Cozumel Recovery Status

[Rafael]

I just came back from the Cancun area to Boston. What i observed in Cancun was incredible, the help came the very next day after Wilma, the Mexican Goverment send the Army, Navy And diferent sections of the police force from all over the country to help re-build the area, Cozumel was visited by President Fox himself and he mention the goverment calculate 80% off the hotel industry will be up and running by December.

As well i will like to inform you, that the Riviera Maya already open Hotels and they are receiving tourist since last Saturday October 29th; the control tower in the Cancun airport is been fixed, and airport is working just fine.

I'm sure Cozumel will be ready to open in a month or less time, the Goverment will be on top of it for two big reasons one after the oil, tourism is the most important source of money for Mexico and Cancun and Cozumel make more money than the rest of the country combine.

And the second reason is next year, will be elections there, and you know what that means, Presidents Fox party will try as hard as possible to look good in order to win the elections, and this is a great opprtunity for them to gain some votes.

 

[hap2]

As frequent Cozumel divers, to our dear friends there, my wife and I would like to add our words of love and concern to those already expressed in this chat room. We just returned from the Island last Sunday (Oct 30th) and thought some of you might be interested to know how things looked at that time and how some of our (hopefully) mutual friends were faring down there.

Those who might have stayed at Alicia's Bed and Breakfast in time past will be interested to know that that nice place is still as sturdy as it is pretty. We stayed there during the hurricane and for a number of days before and after. There were no broken windows, no flooding from the street, and no leaks in the roof. Alicia had providently stored about 40 gallons of drinking water, so there was no shortage of that. Water for washing etc. came from her 2500 gallon cistern. Until the hurricane was over, she graciously invited us to use her own food supplies for other meals as well as breadfasts. We thank her very much for her kindness.

We visit Martin (Dive With Martin) the Monday morning after the Hurricane. He, his wife and their two little children are standing in front of his residence (which is very much intact). Along with the family are David, Orlando, and four others of his crew. Martin says that thanks to God all of his family and those of his employees came thru allright. Wednesday and Thrusday they were able to remove from the shop all the equipment (BC's, regs. -everything) -I forgot to ask about the compressor, also he did not lose a single one of his boats. The boats, he had taken around to the marina next to El Presidente Hotel.

By this time most of the roads are passable and Martin's truck is operating so we all pile in, and he takes us around to where the boats are stored. There were lots of big boats that are shattered, some almost on top of each other, a number that are sunk, but all of Martin's are OK. His Ana Maria III, for example ended up almost on a rock between two yachts that had smashed into each other but, along with the others,they came thru the eye of the needle without damage. One of his main concerns at this time is to let people know that his equipment is still in good order and operable and they will be up and ready for business in a week or so. So there you have it.

Martin's shop is still standing, but the walls have all been blown out and only the four concrete uprights with their four cross members are left. The uprights are still on their foundations. The smaller shops in the Plaza are gone. The big building to the south looked structurally sound from the outside. One of the liquor shops in the big building on the east is missing it's entire front. but the hundreds of bottles on the shelves remained in perfect order. There is no evidence of looting and except for a couple of girls nearby it dosn't look like anyone is even guarding it.

By this time Roque and several more of the crew have arrived and are furiously moving to a more secure location a hundred or so air tanks and containers of gasoline.
Earth-moving equipment has now arrived and is starting to clear the Plaza. I have no doubt that this is one dive operation that will be up and operating in very short order.

-Will be interested to any more news from Coz. -hap2

 

[Ted S]

Originally posted in http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=118134 by Christi.

This is an official press release. Unless you have other information directly from a hotel, shop or other business this information should be trusted above any other speculation or conjecture.

COZUMEL, MEXICO, REPORTS RAPID RECOVERY

COZUMEL, Mexico (Nov. 8, 2005) - Cozumel tourism officials report rapid
progress in the post-hurricane Wilma clean up and restoration effort on
the island.

According to Raul Marrufo, director of the Cozumel Tourism Promotion
Board, "Now that the essential services have been restored to most of the
island, we have shifted our focus to prepare the island for winter
visitors. We are enthusiastic about our progress and look forward to a
busy tourist season starting in December."

General information:
- Electricity and water has been restored to 90 percent of the island
- The Cozumel Airport officially reopened on October 29, 2005. Mexicana
Airlines is currently operating daily flights to Cozumel out of Mexico
City. American Airlines will resume its Dallas-to-Cozumel flights on
December 16, 2005, operating three flights a week, and Continental has
resumed its Houston-to-Cozumel flights, operating three flights a week.
- The first cruise ship is scheduled to arrive on November 14, 2005.
- Several dive shops are open and operating
- Officials from the Cozumel National Marine Park are optimistic and
report that many reefs along Cozumel are largely undamaged. Shallow
reefs, up to 35 feet deep, were most impacted, while reefs found at greater
depths are reported to be in good condition.
- Caverns, including Chankanaab Cavern, F1 Cavern and Aerolito Cavern
did not sustain damage and are open.
- More than 30 island excursions have been available since October 31, 2005
- 95 percent of shops and restaurants will be open beginning November 14, 2005
- The Cozumel Country Club will reopen the golf course, offering 9 holes, on December 1, 2005
- The Atlantis Submarine attraction will reopen on December 15, 2005
- Fiesta Holidays is open for snorkeling tours and car rentals

According to Aurelio Joaquin, director of the Foundation of Parks and
Museums of Cozumel, "Though the island's parks have sustained some
damage, we are thankful that the ruins at San Gervasio were not harmed. We
have already begun efforts to restore the parks and will have them
ready for visitors to enjoy by the winter travel season."

- The Museum of the Island of Cozumel is now open and fully
operational.
- Punta Sur ecological park is currently open for jeep tours.
- Reconstruction has started on Chankanaab National Park, with the
tentative opening date scheduled for December 20, 2005
- The Mayan ruins at San Gervasio were not damaged and the
archaeological site will reopen on November 14, 2005.

According to Gabriela Verduzco, manager of the Cozumel Hotels
Association, "Several hotels have already returned to business as usual and many
others will reopen prior to the busy fall season." The following is a
list of scheduled reopening dates for various Cozumel hotels and
resorts. Some properties are still in the assessment stage and have not yet
reported reopening dates.

Hotel -- Scheduled Opening Date
Casa del mar -- December 15, 2005
Casa Mexicana -- Open
Coral Princess -- February 1, 2006
Cozumel Palace -- Pending
Cozumel Resort -- Open
Days Inn -- Open
El Cozumeleño -- Pending
El Cid la Ceiba -- November 15, 2005
Fiesta Americana -- February 1, 2006
Flamingo -- Open
Hacienda San Miguel -- Pending
Iberostar -- Pending
Melia Cozumel -- December 23, 2005
Occidental Allegro -- January 31, 2006
Occidental Grand -- January 31, 2006
Park Royal -- July 2006
Playa Azul -- December 15, 2005
Presidente InterContinental -- May 2006
Reef Club -- Pending
Scuba Club Cozumel -- November 15, 2005
Sol Cabañas del Caribe -- Pending
Suites Bahia -- December 15, 2005
Suites Colonial -- December 15, 2005
Villablanca -- November 15, 2005
Vista del Mar -- Open


For ongoing destination updates, travelers should visit
www.islacozumel.com.mx.

 

[The Kraken]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You will notice that several posts have been deleted. The reason for the deletions is that the posts were completely off topic, and completely outside the parameters set by Tech Admin.

I think it's about time all of you got this thread back on track.
If need be, we can discuss any personal issues you may have in PM's.

the K

 

[MB]

Is it a full moon? Maybe we should stick to "mask on forehead" discussions, or better yet -- nitrox in a pony!

I agree - its time to enjoy a nice, on-topic discussion, with a little civility thrown in...

 

[tangfish]

I was just prompted to write a post on Cozumel and the current conditions there after I received an email from friends at Deep Blue down there. You can read it here.