse sharks, barracuda and the usual reef fish in profusion. Didn't see as many turtles this time.

What I don't see is any reason for anyone to cancel their trip.

 

[opalobsidian]

Redhat!

I copied your photo as wallpaper on my computer! Hope that's okay with you!

Thanks so much!
Pamela

 

[Christi]

...Spots on the bottom were covered in sea cucumbers. So many donkey dung cucumbers I thought I was diving in a litter box.

THAT is hilarious! I don't know why...but I can't stop laughing...it feels good, thank you!

 

[ggunn]

I didn't see extensive sand coverage during my dives. A light dusting here and there. Las Palmas looked a bit raggedy, but it was never a hotspot for coral formations. Spots on the bottom were covered in sea cucumbers. So many donkey dung cucumbers I thought I was diving in a litter box. Tunich evidentially took a beating, but I enjoyed my dive there nonetheless.


[...]

What I don't see is any reason for anyone to cancel their trip.

As, I said , it depends on which sections of which reefs you dive, as well as how familiar you are (for comparison's sake) with conditions pre Wilma. What I didn't say, however, is that I had a wonderful time and some great dives there a couple of weeks ago, and I am already booked to go back in May.

 

[Nevis Diver]

Having been to Cozumel only once, I would like to know where to dive there that would be the closest likeness to the coral that was there before Wilma and Emily.