What are the best advanced dive sites in Cozumel? I'm going in March. So far the "Devils Thoat" sounds pretty cool. Any other suggestions for maybe some deeper or more advanced dives. Thanks in advance, bell47.
Best advanced dives in Cozumel
- Thread starter bell47
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Guess it really depends on what your perception of advanced dives are. Deep, swift current, restricitons, etc.. Marricaibo, the combo on EAN32 is Devils throat and then to Punta Sur Sur. Its one of the best dives I have ever experienced combining depth and some deco. We have done the dive with Aldora a few times. Talk to Memo about it. Its about an hour dive and from what I have been told cant be done on an AL 80. (someone may say otherwise). Barracuda and San Juan are not deep dives but the current just rips and very cool to do if weather permits. Columbia Deep, Palancar Caves( not difficult but a very cool dive). With the walls on Cozumel, there are any number of dives that can be very deep dives if you so desire to fall down the wall.
Have a great trip.
Have a great trip.
You may have that backwards. Memo calls it "active nitrox diving." You definitely need their steel 120's and nitrox to do the dive. There are three sites at Punta Sur. This "active nitrox dive" starts at the Cathedral, continues past the middle section, and ends at the Devil's Throat. At least, that is how I did it.
Barracuda is actually a fairly deep dive at the deepest, and it is a real challenge when the current is ripping. If you run into a fluky mild current, it is an easy dive. But it is the healthiest reef on the island. San Juan (right next to it) is a beautiful reef, and the currents can rip there, too. Most operators will not take you to either under any circumstances.
Maracaibo is a very nice and deep dive, but again, most operators will not take you there.
I am leading a trip to Cozumel in late November in which we will specialize in the more advanced sites. We are leaving from Colorado, but there is no reason you can't join us if you are up for it.
While I agree with the sites mentioned as the more advanced, I can't say it's been my experience that few will take you there both with various ops I've dived with and what I've read on this board. Just the opposite: there are many ops who will take you to these sites. Certainly not all and most definitely not cattle boats (due to variability of diver ability). But a great many. They just need the opportunity to first assess your ability with a few other dives.
billindenver
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San Juan, Maricaibo and Barracuda are my favorites in that order as far as advanced sites go, but Palancar caves on a steel 120 for 1:40+ without a safety stop (not needed, reef ends at 20 feet if you multilevel it correctly, started at around 100 feet) is my favorite dive on the island (thus far). Sharif at Aldora and Jeremy at Living Underwater both have that dive down quite well..and we have done it with both of them this week. Absolutely fantastic.
cozcharlie
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Maracaibo would be my favorite also, probably followed by Barracuda. If you are really trying to get much out of Maracaibo you will probably need to use a Nitrox stage on the way back up.
Barracuda is interesting, but can be tricky. It is not the best place to do a long deco stop because you will wind up in blue water and possible somewhat rough seas (by Cozumel standards). It makes it trickier for the boat to follow you, especially if you are in a larger group that might split intentionally or unintentionally. If you head to Barracuda, it is very importrant to do exactly what the divemaster says. If you try to do your own profile and/or don't stick with the group you may be waiting quite a while for the boat to pick you up.
Barracuda is interesting, but can be tricky. It is not the best place to do a long deco stop because you will wind up in blue water and possible somewhat rough seas (by Cozumel standards). It makes it trickier for the boat to follow you, especially if you are in a larger group that might split intentionally or unintentionally. If you head to Barracuda, it is very importrant to do exactly what the divemaster says. If you try to do your own profile and/or don't stick with the group you may be waiting quite a while for the boat to pick you up.
Mike
Contributor
Or you might end up in Cancun just in time for dinner.
And if you miss Cancun, you may end up in Cuba for beakfast.
Your right, I did have it backwards. Thanks for the correction. Will be doing that dive in about..........ah..........three weeks. Have a great time in Nov..
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