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Coz Trip Report
A group of nine of us returned Saturday night from a week's diving at Cozumel. All told we dove 6 days, 2 dives daily. Water temps varied between 78 and 81, more often right at 80. Air temps were in the mid 80's. I dove in 3mm full with beanie..Lacuda dove with same plus a 2.5mm core warmer. We were both comfortable. What I can tell you about the diving is that it has changed. But, I found that not to be a bad thing. It was not disappointing. I do not think anyone who has never dove Cozumel will find it anything but great! Veteran divers will notice some significant changes on the reefs.
We dove with Ricardo and his group at Careyitos Advanced Divers. The boat usually left the Caleta at about 8:45 AM. It is a large boat with maximum of 12 divers. It is shaded from forward to the stern and has a large dive platform with two boarding ladders. Entry is made optionally from both sides or the stern, usually the stern by simply sitting down into the water. Exits are made in full gear or by removing BCD and weights assisited by the crew. It is optional. I did it both ways and for me and Lacuda, we found it easier to exit in full gear and go to our stations. Divers dive their own profiles and surface over the group at the end of their respective dives, to be picked up by the boat crew. Our group consisted of experienced divers and the dives al ranged from 60 to 75 minutes. Due to the long dives our surface interval were usually two hours. A great lunch was prepared by the crew and served daily during the surface interval. There was alway plenty to eat, fresh guacamole, sandwiches, fresh fruit and beverages, etc. A second dive was done after the surface interval and we were usually back to the Caleta about 2:45 to 3:00PM.
The shallow reefs were impacted more dramatically than the deeper ones. Fans and soft corals were more seriously impacted than the harder corals. Finger corals also were impacted. Also, what we noticed and found to be very interesting, is that on some of the deeper reefs the storm hydraulics washed sand away from the bottom of the reefs exposing the foundations that the reefs have been attached to for thousands and maybe millions of years. Maybe as much as 10 to 12 feet of sand has been moved. New growth is and will certainly be attaching again to these surfaces. Also, some limestone surfaces were exposed revealing fissures on the bottom which we had never seen before.
The marine life we saw was fantastic!! We saw lobsters stacked upon top of lobsters....sometimes too many to count in crevices. Also many of the lobster were just HUGE!! The reefs were holding many black grouper to 100 lbs. We also saw several Goliath Grouper at 100+ lbs (Jewfish). We lost count of the number of very large eagle rays we saw. We would lie down on the sand and they would swim nearby. Additionally, we saw yellow and southern stingrays. Turtles were also numerous. (Hawksbills) We also saw numerous nurse sharks in varying sizes. We found the current to be less strong than we have experienced in the past. This made for a very comfortable week of diving. The viz was consistently 100 ft plus. We did not do any night dives so can not report in that area.
Lacuda and I and another couple in our group stayed in our favorite B&B, the Tamarindo. Located at Calle 4ta N. and Ave. 20. AC room with breakfast was $37.00 night. They are less in off season and room w/o air are less still. Others in our group stayed at Las Anclas..(a little more fancy and pricey)
General observations: The Cozemelenos are to be comended on their efforts to get their island up and running. They are certainly not sitting around waiting for someone to do it for them! The larger, all inclusive hotels seem to have been hit the hardest and the damage is great. Some of them, closer to town are up and running. (Including Scuba Club) The town is bustling, restaurants are open (we ate at numerous) Cruise ships are making port and passengers are being ferried into town on tenders and small ferrys. Shops are open however, the shoppers are not abundant and frantic.
I believe that now is the time to go to Cozumel. We found the marine life to be abundant (maybe due to lack of dive pressure) I feel, that most experienced Cozumel divers will find the diving there tantamount to diving new reefs with a familiar feel. (I did)
My suggestion for an enjoyable trip to Coz now is: verify your arrangements for lodging, air, and with your dive operator. Check with them regularly until your departure time. We experienced several changes with Continental prior to departure but it worked out. I would suggest Saturday flights (out of Houston) as the preferred day to leave and return. Otherwise, you may end up going thru Cancun.
So, go have fun and get wet!! PS...We talked with Christi's captain on her boat the Shamu out on the reefs. She was still on vacation. (old news)
Regards,
.
A group of nine of us returned Saturday night from a week's diving at Cozumel. All told we dove 6 days, 2 dives daily. Water temps varied between 78 and 81, more often right at 80. Air temps were in the mid 80's. I dove in 3mm full with beanie..Lacuda dove with same plus a 2.5mm core warmer. We were both comfortable. What I can tell you about the diving is that it has changed. But, I found that not to be a bad thing. It was not disappointing. I do not think anyone who has never dove Cozumel will find it anything but great! Veteran divers will notice some significant changes on the reefs.
We dove with Ricardo and his group at Careyitos Advanced Divers. The boat usually left the Caleta at about 8:45 AM. It is a large boat with maximum of 12 divers. It is shaded from forward to the stern and has a large dive platform with two boarding ladders. Entry is made optionally from both sides or the stern, usually the stern by simply sitting down into the water. Exits are made in full gear or by removing BCD and weights assisited by the crew. It is optional. I did it both ways and for me and Lacuda, we found it easier to exit in full gear and go to our stations. Divers dive their own profiles and surface over the group at the end of their respective dives, to be picked up by the boat crew. Our group consisted of experienced divers and the dives al ranged from 60 to 75 minutes. Due to the long dives our surface interval were usually two hours. A great lunch was prepared by the crew and served daily during the surface interval. There was alway plenty to eat, fresh guacamole, sandwiches, fresh fruit and beverages, etc. A second dive was done after the surface interval and we were usually back to the Caleta about 2:45 to 3:00PM.
The shallow reefs were impacted more dramatically than the deeper ones. Fans and soft corals were more seriously impacted than the harder corals. Finger corals also were impacted. Also, what we noticed and found to be very interesting, is that on some of the deeper reefs the storm hydraulics washed sand away from the bottom of the reefs exposing the foundations that the reefs have been attached to for thousands and maybe millions of years. Maybe as much as 10 to 12 feet of sand has been moved. New growth is and will certainly be attaching again to these surfaces. Also, some limestone surfaces were exposed revealing fissures on the bottom which we had never seen before.
The marine life we saw was fantastic!! We saw lobsters stacked upon top of lobsters....sometimes too many to count in crevices. Also many of the lobster were just HUGE!! The reefs were holding many black grouper to 100 lbs. We also saw several Goliath Grouper at 100+ lbs (Jewfish). We lost count of the number of very large eagle rays we saw. We would lie down on the sand and they would swim nearby. Additionally, we saw yellow and southern stingrays. Turtles were also numerous. (Hawksbills) We also saw numerous nurse sharks in varying sizes. We found the current to be less strong than we have experienced in the past. This made for a very comfortable week of diving. The viz was consistently 100 ft plus. We did not do any night dives so can not report in that area.
Lacuda and I and another couple in our group stayed in our favorite B&B, the Tamarindo. Located at Calle 4ta N. and Ave. 20. AC room with breakfast was $37.00 night. They are less in off season and room w/o air are less still. Others in our group stayed at Las Anclas..(a little more fancy and pricey)
General observations: The Cozemelenos are to be comended on their efforts to get their island up and running. They are certainly not sitting around waiting for someone to do it for them! The larger, all inclusive hotels seem to have been hit the hardest and the damage is great. Some of them, closer to town are up and running. (Including Scuba Club) The town is bustling, restaurants are open (we ate at numerous) Cruise ships are making port and passengers are being ferried into town on tenders and small ferrys. Shops are open however, the shoppers are not abundant and frantic.
I believe that now is the time to go to Cozumel. We found the marine life to be abundant (maybe due to lack of dive pressure) I feel, that most experienced Cozumel divers will find the diving there tantamount to diving new reefs with a familiar feel. (I did)
My suggestion for an enjoyable trip to Coz now is: verify your arrangements for lodging, air, and with your dive operator. Check with them regularly until your departure time. We experienced several changes with Continental prior to departure but it worked out. I would suggest Saturday flights (out of Houston) as the preferred day to leave and return. Otherwise, you may end up going thru Cancun.
So, go have fun and get wet!! PS...We talked with Christi's captain on her boat the Shamu out on the reefs. She was still on vacation. (old news)
Regards,
.
... Enjoyed your trip report. Thanks. Sue B
