Cozumel Dives

[jlyle]

Yeah, Bonaire is a pain (5-7 hour layover), and the airfare is almost twice that of Cozumel. Though it sounds like the perfect place.

Really the only problem I have with the depth is the increased risk of DCI, especially after days of multiple dives. The extra depth just isn't worth the extra worry for me. I suppose if I was still in my 20's or 30's it wouldn't be that big of a concern, but it's been quite a while since I was in my 30's. Not sure I can even remember it....

Now, Jason, you'll be in Coz in April ??? Hmmmm....interesting....wonder if I could swing that....

One word: NITROX!!!!!! also known as "geezer gas." There's one supplier on the island, but most operations can arrange for 32% or 35% if you let them know ahead of time.

 

[SoCalOffshore]

Agreed.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Are you predesposed to DCI in any way other than not being 30?

As a general rule, Coz is a safe diving destination. Yea, they get their fair share of hits, but if you look at the number of divers there, I don't think they get more than the average.

What I would recommend is going with an operation that specializes in newer divers. Dive Paradise, Sand Dollar, etc. You'd wind up with around 80' max with these.

Here is the catch. You won't really get any good shore diving that way. If you stay at one of the hotels with built in shore diving you can get all you want free (as long as you are doing your boat dives with the local dive shop). But these places tend to cater to dives who like the deeper sites.

Personally I love shore diving on Coz. Gordan and I disagree on this point. I've seen sea horses, squid, tons of octopi and eels, and pleanty of other life on Coz shore dives. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go to Coz just to shore dive, but I wouldn't go to Coz and stay at a hotel that didn't have on-site shore diving either.

My advise is to call up the few hotels that have shore diving and talk to them. Tell them your concerns and see if they are willing to accomidate you. I'm guessing if you can live with 80' instead of 60' you'll find them willing to work it out, though you may be on a different boat every day.

I did my last Coz trip solo and had a blast!

 

[scubadobadoo]

Jim,

My wife and I will be in Coz April 17th -24th staying at Caribe Blu and diving with Blue Angel on site. Caribe Blu is a nice small hotel on the water that offers good prices and unlimited shore diving on what some say is the best shore dive on Coz. I agree with James above, a two tank morning dive is best followed by an easy afternoon or night shore dive! The ability to shore dive is almost a must for us in a dive destination. You should also consider Grand Cayman. Plenty of resorts with lovely shore dives.

Another couple we know from College will be with us and yet another two guys from another scuba message board will be there at the same time. We only know one of the other two guys from the message board but he seems real nice from the interactions we have had with him online. Since we all know one another we will probably take up one of the small boats daily and would probably have room for another, you! We all feel similiarly about diving, however I can't speak for the guy I don't know but he'll get out voted most of the time anyway. Ofcourse we will try to compromise to make veryone happy if we need to. Nonetheless, most of the action in coz does seem to take place around 60-80 feet. It would be hard to spend a week in Coz and not hit 70 or 80 unless you really tried hard not to.

We are also planning a cenote trip to the mainland one of the days. As for nitrox, I will probably request it daily for the boat dives.

You also have the option to stay elsewhere and maybe get picked up by Blu Angel. As soon as I find the links I'll edit this reply...

 

[SoCalOffshore]

Cozumels best dives will hit 80 odd feet on average. Use Nitrox if you are concerned, I would not go to Coz and miss those dives over 20 feet of exta depth. Our deepest dive for the week was about 90 feet, but you are not at that depth for long as you are doing swim throughs and such. 90 feet in Cozumel feels like 30 feet in So Cal.

 

[ggunn]

Personally I love shore diving on Coz. Gordan and I disagree on this point. I've seen sea horses, squid, tons of octopi and eels, and pleanty of other life on Coz shore dives. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go to Coz just to shore dive, but I wouldn't go to Coz and stay at a hotel that didn't have on-site shore diving either.

Actually, we don't really disagree. I do some shore diving out behind Caribe Blu and Villablanca when I am there (I stay at Caribe Blu), and though I haven't found the seahorse(s) there yet, I've seen the rest of what you mentioned. I enjoy it quite a bit.

I do point out to folks that Cozumel is not like Bonaire, where the great sites are shore accessible. As far as coral formations and large life is concerned, as well as the sheer density of stuff to see, there's nothing that you can get to from shore that will compare with what you will see on a boat dive.

That's not at all to say there's not shore diving worth doing on Cozumel.

 

[Rick Inman]

90 feet in Cozumel feels like 30 feet in So Cal.

And that is worth keeping in mind.