Cozumel, Post Wilma

[HammerNoMore]

What are we up to? About a dozen threads on this? Some nasty, some positive, some, well quite funny! Some are full of pictures showing pretty fishies on pretty coral. Some show dead coral covered with sand (ok same thread). Some claim it's the thriving and bouncing back, some claim it will never be the same again...


Here is what I say:

1. The Cozumel reef system pre-Wilma was argued as either the best or second best in this hemisphere, if not the world.
2. A bad trip doesn't define a bad location.
3. A picture doesn't say 1000 words. I could show you a picture of the worst site I've been on that would make it look beautiful and I could show you a picture from the best site I've been at that makes it look desolated.
4. Cozumel is still the cheapest dive destintion in the Caribean to the US.
5. Cozumel food is still unmatched.
6. Cozumel services are down but far from out.
7. Cozumel, POD's are down, but unforunatly not out.

I've seen pictures of Cozumel recovery, above an below. I don't take them as "typical" but rather the best of the bunch. I've seen/heard pictures/stories of Cozumel's demise...I give them about as much credit. Fact is probably somewhere in-between. Show me 100 pictures and it won't matter, I'm going to Coz because I love Coz, period. I can't imagine that the reef will be destroyed, nor can I imagine it will be quite as beautful as it was 2 years ago.


Fact is, I don't care...while Coz diving has been magical for me, it is the people that bring me back year after year....I expect that most of thoes friendly's will still be there and if parts of the reef have a little sand, IMHO, that's more than made up for by the fact that there are less POD's and cheaper flights. Not to mention that the hotels will all pretty much be new inside.

So, is Coz destroyed....it could be. Is Coz same as ever...doubtfull. Do I believe any picture I see here...no way. All I know is that Coz is truely my home away from home and I intend to find out myself what it looks like. If the reef's are half what they were on my last visit, it will still be the best value in the Caribean!

James

 

[Divingnthedark]

What are we up to? About a dozen threads on this? Some nasty, some positive, some, well quite funny! Some are full of pictures showing pretty fishies on pretty coral. Some show dead coral covered with sand (ok same thread). Some claim it's the thriving and bouncing back, some claim it will never be the same again...


Here is what I say:

1. The Cozumel reef system pre-Wilma was argued as either the best or second best in this hemisphere, if not the world.
2. A bad trip doesn't define a bad location.
3. A picture doesn't say 1000 words. I could show you a picture of the worst site I've been on that would make it look beautiful and I could show you a picture from the best site I've been at that makes it look desolated.
4. Cozumel is still the cheapest dive destintion in the Caribean to the US.
5. Cozumel food is still unmatched.
6. Cozumel services are down but far from out.
7. Cozumel, POD's are down, but unforunatly not out.

I've seen pictures of Cozumel recovery, above an below. I don't take them as "typical" but rather the best of the bunch. I've seen/heard pictures/stories of Cozumel's demise...I give them about as much credit. Fact is probably somewhere in-between. Show me 100 pictures and it won't matter, I'm going to Coz because I love Coz, period. I can't imagine that the reef will be destroyed, nor can I imagine it will be quite as beautful as it was 2 years ago.


Fact is, I don't care...while Coz diving has been magical for me, it is the people that bring me back year after year....I expect that most of thoes friendly's will still be there and if parts of the reef have a little sand, IMHO, that's more than made up for by the fact that there are less POD's and cheaper flights. Not to mention that the hotels will all pretty much be new inside.

So, is Coz destroyed....it could be. Is Coz same as ever...doubtfull. Do I believe any picture I see here...no way. All I know is that Coz is truely my home away from home and I intend to find out myself what it looks like. If the reef's are half what they were on my last visit, it will still be the best value in the Caribean!
James

Yes, that pretty much sums it up and it seems that quite a few SBrs are on their way to Coz to make their own assessments. We each experience things differently:05:

 

[divematt]

What are we up to? About a dozen threads on this? Some nasty, some positive, some, well quite funny! Some are full of pictures showing pretty fishies on pretty coral. Some show dead coral covered with sand (ok same thread). Some claim it's the thriving and bouncing back, some claim it will never be the same again...


Here is what I say:

1. The Cozumel reef system pre-Wilma was argued as either the best or second best in this hemisphere, if not the world.
2. A bad trip doesn't define a bad location.
3. A picture doesn't say 1000 words. I could show you a picture of the worst site I've been on that would make it look beautiful and I could show you a picture from the best site I've been at that makes it look desolated.
4. Cozumel is still the cheapest dive destintion in the Caribean to the US.
5. Cozumel food is still unmatched.
6. Cozumel services are down but far from out.
7. Cozumel, POD's are down, but unforunatly not out.

I've seen pictures of Cozumel recovery, above an below. I don't take them as "typical" but rather the best of the bunch. I've seen/heard pictures/stories of Cozumel's demise...I give them about as much credit. Fact is probably somewhere in-between. Show me 100 pictures and it won't matter, I'm going to Coz because I love Coz, period. I can't imagine that the reef will be destroyed, nor can I imagine it will be quite as beautful as it was 2 years ago.


Fact is, I don't care...while Coz diving has been magical for me, it is the people that bring me back year after year....I expect that most of thoes friendly's will still be there and if parts of the reef have a little sand, IMHO, that's more than made up for by the fact that there are less POD's and cheaper flights. Not to mention that the hotels will all pretty much be new inside.

So, is Coz destroyed....it could be. Is Coz same as ever...doubtfull. Do I believe any picture I see here...no way. All I know is that Coz is truely my home away from home and I intend to find out myself what it looks like. If the reef's are half what they were on my last visit, it will still be the best value in the Caribean!

James

James you took the words out of my mouth.

I'll be there in 10 days to enjoy Cozumel.

Matt

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I'll be there in 22 days! W00T!!!!

 

[bgillis]

18 days for me and I bet the good far outweighs the bad.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

18 days for me and I bet the good far outweighs the bad.

Agreed! Besides, after three weeks of not diving, I'll be ready to dive a mud puddle! I can't wait!

 

[Diversion]

I came, I saw... I'll be back - Soon!

 

[ggunn]

James, I agree with you completely, and it's the same sentiments that all but an extreme minority have been saying all along. I really don't understand where the two or three outlyers have been coming from, or why in the world they chose to get personal about it, but there's no accounting for some folks, I guess.

I was there in January, so I know first hand what the conditions are, and as you say, they are not as good as before the storm, but still way better than most places. I am returning in May, and not for the last time by a long shot.

To those for whom the bloom is off the Cozumel rose; fine, just go someplace else.

 

[humanphibian]

10 for me too!

Matt, who are you diving with??

 

[Paco]

Well, my family and I just got back from a week staying at and diving with Aqua Safari. While I am not ready to post a full and complete trip report and do not have pictures to share, I can offer my insights (and yes I have dived in Coz pre-Wilma on two different occasions dating back five years).

The Safari Inn was nice, comfortable, clean and handy. We had the front two rooms and enjoyed the balcony views of the sea as well as the downtown comings and goings. All Safari staff, in the shop, the inn and on the boats were wonderful.

We did fifteen dives with Aqua Safari and managed two cenote dives on the mainland (Dos Ojos). Yes, I noticed a big change in the reefs. Missing soft corals and sand on the reefs, but we all had an amazingly good time. We saw several eagle rays, turtles, stingrays and all the other beautiful fish. I was amazed several times on the size of the angel fish and the number of small fish of other varieties, octopus, eels, etc. We also saw several anemones, which is encouraging as well.

In short, a great trip.