Currents, when are they the least

[gt2003]

We went to Cozumel at the end of October. It was my wife's first ocean trip. She enjoyed the visibility but hated the current. She enjoys being able to take her time and enjoy the marine life, like a lake setting where she can just sit on the bottom and enjoy it. Unfortunately, on this trip this wasn't really an option as the current was pretty stout. My question is, did we simply go at the wrong time of year? I don't remember such strong currents in my past Cozumel trips in July. The port was actually closed a few days so it could be as simple as time of year. If its just time of year, what months have the least current?

If not, what are our best options for other destinations?

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[Dogbowl]

We went to Cozumel at the end of October. It was my wife's first ocean trip. She enjoyed the visibility but hated the current. She enjoys being able to take her time and enjoy the marine life, like a lake setting where she can just sit on the bottom and enjoy it. Unfortunately, on this trip this wasn't really an option as the current was pretty stout. My question is, did we simply go at the wrong time of year? I don't remember such strong currents in my past Cozumel trips in July. The port was actually closed a few days so it could be as simple as time of year. If its just time of year, what months have the least current?

If not, what are our best options for other destinations?

Thanks in advance for the input.

I love diving in Cozumel but I don't like the currents either. I feel like the currents sweep me by the reefs too fast and I struggle with it at times. But I know many love it. To each their own.

I understand Roatan, Bonaire and the Caymans are generally not drift diving. So those could be future options.

 

[MMM]

Currents are a reality of diving in Cozumel. Some days on some sites the current may be negligible but it's a day-to-day and site-to-site kind of thing. If you ask the DM to take you to a site where there won't be a lot of current (and assuming that others on the boat agree) they MIGHT be able to comply, but no guarantees. By learning a few skills, you can better manage yourself in current so that you can spend more time in one spot poking around but you will never be able to come and dive in Cozumel when there is no current ever, anywhere.

 

[Christi]

We went to Cozumel at the end of October. It was my wife's first ocean trip. She enjoyed the visibility but hated the current. She enjoys being able to take her time and enjoy the marine life, like a lake setting where she can just sit on the bottom and enjoy it. Unfortunately, on this trip this wasn't really an option as the current was pretty stout. My question is, did we simply go at the wrong time of year? I don't remember such strong currents in my past Cozumel trips in July. The port was actually closed a few days so it could be as simple as time of year. If its just time of year, what months have the least current?

If not, what are our best options for other destinations?

Thanks in advance for the input.

It's typically a site to site thing, but there are some sites that are notorious for stronger currents - such as Cedral Wall, Cedral pass, Punta Tunich, and up north.

However, currents are typically strongest in the Spring and early summer - but not everyday. This years October currents were out of the ordinary.

 

[Zman96]

It's typically a site to site thing, but there are some sites that are notorious for stronger currents - such as Cedral Wall, Cedral pass, Punta Tunich, and up north.

However, currents are typically strongest in the Spring and early summer - but not everyday. This years October currents were out of the ordinary.

Tell me about it, we had to kick the whole dive on Tunich, Cedral Wall and Santa Rosa since there was no current at all in October. It was very cool getting to really dive slowly on those sites and really look in all of the nooks and crannies.

To the OP, many people are intimidated by the currents until they learn to really enjoy the effortless show they allow you to have when you learn to navigate them. Unfortunately, the only way to learn is to do them and practice. Maybe give Cozumel another shot not in the spring time and hire a private DM for a day or two to help with pointers for your wife and to make her feel more comfortable. My 2 favorite dives on the island are typically on opposite ends of the spectrum with currents, San Juan up north that typically is fast and Columbia Shallows which usually is like being in an aquarium.

 

[ggunn]

Drift diving is a fact of life at Cozumel. There may be times of the year when the currents are statistically not as strong as others, but in my experience (25 years of diving there) the day to day and site to site variance is more than the seasonal variation.

 

[boulderjohn]

The first time I did Barracuda Reef in the north, I was prepared for the notoriously fast currents there. There was no real current at all. We could swim leisurely against it as we explored the reef. The twisted shapes of the barrel sponges gave us a suggestion of what we were missing. The dive could have been handled by almost anyone at almost any skill level.

The second time I dived Barracuda Reef, it give us all we could handle. We had to work hard going through the valleys to keep from being swept off the reef. It was truly a dive for an expert.

 

[Cozdreamer]

I understand exactly what you describe. We've learned the name of the game for each and every giant stride off deck or backward roll entry is get ready to go with the flow once you give the ok signal at the surface. Sometimes sticking with your buddy is easy peasy and other times you almost need to hold hands to stay close and ride the current wave. Sometimes you feel like you've covered 2 miles when you go back to the surface other times you've gotten to putter around coral heads in a huge circle. It's all BEAUTIFUL and much better than cold quarry diving back here in NC!
It's a mind game that keeps us saving money to return to the island when possible.

Happy New Year! Continued safe bubbles to all Coz addicts on SB.

 

[Charred]

Bonaire has minimal currents. When I was there in June we struggled to decide which way the current was flowing in order to follow our dive plan.

But Id only recommend going to Bonaire if you are going with someone who can show you how to take advantage of the island.

 

[mikeycanuk]

Oddly when we did our drift diving specialty (yea I know) 3 yrs ago boy did we get a wicked current on our 1st dive which was at Cedral. It was in March. Fun ride! Closest we’ve had to the rocket ship that is the Niagara River. However we’ve never had a current like that in Coz since.