Cozumel veteran January newbiness

[ggunn]

I have been to Cozumel many times, but always in the late spring or summer. I have finagled an extra trip, though, and this time it's Jan 8-14.

I know that related questions crop up from time to time, but can someone give me a digest of what I can expect to find different on this trip? Weather, water temp, dive schedules, etc., etc., etc... I know about Wilma, of course.

 

[DandyDon]

El Nortes! :11: A north front blowing thru Texas one day may blow you out there 2 days later. And whatever you wera in the spring, add a couple of mils of protection for water & wind that is a little cooler.

 

[Christi]

HI Gordon

The biggest difference you will notice is the water temp and topside temp...you're going to love it!

Bring a windbreaker or sweatshirt or something similar for surface intervals on the boat. The water is colder this year already...been registering anywhere between 78 and 81. The air temperature is often cooler than the water temperature, so you need to have something to help you warm up during the SI.

January does bring the norte season...so be prepared for that just so you won't be disappointed if you miss a day or two of diving. You could be lucky though and not have a norte at all while you're here.

As far as schedules go...I don't know about Blue Angel...but we don't run many afternoon dives for a couple of reasons.
1. It gets dark really early nad the second dive of the afternoon is really a twilight/night dive. We do this as long as the people are ok with it.
2. The wind often picks up in the afternoon making it rougher

Night dives start at about 5:30ish this time of year

The weather in January/February is my favorite time on the island because the air is often crisp and cool...but still shorts weather...just much lower humidity with a nice steady breeze from the north (strong when it's a real norte).

 

[DandyDon]

I hope to be there a month later - taking my chances with winter flying ilot: and maybe getting blown out a day or so? It's part of the adventure. As soon as my new dive buddy gets clearance from her leukemia doctor - I want to show her some nice reefs, fishes, etc.

 

[steeliejim]

Yep, I agree with everything Christi says. I have a timeshare at the Allegro, normally the third week in Jan., a great time of year, and go at least once, sometimes twice a year. Most years I have not lost any days diving out of a week to ten days. Occasionally one day, and only remember losing two days of diving one time. On those rare days, it's fun to take a drive around the island and check out the windswept side. Pretty spectacular (Hey Christie, the only complaint I've had with the eastern side has been all the debris on otherwise wonderful, deserted beaches. Did the hurricanes wash the stuff away, or just add more junk? I've often thought it would be worthwhile to devote a half a day to an organized cleanup. Maybe the government would provide bags and transport to landfill for gathered litter, and maybe dive shops might offer discounts to divers who spend some time cleaning up.)

I'm going back to Cozumel the end of Feb. this year only because the Allegro won't be open til the first of Feb. because of repairs (so they say--crossing my fingers). When I first started going, I was diving with only a 2 mil vest, now have graduated all the way to a polypro layer, plus the vest. But then I'm used to cold water cuz I dive the north coast of Cal. A 3/2 or 3 mil should be fine. Just make sure to take a wrap to get warm after diving, esp. night dives.

Jim

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I'm headed down Jan. 7th and will be there through Jan. 22nd. If you have some time how about let's getting together for dinner. With not much prodding I could be talked into making a gumbo.

I dive a full 3mm the year round and always wear my drysuit hood but I'm cold natured. My wife likes a skin and if it's cloudy may opt for a 3mm shorty on the second dive.

I always have a wooly pullover or parka with me and sit in the sun during my surface interval. My wife was down for Thanksgiving Week and dove everyday in just her skin. She saws tons of creatures; eagle rays turtles and even a few sharks.

I have been to Cozumel many times, but always in the late spring or summer. I have finagled an extra trip, though, and this time it's Jan 8-14.

I know that related questions crop up from time to time, but can someone give me a digest of what I can expect to find different on this trip? Weather, water temp, dive schedules, etc., etc., etc... I know about Wilma, of course.

 

[diveborg]

HI Gordon The weather in January/February is my favorite time on the island because the air is often crisp and cool...but still shorts weather...just much lower humidity with a nice steady breeze from the north (strong when it's a real norte).

Christi, it is funny how people would describe the same temperature differently. What you call "cool and crisp" there would almost be a heat wave here. I'd call diving at Quadra in Feb with air temps in the low 50's and water temp of 45f "cool and crisp".

Still, we are looking forward to a week of "cool and crisp" Cozumel style next week.

Gordon, Christi's description goes for me too. Last year in December water temps were 78-79 Aeris degrees. A 3 mm full suit was not quite enough for me. I was getting chilled at the end of an hour, even with a hood. This year it will be a 5 mm full and a hood. I expect to stay warm longer.

 

[ggunn]

I'm headed down Jan. 7th and will be there through Jan. 22nd. If you have some time how about let's getting together for dinner. With not much prodding I could be talked into making a gumbo.

I dive a full 3mm the year round and always wear my drysuit hood but I'm cold natured. My wife likes a skin and if it's cloudy may opt for a 3mm shorty on the second dive.

I always have a wooly pullover or parka with me and sit in the sun during my surface interval. My wife was down for Thanksgiving Week and dove everyday in just her skin. She saws tons of creatures; eagle rays turtles and even a few sharks.

Just her skin? Oh, dive skin, I guess you mean. ;^)

I appreciate the gumbo offer, and I certainly don't want to appear standoffish or cause offense, but as a South Louisiana native, I get all the gumbo I want (I stir up a mean three beer roux, myself). When I am on Cozumel, I hanker for the mustard fish at La Choza, the lobster linguine at Prima, the grilled octopus at Sonora, the stuffed squid at Capi Navigante... in my six nights this short visit I'll be hard pressed to choose. But sure, I'm always up for putting a face on a handle with fellow Scubaboarders. Have you got a house there? The reason I ask is that I know it takes a pretty well equipped kitchen to throw a good gumbo.

Thanks for the info; I'm going to try and rustle up some extra rubber to take down there with me, but failing that, I am sure Blue Angel can accomodate us.

 

[clockradio]

i know weather is a subjective thing. for a texas boy everything christi says is right on. i'm in coz right now. diving with a 3mil + vest and hood. nice and toasty. first day i didn't use my vest and hood,wished i had. some of the divers are from kansas and their wearing shortys. be ready for it just the same. have fun.geo

 

[Jim Baldwin]

No problem passing on the gumbo I certainly understand. How about a coca lite or something. Yes we do have house there, 2 story, 3BR, 3 Bath with a large kitchen that we've been working on the past year. Just another reason to head to Cozumel so much. It's directly back from the downtown square 17 blocks or 1/2 mile south of the airport. The address is 70th Ave. # 115 between ARS and 1st.

As far as my wife, she uses a couple of very colorful dive skins that she made herself . She likes the cold much better than the heat. I'm in drysuit in January in the Florida springs and she thinks a full 3 mm is fine.