Cozumel or Belize

[deepdiver1]

I looking for some one that can tell me if diving in Belize would be recommended over cozumel. I have another chance to go back to Cozumel, but have heard Belize is much better diving. I have a chance to go to either place; just want the best diving I can.

 

[DevonDiver]

I've not dived Cozumel, but I can definitely recommend Belize. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are beautiful, not over commercialised and the local reef dives are pristine...with great marine life. Of course...you then have the Blue Hole.......

 

[parrotheaddiver]

I have been to both places....if you have the chance to go to Cozumel another time as you posted...then go to Belize first...then will have been to both places....they are both different where diving is concerned....Cozumel is drift diving you can cover alot of ground on a dive.. most all diving is done from boats....many place to stay on the island and many dive ops to choose from....Belize is also boat diving...if you do land base as opposed to a liveaboard ... some of the sites can be a long boat ride...also since Belize is made up of atolls if you do a land base you will be locked in to diving close to where you stay...this is not a bad thing just something to consider...I prefer a liveaboard diving Belize you can cover more dive sites....both places are great diving so flip a coin and go...

 

[DeputyDan]

Belize has much more to offer for non-diving related activities...

 

[diver 85]

I looking for some one that can tell me if diving in Belize would be recommended over cozumel. I have another chance to go back to Cozumel, but have heard Belize is much better diving. I have a chance to go to either place; just want the best diving I can.

Belize 1st---then CZM......but if you can get to Little Cayman, take it & run......

 

[ibj40]

We stayed at Turneffe Flats Lodge last year (May, I think) for a week, and dove three tanks a day, and were never disappointed. The resort caters to fishermen, primarily, but does have an on-site dive op, and we were the only two divers (wife and I), so we had a dedicated boat and divemaster all to ourselves. In addition to a day trip to the Blue Hole and surrounding area, we dove a lot on the north end of the caye, including both the east and west sides, and it was amazing diving.

I've been diving on CZM since the mid-80's, and while it is also good diving, I think it has deteriorated somewhat over the years, due to both weather and on-island development.

Given a choice, I'd go back to Belize in a heartbeat.

 

[scubacoz22]

We stayed at Turneffe Flats Lodge last year (May, I think) for a week, and dove three tanks a day, and were never disappointed. The resort caters to fishermen, primarily, but does have an on-site dive op, and we were the only two divers (wife and I), so we had a dedicated boat and divemaster all to ourselves. In addition to a day trip to the Blue Hole and surrounding area, we dove a lot on the north end of the caye, including both the east and west sides, and it was amazing diving.

I've been diving on CZM since the mid-80's, and while it is also good diving, I think it has deteriorated somewhat over the years, due to both weather and on-island development.

Given a choice, I'd go back to Belize in a heartbeat.

you obviously havent been to coaumel recently. We just got back from there and the reefs are looking great There is alof of new growth since the hurricane a few years ago. Fish live was fantastic. I would definitely choose cozumel over belize.

 

[farsidefan1]

Been to Belize and am at Cozumel as I type. Best night dive of my life here. 6 Octos, including biggest and smallest I've ever seen, 5 huge crabs out in the open eating, 3 big lobsters out for a walk, 4 splendid toadfish along with all the usual stuff. More octopus down here than anywhere else I've ever been. Both are great. You are choosing between flavors of ice cream. Have fun. PS blue hole is WAY over rated but nearby dives are great.

 

[robint]

I looking for some one that can tell me if diving in Belize would be recommended over cozumel. I have another chance to go back to Cozumel, but have heard Belize is much better diving. I have a chance to go to either place; just want the best diving I can.

biggest difference between diving the two is current. ALL dives in Cozumel are drift, some very fast drifts and some slower, but all are drift dives. Belize dives are not drift as there is very little currrent at most sites, if any. (We were just in Cozumel in march (our 5th or 6th trip) and thought that the whole experience was unpleasant now - too many divers, too many boats, not enough good diving to make it worth putting up with all that...)

biggest difference between the two topside is tourism... Belize has more stuff to do and Ambergris Caye is a slower pace with more tropical feel, Cozumel has more cruiseships and crowds and more crowds and busy with traffic.

 

[scubacoz22]

I doubt you have been to Cozumel much. We took our grand kids with us ages 12 and 14 and they had no problems diving. The drift diving is awesome. The current was slow. All you have to do is ask your DM to keep you in a slow current. he will pick a great site that has very little current. I have never had much current in Coz in the summer but in March there was more current then. So it depends the time of year you are going there. There were few cruise ships and not alot of crowds We dove with Aldora and we had the boat to ourselves. (6 of us) We dove at a very slow pace. Saw 12 octopus, 5 lobster, several crab, splendid toad fish, lots of fish etc etc etc. on our night dive. Our day dives were fantastic. I would not pick Beliz over Cozumel any day. Beliz is way overrated. We rarely saw any other divers on our dives. The Aldora dive masters know where to go where there are no other boats and they leave early in the morning so by 10 you are on the beach for your surface interval. We all had a great time and cant wait to go back.