Coz or Curaçao in early May ?

[mintakax]

My wife has agreed to go on a one week dive trip with me if there can be a day or two of non diving topside photo ops for her (not typical scenery photos). I posted a similar question in the Caribbean section a week ago. She has been to Curaçao and would return there. The idea of going to Coz instead has arisen and we are trying to decide between the two. I have been to Coz once before, but she has not.
Without listing the positives, here are some concerns.
1) She is ok with drift diving, but would prefer to stay above 60' depth. I checked my dive logs from my Coz trip and all but one dive were 80-110' max depth. Also she likes house reef diving. I've read here of the Blue Angel shore dive, but I don't think I would go to Coz just for that.
2)I'm a pretty experienced UW photographer, but have recently sold my rig and have taken up video. While some aspects are similar, I'm kind of starting over and I'm concerned that drifting most of the time will be frustrating. Doing the video is a big part of taking this trip. However, I really prefer larger sea life subjects of which I don't recall seeing much of in Curaçao.

Its not the worst dilemma for sure , but any advice would be appreciated !

 

[nodakdive]

I've never been to Curacao, though my impression is that the shore diving is nice.

As to the difference between video and photo, it felt to me like video was much easier when drift diving. I did both on my last trip. I have a gopro and a sealife something or other still camera. I came back with about 5 minutes of "fast drifting" video, probably 30 minutes of "divers diving", probably an hour of "scenery/topography" video and about 12 hours of turtles, rays, eels, barracuda, sharks and fish video. If you're using a gopro (or any?) camera, be sure to use a red filter. Vast difference in the video.

Shooting is easy, editing is where the real work begins.

If you haven't been shore diving on Cozumel, it's not really reefs, it's more like small clumps and coral heads here and there. There can also be concrete rubble and there are some artificial reef structures now, at least down in front of Tikila/Casa del Mar. There are people that take amazing pictures on these shore dives, jlyle comes to mind. I've done shore diving in front of Scuba Shack/Casa del Mar and in front of Villa Blanca, which doesn't count for much experience, but my understanding is that you won't find long patches of reef to dive from the shore in Cozumel, unless you shore dive Paradise Reef, which many, including myself, wouldn't recommend. To much boat traffic there, etc.

Shore diving in Cozumel is a nice third tank and/or night dive option if you're staying somewhere convenient for it. It's also nice as a first, get wet, dive. Personally, I like shore diving there, but there's no comparison to boat diving the reefs. Also, if you want to keep a 60 foot limit, tell the shop you dive with that you want that, and they will figure out how to accommodate. If there isn't a medical issue with your wife, 80 feet max depth is easy to work with. If I told the dive op I use, and the DM on any of their boats, that I didn't want to go deeper than 80, it would be no problem. I wouldn't be diving Maracaibo or Devil's Throat, etc, but they wouldn't insist that I dive deeper. Same with 60 feet. Just be sure to discuss it with whatever shop you choose. Don't wait until you're on the boat and do remind them when you get on the boat.

 

[mintakax]

Thanks nodakdive! I was hoping to do some closeup/wide angle and some larger macro video if the opportunity presented itself. I actually have used as GoPro ( with red filter) several times in Raja and Key Largo, but now have a Panny GH4 rig with lights and a couple of lenses. I did some dives with it in Key Largo last weekend and the better footage was when I was still and stable. I might be making more of an issue out of the drifting concern than it warrants. I'm sure some beautiful shots can be had while drifting, and it sounds like you were still able to get fish, turtles, Rays, etc. I've been doing topside video for a couple of years (also have a BMPCC) and agree with you about editing ! A lot of work, but I enjoy it.

Good to know the ops might cater to the 60'. My wife doesn't have health issues, and she has been deep before, she just doesn't like it. Our last trip was in Raja Ampat and although she did fine, it was too much diving for her.I'm leaning towards Coz right now, but am still worried about her. I might just be over thinking things:depressed: