Any opinions on Cozumel vs. Sea of Cortez/Los Cabos next week?

[lovedivingalways]

Any opinions on Cozumel vs. Sea of Cortez/Los Cabos next week? Pros? Cons?
thanks

 

[Mossman]

Not sure about next week in particular, but overall the diving is Cozumel is far better IMO for a dedicated diving trip. That said, the diving is certainly worth doing around Los Cabos. There are some interesting sites like the sand falls, but you won't find corals unless you head up to Cabo Pulmo, a grueling trek and very "primitive" dive ops. Marine life is different than the usual Caribbean stuff and at El Arco you can have the unique experience of diving in the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez in the same dive. But for the best Sea of Cortez experience, you'll want to travel further up the cape to La Paz.

 

[lovedivingalways]

Thanks for your opinion. Most of my diving has been in Cozumel (which I love) so I was just thinking of doing something new. I am worried that it will rain in Cozumel all next week!

 

[BrewingDiver]

We usually do one dive trip per year, and our schedule is Cozumel, somewhere new, Cozumel, somewhere new, Cozumel. In 2007 we did two trips, and one was La Paz, which we loved. We went in the late summer/early fall, when its probably best, but certainly recommend it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

If the options are between Cozumel and the Los Cabos area (e.g., Cabo San Lucas) as opposed to elsewhere in the Sea of Cortez, I'd choose Cozumel. There is some amazing diving in the Sea of Cortez, but it's not right there off a day boat in Tourist Central at Los Cabos; rather, you have to make an effort. Cozumel is, of course, a no-brainer as far as planning. As you know, you could literally just show up and book a hotel and diving, trot down to the dock the next morning, and proceed to have just as great a week as you would if you had booked it months in advance.

 

[beth_castroll]

We have dove Cabo, Cabo Pulmo, La Paz and Cozumel.
I believe the best time of year to dive Cabo is Oct-Nov as the visibility is very poor the rest of the year. Very surgie as well.
Cabo Pulmo was just a long trek. The diving was ok but the town too bucolic and if you don't bring enough cash its 25 miles down a dirt road to the nearest ATM.
The diving in La Paz was very gimicky in my opinion. Large Cattle Boats taking you 1.5 hours to shallow dives to see the sea lions swim in 20 feet of water. But we loved the city of La Paz.
I love Cozumel. You really can't go wrong with the diving or the city. Great Shops and food and lodging. Fantastic diving!
Have you thought of Playa del Carmen. There are a few really nice dives there and the cenotes are always a fun way to clean the ocean out of your dive equipment the last day. There are plenty of places to stay and amazing food.

 

[Ron Lee]

If I ever go back to the Cabo area I probably will not dive. It has been less than impressive.

I paid to do the sandfalls dive and it was not impressive when I did it...if that is where we went.

 

[Mossman]

The diving in La Paz was very gimicky in my opinion. Large Cattle Boats taking you 1.5 hours to shallow dives to see the sea lions swim in 20 feet of water. But we loved the city of La Paz.

There are small boats that make the trips much faster and there are plenty of sites besides Los Islotes ("gimmicky" sea lions). Hammerheads at El Bajo, mantas, whale sharks.

Would the sea lion experience have been better if you were in 40 feet of water?

 

[loudives]

Thanks for your opinion. Most of my diving has been in Cozumel (which I love) so I was just thinking of doing something new. I am worried that it will rain in Cozumel all next week!

Looks like Cabo might be in for a tropical storm! Tropical Depression Cristina is off the coast of Acapulco and is expected to move north. That may put wind and rain in Cabo next week.

 

[Oldbear]

+1 for Cozumel - if diving is your primary vacation objective.
+1 for Cabo - if night life is your primary vacation objectives.

Both have the usual beach/water/daytime land excursions...some a little better than others but not that much.