Coz trip

[scubaboyff]

Planning trip Feb 8th, any help on which is better?
Iberstar, Allegro,or Fiesta any help on dive ops would be helpful too!
Also any news on what its like in Coz, post - wilma?
Thanks



I need to blow bubbles, not snow....

 

[El Orans]

ScubaBoard.Com > Regional Travel & Dive Clubs > North America > Mexico > Cozumel.

 

[HappyFunBoater]

I just got back. It was my first dive at Cozumel, so I can't compare it to pre-Wilma. But there was a lot of sand on the reef, and fewer fish than I'm used to seeing in the Florida Keys. However it was still great. We saw several Spotted Eagle Rays, a turtle and even an octopus. Water temp was around 81F. The island is very beat up and the cruise ship dock is completely gone. Apparently it was HUGE and new. Now it's just chunks of concrete and rebar. Wow. But like I already said, it was still great diving.

 

[Mark50]

I was there this past May and rented a house. Diving was great (pre-Wilma). As a dive operator we sued Papa Hogs all week. They were great. The small 6pak fast boats were terrific and got you away from larger groups. Also if you have the time rent a car and drive over to the windward side - very rugged and beautiful. Good luck.

 

[scubawife]

We were in Cozumel Dec 9-13 and then headed to Akumal for 5 days. In Cozumel the damage was very evident the further south of town you went. We didn't go north but heard it also suffered more then San Miguel. Underwater, our deep dives were great. The shallower reefs did have sand and rubble, but still had some great coral heads and patch reefs with lots of life. The island is getting less then half the usual number of ships. Not good for the island economy, but great for anyone vacation on-island. We had such an enjoyable time above and below the water that I just booked a 5 day trip for mid-February.

As for which resort to book, if you plan to spend any time in town, I wouldn't go further south then Fiesta Americana. And I'd also suggest that you check with your dive operator and the resorts to find out the status of the hotel pier. In Dec divers were going to the Caletta to meet their boat. Since so few boats were even going out, it wasn't a problem at all. If that's still the situation in early Feb, which it likely will be, there's no point in staying at a southern resort if you have to drive or cab it to and from the Caletta.

We stayed at Hotel Cozumel. Location was great - a $5 taxi to the Caletta and a 10-15 min walk to town. In Feb we're staying at Casa del Mar. This will be our third Coz trip diving with Living Underwater. Great operation. 6 divers, dives chosen by the group, towels, beverages, snacks, fruit, jackets, and they take of your gear including wetsuits if you are diving for multiple days. They also use steel 120's and 95's.

 

[tangfish]

Also any news on what its like in Coz, post - wilma?

Here's a recent Cozumel update. The post also has a link to a dive op I recommend there. Have a great trip and let us know how your trip went when you get back!

 

[scubaboyff]

thanks for your help, will check out the dive ops and hotels for morre information

 

[AXL72]

Just got back from diving between Dec 22 and Jan 2.

The Hotel Cozumel had the only pier for Dive Paradise (dive shop). For another dive op, Scuba Club was fully functional.

I stayed at the Baracuda Hotel, which will be opening up their new pier (just pooured and cured) this week. I had to do a daily commute to Hotel Cozumel every day, while diving with Dive Paradise.

Hotel Cozumel: Main pool was fully functional. Still working on the beachside pool. Just got new sand this past weekend.

Baracuda: New rooms (matresses, towels, TVs, etc.) . Just poured new dock (opening shortly). Just completing Tiling of new pool bar. They need to finish some new single story offices out in back, which are already poured, but needing "interior and exterior decorating" over the bare concrete.

Main town of San Miguel: Great condition (post repairs)...however the proud mexican flag that normally flys over the ferry boat pier was never flying while I was there.

Not sure about anything southern than Hotel Cozumel, but everything south still looks like it got hit hard.

I have not compared dive pics between Aug 2005 and this past Dec 2005/Jan 2006 trip, but did see lots of morrays and octopus DURING THE FREAKING day. Some say it is a sign of something different.

I had to have seen over a dozen turtles, half dozen spotted eagle rays, half dozen splendid toadfish, dozen ocopus, three translucent squid on a night dive, humongous parot fish, more than a dozen spotted eels, half dozen nurse sharks, one reef shark, and much more. Someone said they spotted a dolphin, but I missed it

Feb 2006 wil be a good time to go. Try Hotel Cozumel, BAracuda, or Scuba Club.

As far as cruises, most of the 12 days I was there, there were between 3 and 6 cruise ships (no lie) in port. There may have been maybe 1 or two days when this was not the case.

Have fun, and happy new year