Just got back from Coz - was there for a week. Stayed at Caribe Blu and dived with the house op, Blue Angel (DM Jorge). It was my first time in Coz, and I thought it was great, and I particularly liked that it was low season yet there was good diving (unlike SE Asia where if it's monsoon season, they're closed, end of discussion). Dove Palancar Caves, Cathedral (Puna Sur), Columbia Deep, Santa Rosa Wall, Punta Tunich, Paradise Reef for night dive, and several shore dives from Papa Hogs up to Caribe Blu. Their dock is still damaged from Ivan, doesn't look like it will be fixed any time soon (the owner, Ale, said a permit from the Mexican govt was required). The drift dives weren't overwhelming other than one which went a little too fast for my comfort (I like to really explore under the reefs) so I just flipped my fins over to slow it down. We saw just about everything, even splendid toadfishes that came right out of their little hidey-holes! Turtles, rays, flounder, French angelfishes, squid, lobster.....
Speaking of which, I'll talk about food, since plenty of others have waxed rhapsodic about the diving and all that... My favorite places to eat were Especias, Conchita del Caribe and Philippine Restaurant. I only had tacos once, at Carnitas Uruapan, which was decent, but we have better here in Southern California (I'm partial to La Super Rica in Santa Barbara myself). I also tried Morena (not bad) and La Choza (most mediocre). The breakfasts at Caribe were pretty glum, but I can't dive on an empty stomach.
Blue Angel were a decent op - the biggest advantage to diving with them if you're staying at Caribe is free air for shore dives. Otherwise no frills - no snacks (only water), no towels, sometimes no real surface intervals.
Curious thing - met a guy who was getting his certification with another op and he said from start to finish they were going to certify him in 2 days! He hadn't had a single classroom or pool session prior to arriving in Coz, and he said other ops he had been considering were telling him the same - is that standard for Cozumel? Seems a little quick to me! Anyone else heard the same?
Speaking of which, I'll talk about food, since plenty of others have waxed rhapsodic about the diving and all that... My favorite places to eat were Especias, Conchita del Caribe and Philippine Restaurant. I only had tacos once, at Carnitas Uruapan, which was decent, but we have better here in Southern California (I'm partial to La Super Rica in Santa Barbara myself). I also tried Morena (not bad) and La Choza (most mediocre). The breakfasts at Caribe were pretty glum, but I can't dive on an empty stomach.
Blue Angel were a decent op - the biggest advantage to diving with them if you're staying at Caribe is free air for shore dives. Otherwise no frills - no snacks (only water), no towels, sometimes no real surface intervals.
Curious thing - met a guy who was getting his certification with another op and he said from start to finish they were going to certify him in 2 days! He hadn't had a single classroom or pool session prior to arriving in Coz, and he said other ops he had been considering were telling him the same - is that standard for Cozumel? Seems a little quick to me! Anyone else heard the same?