Cozumel Night Dives

[Soloist]

Lots of good information on this thread. We have done several night dives at Paradise Reef. The current varies in strength and direction, it can be crowded, but it makes for a cool night dive. Here’s a video I put together last year if you are interested.

 

[JamesBon92007]

It appears that I am a little bit confused (imagine that)--I was thinking of the place across from Casa del Mar at the Marine World pier for a shore entry night dive. Is it not also called Paradise? I realize that Paradise is or was a drift dive site but wasn't sure if it still is because they built a cruise ship dock on top of it. During the day there we saw lots of coral including the coral restoration gardens, an eel snake crawling around, the usual, small fishes, and five squid. We also saw the Atlantis Submarine twice and one time I was a bit worried that it was going to descend upon us. A flag/float is recommended. As far as I know it's not within the marine park so no bracelet or DM is required. You can get a tank and weights from Jorge right there for $10 US.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Lots of good information on this thread. We have done several night dives at Paradise Reef. The current varies in strength and direction, it can be crowded, but it makes for a cool night dive. Here’s a video I put together last year if you are interested.

Nice video! I especially like the octopus changing colors--and with a swimming moray in the same frame!

 

[northernone]

It appears that I am a little bit confused (imagine that)--I was thinking of the place across from Casa del Mar at the Marine World pier for a shore entry night dive. Is it not also called Paradise? I realize that Paradise is or was a drift dive site but wasn't sure if it still is because they built a cruise ship dock on top of it. During the day there we saw lots of coral including the coral restoration gardens, an eel snake crawling around, the usual, small fishes, and five squid. We also saw the Atlantis Submarine twice and one time I was a bit worried that it was going to descend upon us. A flag/float is recommended. As far as I know it's not within the marine park so no bracelet or DM is required. You can get a tank and weights from Jorge right there for $10 US.

From talking to the older divers who are still active: The old 'paradise reef' is cut in half with the cruise ship over top of it. Half in front of Casa del Mar and the other half a boat dive just south of the cruise ships.

I've noticed some dive shops do drop boat divers on that easy shore diving site as well.

It's worth noting some of the in house dive shops further south in the resorts still take customers to southernly sites for night dives and will accept reservations from anyone not just guests.

(I haven't done it myself but know a few friends that have and I frequently see dive boats going out)

 

[Trailboss123]

It appears that I am a little bit confused (imagine that)--I was thinking of the place across from Casa del Mar at the Marine World pier for a shore entry night dive. Is it not also called Paradise? I realize that Paradise is or was a drift dive site but wasn't sure if it still is because they built a cruise ship dock on top of it. During the day there we saw lots of coral including the coral restoration gardens, an eel snake crawling around, the usual, small fishes, and five squid. We also saw the Atlantis Submarine twice and one time I was a bit worried that it was going to descend upon us. A flag/float is recommended. As far as I know it's not within the marine park so no bracelet or DM is required. You can get a tank and weights from Jorge right there for $10 US.

Paradise Reef sits just outside of the southern marina and almost adjacent the Intercontinental Presidente. South of Casa del Mar by about 8km or 5 miles. I just did a night dive there last week.
For a truly great night dive or even great day dive, I suggest the often overlooked Villa Blanca Wall. We probably would have done a night dive there last week, but we had some folks on the boat that were doing their first ever night dive and Paradise is a much safer and more benign dive site and it made the most sense to dive there to accommodate them. It was good choice.

 

[Zman96]

I have done numerous night dives in Cozumel, both from boat and from shore. The best one I remember was a twilight/ night dive combo. First dive was at Santa Rosa and we put in as the sun was setting, by the time we surfaced it was fully dark, AWESOME.
My wife doesn't dive so it is hard for me to do night dives, but I would highly recommend them.

 

[caruso]

A wall night dive? Is it as cool an eerie as I'd think it'd be? Critters?

Last time I was in Cozumel a couple of years back we stayed at Paradise Condos across from the Money Bar. Most of our diving was scheduled with Aldora but since they didn't have any scheduled night dives. I hooked up with a small dive op that was located at the condos. They picked me up around 7 pm that night, it was just me and the DM who asked me where I wanted to dive. I had already done Paradise reef on several previous night dives and asked for a wall dive, they happily obliged. Don't recall that it was a drift, just remember being led around by the DM who pretty much let me go wherever I wanted on the wall and then we found our way back to the boat. The wall was interesting although I recall there wasn't all that much marine life to be found.

 

[El Graduado]

From talking to the older divers who are still active: The old 'paradise reef' is cut in half with the cruise ship over top of it. Half in front of Casa del Mar and the other half a boat dive just south of the cruise ships.

There has always been two paradise reefs; Paraiso Norte and Paraiso Sur, since even before the first pier (SSI) was built in 1980.

 

[Manatee Diver]

Are night dives are a must? I am trying to plan my trip to COZ in March.

 

[Trailboss123]

Are night dives are a must? I am trying to plan my trip to COZ in March.

Definitely not a must, in my opinion. They can be very enjoyable, but not what I go to Cozumel for. I you want to and it works for your schedule, then by all means.