Cozumel Dive sites

[av8er23]

I will be diving Cozumel & Belize next week. I am goin on a cruise that stops there. I will only have the chance to dive two sites at each location. I would like to do three reefs and one wreck. I am looking for some recommendations on what sites to visit.

 

[ggunn]

I will be diving Cozumel & Belize next week. I am goin on a cruise that stops there. I will only have the chance to dive two sites at each location. I would like to do three reefs and one wreck. I am looking for some recommendations on what sites to visit.

If you are going out alone or on a cruise-organized dive in Cozumel, it is unlikely that you will have much say as to which sites you visit. If you are going "off the page" of the cruise agendae and with a dive op that doesn't know you, you probably won't be going to the more advanced dive sites, either, since most (if not all) the ops will want to dive with you for a day or two to observe how you are in the water before they will take you to (for example) Punta Sur. That's true no matter what you have on your cert card or in your log.

The good news is that it's all good. For practically any dive site you name around Cozumel you will find divers who will declare that it's their favorite.

 

[cowboyneal]

I'm with G-man. Also, even if you were an 'advanced' diver, and made it onto an advanced trip, at that point the divers decide as a group where to go, and no one individual is usually going to carry the decision on that (except in certain circumstances with a very flexible group).

 

[Christi]

These two gentlemen said it perfectly!

Unless you (collectively speaking) are chartering a private boat, or if your group takes over the boat (ie: 5 to 6 in your group) don't count on calling the dive sites when you are diving only one day...especially if you are by yourself. The others on the boat are paying just like you so they have a choice as well. More than likely they are diving multiple days...so they may have just visited your preferred site the day before...so be flexible and open and you'll have a great time.

And if diving multiple days...whatever you do, don't send the dive op a detailed spreadsheet of your dive site schedule! it's a good way to get your message automatically filtered into the trash folder...haha! Again, there are other people on the boat and other considerations for dive site selection, profiles, etc. Relax and go with the flow!

 

[Crazyduck]

We did this in Belize ages ago.
The dive shop cost was $90.00 for a two tank dive.

The cruise boat charged us $150.00 for a two tank dive- same outfit.
You do the math…

Get a group together and rent a boat from a very reputable operator.
If you can get everyone can agree to the hours of when you are in port.
Being in port for such a short period of time was our biggest problem.

Honestly, I prefer flying direct and staying in Cozumel.
It is very cheap- not suggesting that this is for everyone just my humble and simple point of view.

Andrew

 

[halocline]

Hmmmm...nobody actually answered your question, which was basically "which two dive sites would you recommend". Assuming you're doing a single 2 tank trip, you'll have a deep dive and a shallow dive, and I would recommend trying to get to Palancar or Colombia reefs. There are several sites on Palancar, they're all great IMO, and Colombia deep followed by Colombia shallows is a classic. What the others said about the group choosing the spot is true, but you can try to contact a few dive ops in advance, tell them what you're looking for, and hope for the best.

I don't agree that all the sites are equally great; I've never been on a bad dive in Cozumel but IMO the more southern, deeper reefs are much more spectacular. This is especially true since Wilma, but the whole area is coming back much faster than I ever thought it would. I was there a few months after Wilma, and this past winter, and the difference was very encouraging.

Personally I'm not a fan of the wreck in Cozumel; to me it's okay but the reefs are way better. Other opinions abound, though!

 

[Fordan]

I thought I had read that the Felipe Xicotencatl wreck was closed by the Marine Park, is that the case?

 

[PePaw]

Dove on the Felipe' in March. It was the second dive after Santa Rosa Wall.
Best day of diving I expierienced.
Both awesome sites.

 

[ggunn]

Hmmmm...nobody actually answered your question, which was basically "which two dive sites would you recommend". Assuming you're doing a single 2 tank trip, you'll have a deep dive and a shallow dive, and I would recommend trying to get to Palancar or Colombia reefs. There are several sites on Palancar, they're all great IMO, and Colombia deep followed by Colombia shallows is a classic. What the others said about the group choosing the spot is true, but you can try to contact a few dive ops in advance, tell them what you're looking for, and hope for the best.

Be that as it may, it is a lot to expect to go to Cozumel for eight hours and get to see the "best" dive sites, or any dive sites in particular for that matter. With most dive ops, contacting them in advance won't accomplish much, since where the boats go is usually decided right before they go there. True, a few ops have a schedule that they follow, so if you know which ones they are (I don't) and if they can accomodate a day tripper (many can't), then you might be able to find out where you'd be going if you dove with them, but I'd bet that you'd not be able to change their plan on the basis of where one diver wants to go.

My advice is that if you want to experience the best dive(s) that Cozumel has to offer, go there and stay a while. We don't even agree on what the best dive is; you'll have to make enough dives to decide for yourself. If you have never been there and have two tanks to burn, chances are you'll have a great time no matter where you go.

 

[RonFrank]

I will be diving Cozumel & Belize next week. I am goin on a cruise that stops there. I will only have the chance to dive two sites at each location. I would like to do three reefs and one wreck. I am looking for some recommendations on what sites to visit.

Palancar ANYTHING (Bricks, Gardens, Caves) is all good.

If you are on a cattle boat a good bet is that you may do Santa Rosa wall followed by Paradise reef. The good news is that they are both worth doing. The bad news is that there are better dives vs. Santa Rosa wall.

Paradise reef is a really nice shallow dive, and full of life. If you do end up there, take your time, and seek out small critters.