Cozumel in late April/early May.

[DjDiverDan]

There ARE several nice beaches on Cozumel, at the far Southern Resorts, at any of the Beach Clubs, even on the North End (at Playa Azul, I think), and, as mentioned, a few on the East side (though you need to be very careful about swimming on the East Side beaches - there are some wicked undercurrents that can drown even strong swimmers). It's just that most of the Island, including pretty much everything from the north end of downtown south to Chankanaab and beyond, has ironstone shore, where you need to climb over slippery and often sharp rocks to get into the water.

You can also find a lot of very nice beach at Playa Del Carmen. BUT this year has seen a LOT of Sargassum Weed wash up on the beaches on the Yucatan, sometimes piling up in huge piles. The East side of Cozumel got a lot of this, as did Playa Del Carmen and all the way north to Cancun. Be sure to check on that before firming up your plans. You might end up with your beautiful beach covered up with dunes of smelly, rotting Sargassum.

 

[scarke]

There ARE several nice beaches on Cozumel, at the far Southern Resorts, at any of the Beach Clubs, even on the North End (at Playa Azul, I think), and, as mentioned, a few on the East side (though you need to be very careful about swimming on the East Side beaches - there are some wicked undercurrents that can drown even strong swimmers). It's just that most of the Island, including pretty much everything from the north end of downtown south to Chankanaab and beyond, has ironstone shore, where you need to climb over slippery and often sharp rocks to get into the water.

You can also find a lot of very nice beach at Playa Del Carmen. BUT this year has seen a LOT of Sargassum Weed wash up on the beaches on the Yucatan, sometimes piling up in huge piles. The East side of Cozumel got a lot of this, as did Playa Del Carmen and all the way north to Cancun. Be sure to check on that before firming up your plans. You might end up with your beautiful beach covered up with dunes of smelly, rotting Sargassum.

So we are looking at El Presidente Hotel in Cozumel. I see its beside the Marina where the dive operators are mostly based? So does this mean a long boat ride to get to the dive sites as I think the dive sites are situated at the south of the island, is that correct ? Maybe they are not too far away from this marina? HELP….Thanks.

 

[DjDiverDan]

So we are looking at El Presidente Hotel in Cozumel. I see its beside the Marina where the dive operators are mostly based? So does this mean a long boat ride to get to the dive sites as I think the dive sites are situated at the south of the island, is that correct ? Maybe they are not too far away from this marina? HELP….Thanks.

From El Presidente, most of the Southern dive sites are no more than a 10-15 minute boat ride, if that. Cozumel is NOT a big Island. There are a couple, like Paradise Reef and Chankanaab Reef, that are almost directly offshore from El Presidente (Paradise a bit to the north, Chankanaab a bit to the south) that you could almost swim to (though several hundred yards offshore, and you wouldn't want to have to swim back against the current). The farthest south dive sites, Punta Sur and Maricaibo, might be a 20-25 minute ride, depending on the speed of the boat. Look at one of the maps of Cozumel dive sites available on the internet, like the one at Reefs of Cozumel - Reef Guide for Cozumel

 

[scarke]

From El Presidente, most of the Southern dive sites are no more than a 10-15 minute boat ride, if that. Cozumel is NOT a big Island. There are a couple, like Paradise Reef and Chankanaab Reef, that are almost directly offshore from El Presidente (Paradise a bit to the north, Chankanaab a bit to the south) that you could almost swim to (though several hundred yards offshore, and you wouldn't want to have to swim back against the current). The farthest south dive sites, Punta Sur and Maricaibo, might be a 20-25 minute ride, depending on the speed of the boat. Look at one of the maps of Cozumel dive sites available on the internet, like the one at Reefs of Cozumel - Reef Guide for Cozumel

That sounds absolutely perfect!!!….Looking forward to booking it all now….had thought of Egypt but had major issues with the security and have been proved right on that front…so its to Cozumel next…..thanks for all the info.

 

[mstevens]

We drive to the marina to meet our dive boat and have done so for years because we don't stay at hotels. We enjoy doing that but are admittedly weird.

Only you can decide if the boat ride is "long". The boat is going to do it, whether you're aboard or not. If you're extremely prone to seasickness or otherwise hate being on boats, staying farther south might work better for you as long as you don't want to go to northern sites. Apart from that, no matter where you get picked up you're going to have the same access to the reefs whether you're picked up north of town, downtown, at the Caleta or FONATUR marina, or at a southern resort.

 

[scarke]

We drive to the marina to meet our dive boat and have done so for years because we don't stay at hotels. We enjoy doing that but are admittedly weird.

Only you can decide if the boat ride is "long". The boat is going to do it, whether you're aboard or not. If you're extremely prone to seasickness or otherwise hate being on boats, staying farther south might work better for you as long as you don't want to go to northern sites. Apart from that, no matter where you get picked up you're going to have the same access to the reefs whether you're picked up north of town, downtown, at the Caleta or FONATUR marina, or at a southern resort.

We don't get seasick but just wanted to make sure we pick the right hotel location really…we don't want to have to spend over an hour on a boat when we could spend 15 minutes…..would rather spend the time in the water if you get me. Everything I read tells me its going to be a lovely diving holiday. thanks again.

 

[DjDiverDan]

How much time you spend sitting on a boat depends almost as much on the Dive Op chosen as on the Hotel location. You are going to have some time between dives, and some Dive Ops do the Surface Interval just sitting on the boat. And some Dive Ops will go for a minimum SI, meaning a shorter second dive (due to more residual Nitrogen buildup). My preference is for a longer SI, to allow a longer second dive, spent on the shore, preferably at a beach club. I like Aldora - big steel tanks, meaning more air, more bottom time, long SI at a beach club, longer second dives. But everyone has different preferences. You are NOT required to use the house Dive Op where you are staying. I don't know anything about El Presidente's house Dive Op, it may be very good or it might be mediocre. Just saying, do your research on other Dive Ops, figure out what YOU want, and which Dive Op best fits your preferences, and book the dives separately from the Hotel.

 

[ggunn]

We don't get seasick but just wanted to make sure we pick the right hotel location really…we don't want to have to spend over an hour on a boat when we could spend 15 minutes…..would rather spend the time in the water if you get me. Everything I read tells me its going to be a lovely diving holiday. thanks again.

FWIW, the location of the hotel relative to the dive sites ranks very low on my list of criteria for choosing a hotel. It's a small island.

 

[DjDiverDan]

FWIW, the location of the hotel relative to the dive sites ranks very low on my list of criteria for choosing a hotel. It's a small island.

Me too. But different people have different criteria. I don't mind long boat rides, but then I've never had motion sickness in my life, and I've been on some pretty bumpy boat rides. And while I love long, long bottom times - 75-90 minutes or more, I have a very high tolerance for cold (plus I carry a lot of insulation with me), I know a few people whose lips turn blue after 50 minutes in 80 degree water, and a couple of diabetic divers who, because of poor circulation in their feet and toes, can't tolerate more than about 45 minutes underwater. These folks love to dive, but they are pefectly happy with the operations that run like most did when the Dive Tables ran the show - first dive, 80 feet, 45 minutes, 45 minute SI, second dive, 60 feet, 40 minutes. Glad there are options on Cozumel for all.

 

[scarke]

Me too. But different people have different criteria. I don't mind long boat rides, but then I've never had motion sickness in my life, and I've been on some pretty bumpy boat rides. And while I love long, long bottom times - 75-90 minutes or more, I have a very high tolerance for cold (plus I carry a lot of insulation with me), I know a few people whose lips turn blue after 50 minutes in 80 degree water, and a couple of diabetic divers who, because of poor circulation in their feet and toes, can't tolerate more than about 45 minutes underwater. These folks love to dive, but they are pefectly happy with the operations that run like most did when the Dive Tables ran the show - first dive, 80 feet, 45 minutes, 45 minute SI, second dive, 60 feet, 40 minutes. Glad there are options on Cozumel for all.

Yep the reason is we are trying to please everyone…I have done liveaboards with my hubby who is the diver…I swim and snorkel and love the ocean and boats..however on this holiday we will have our two daughters 25 and 28 with us who will do some diving but not every day…so the husband will just have to live with it…we all want different things from a holiday