Cozumel harbor closed for dive boats - Suggestions in Playa Del Carmen?

[shocked]

Hey all,

So my wife and a friend are here in Cozumel (came in 10/28) and just came down to do 4 days of diving. As you may know, no one is diving right now because the harbor is closed due to the high wind/waves. We always dive with "Dive with Martin" and yesterday they said it should be better today. Today they say 90% chance we get to dove tomorrow. But, the forecasts I see all show the same wind all week (Windy as forecasted). So, We are considering taking a ferry to Playa Del Carmen to at least get some dives in.

Any suggestions for small (6 pack style) reputable dive operators in Playa Del Carmen?

Also, any thoughts from others on this wind and chance of diving this week?

Thanks all

 

[scubadada]

I'm on Cayman Brac, we lost yesterday to Tropical Storm Philippe, we went diving today. Sorry if you lost today to wind and seas, the TS is long gone.

(Portland 1980-1988)

 

[northernone]

Visibility was good today shore diving. No surge below 6ft. Saw a few other divers gearing up too. It's not the Cozumel diving you were hoping for, but is sure is beautiful tropical diving.

I don't have a good recommendation for a 6 pack in playa del Carmen. Dove with 3 a few years back but I wouldn't send family out with them.

Hopefully the winds shift for your dive tomorrow.

Cameron

 

[Christi]

Hey all,

So my wife and a friend are here in Cozumel (came in 10/28) and just came down to do 4 days of diving. As you may know, no one is diving right now because the harbor is closed due to the high wind/waves. We always dive with "Dive with Martin" and yesterday they said it should be better today. Today they say 90% chance we get to dove tomorrow. But, the forecasts I see all show the same wind all week (Windy as forecasted). So, We are considering taking a ferry to Playa Del Carmen to at least get some dives in.

Any suggestions for small (6 pack style) reputable dive operators in Playa Del Carmen?

Also, any thoughts from others on this wind and chance of diving this week?

Thanks all

Sorry missed out today, but the rest of the week, including tomorrow looks good. I am 99.9% certain tomorrow will be a dive day. I'm not sure which forecasts you are looking at, but here is the one we (operators) use. It's pretty much spot on 95% of the time. This shows an overnight shift in A) wind direction and B) force - these are the two things that matter. These are very mild wind speeds. My divers have opted for a 10am departure as we should be safe by then - that way no one is waiting around in the morning - they can have a nice leisurely breakfast and not be on stand-by for the call.

The rest of the week looks stellar by the way - winds out or the east are what we WANT!

 

[deaf diver]

Hey all,

So my wife and a friend are here in Cozumel (came in 10/28) and just came down to do 4 days of diving. As you may know, no one is diving right now because the harbor is closed due to the high wind/waves. We always dive with "Dive with Martin" and yesterday they said it should be better today. Today they say 90% chance we get to dove tomorrow. But, the forecasts I see all show the same wind all week (Windy as forecasted). So, We are considering taking a ferry to Playa Del Carmen to at least get some dives in.

Any suggestions for small (6 pack style) reputable dive operators in Playa Del Carmen?

Also, any thoughts from others on this wind and chance of diving this week?

Thanks all

Go dive Dos Ojos Cenote...great dives

 

[shocked]

Christi was right.. we got out this morning and were able to dive as usual..

Thanks for the tips!

Sorry missed out today, but the rest of the week, including tomorrow looks good. I am 99.9% certain tomorrow will be a dive day. I'm not sure which forecasts you are looking at, but here is the one we (operators) use. It's pretty much spot on 95% of the time. This shows an overnight shift in A) wind direction and B) force - these are the two things that matter. These are very mild wind speeds. My divers have opted for a 10am departure as we should be safe by then - that way no one is waiting around in the morning - they can have a nice leisurely breakfast and not be on stand-by for the call.

The rest of the week looks stellar by the way - winds out or the east are what we WANT!

View attachment 432745

 

[kixy1]

Probably a dumb question, but if weather closes the port in Cozumel, is it that much different in Playa? I know there's the option of cenotes, but if the weather is bad I don't relish the idea of taking the ferry across. Not really an issue for me as my trips aren't 'Dive' trips anymore. I dive while on vacation, don't vacation to dive anymore...

 

[Vic K]

@kixy1 not a dumb question at all. I did not understand either. But it is the way wind comes that affects it. As most of diving in Cozumel is on east side on most days it's well protected. Earlier this year I missed few days of dives in playa but my friends told me it was so calm in Cozumel. It can work opposite also I believe.

 

[nodakdive]

@kixy1 not a dumb question at all. I did not understand either. But it is the way wind comes that affects it. As most of diving in Cozumel is on east side on most days it's well protected. Earlier this year I missed few days of dives in playa but my friends told me it was so calm in Cozumel. It can work opposite also I believe.

Vic, I think you mean that most diving is on the west side of Cozumel and that the wind generally comes out of the east.

 

[Christi]

Probably a dumb question, but if weather closes the port in Cozumel, is it that much different in Playa? I know there's the option of cenotes, but if the weather is bad I don't relish the idea of taking the ferry across. Not really an issue for me as my trips aren't 'Dive' trips anymore. I dive while on vacation, don't vacation to dive anymore...

Not dumb

The predominant winds for Cozumel are East to west - which means the populated side and the side we dive on, the west side is the leeward side - which makes Playa del Carmen the windward side for the mainland. This isn't always an issue except when winds are really strong from any direction - it affects us differently. When we are having a norte - and the wind is coming straight out of the north, it affects both sides of the channel. When winds are blowing westerly or north westerly - Playa is smooth and we have the waves and wind. If the winds are from the Northeast or east very strong, then Playa has windy and wavy conditions - Making sense?

During the summer both sides of the channel are calm 90% of the time.