Dive in Belize or Cozumel?

[Armueller2001]

My parents and I are looking at going on a cruise, and there are 2 possible locations I can dive at. I may do both, but will probably settle for one or the other. This will be my first "real" dive, I did my certification dives in San Diego where it was cold and I couldn't see a thing!

From what it sounds like, I think Belize will have more to look at, it mentions "an abundance of marine life from reef fish to lush sponges and corals to pelagics such as rays, sharks, and dolphins."

Anyone been to one location or both, can you give me some advice? Thanks!

Cozumel - $95, 4.5 hr

Belize - $165, 6 hr

Apparently I need a few more posts before I can put up URLs...

 

[Armueller2001]

Here's URLs -

Cozumel - Onboard Experience - Royal Caribbean International

Belize - Onboard Experience - Royal Caribbean International

 

[Doc]

Apparently I need a few more posts before I can put up URLs...

But all you need is an internet connection to Or just look at the bottom of this thread.

You will find that your question, as posed with accompanying parents, is a lot more convoluted than you imagined.

They're both lovely for diving, but totally different.

There's a lot more touristy fun stuff to do on the island of Cozumel. There aint much happening in the country of Belize- not near the cruise ship disembarkation point, anyway.

Do you want to spend time with Mom & Dad? What would make them happy?

In Belize, they won't have a lot of options- the Zoo is kind of interesting, the float tube trip, some distant bus trips to look into the past. The diving, although quite interesting, is located a long boat ride away.

Cozumel? The diving is easily accessible and so are the more earthly delights.

Bumping isn't nice.

 

[SterlingDiver]

I have dived both locations. I think if I was on a cruise with a limited amount of time I would do Cozumel. If you have another opportunity to return to Belize the Atolls and southern reefs are more spectacular than Cozumel, just not near as accessible.

My .02.

Good lluck and good diving.

Dave

 

[Damselfish]

Yes, you have more distances to deal with in Belize. You won't get to the best diving in Belize from a cruiseship, but it would still be nice and the op that handles the cruise ship trips is actually reputed to do a pretty good job, which is not true many places. Belize has tons of neat things to do inland, but again they're a distance. There are some places the cruise ships run excursions, like the mentioned zoo, ruins, and cave tubing. These are all actually neat things to do, although they'd be much less neat with a cruise ship (or several) of people there. The best good ruins are too far for the cruise ship excursions, I think the one they usually do is noted more for being the closest.

 

[SterlingDiver]

Yes, you have more distances to deal with in Belize. You won't get to the best diving in Belize from a cruiseship, but it would still be nice and the op that handles the cruise ship trips is actually reputed to do a pretty good job, which is not true many places. Belize has tons of neat things to do inland, but again they're a distance. There are some places the cruise ships run excursions, like the mentioned zoo, ruins, and cave tubing. These are all actually neat things to do, although they'd be much less neat with a cruise ship (or several) of people there. The best good ruins are too far for the cruise ship excursions, I think the one they usually do is noted more for being the closest.

........the best close ruin is Altun Ha. It is actually a very nice Mayan archelogical site. They used to have a combined jungle river/ Altun Ha cruise ship package that was a lot of fun.

Dave

 

[CoralSeaMan]

I have dived both. The better Belize diving is quite a distant from the cruise ship stops although it is very nice. At Cozumel, diving is much closer and convenient. Virtually all diving in Cozumel is drift diving which, while apparently easy, has some greater safety considerations that a brand new diver should consider. Quite a bit of the diving in Belize is also drift diving. As a new diver, diving alone, I recommend checking with the operator about having a divemaster buddy in either place.

 

[SterlingDiver]

I have dived both. The better Belize diving is quite a distant from the cruise ship stops although it is very nice. At Cozumel, diving is much closer and convenient. Virtually all diving in Cozumel is drift diving which, while apparently easy, has some greater safety considerations that a brand new diver should consider. Quite a bit of the diving in Belize is also drift diving. As a new diver, diving alone, I recommend checking with the operator about having a divemaster buddy in either place.

.....about safety, as always never overstate your experiance when you engage a dive shop. Coz. would still be my first choice if on a cruise. You may want to do a couple of the more shallow reefs.

Good Luck and Diving,

Dave

 

[LynnB]

We just got back from a cruise to Belize, Honduras, Cozumel and Cayman on the Carnival Legend.
Is that the one you are going on? If you are going to Roatan I would do the dive there. It was awesome. Did not dive Cozumel but Belize was nice. It is a long ways out and a full day. You will not have time to do anything else. Let me know.
Lynn

 

[twinkles]

I have done both this year. Belize on the Aggressor (plus did it off a cruise ship last November) and spent a week in Cozumel earlier this year with my sister and wife. As a point of reference my sister who is a flight attendant has been back to coz 4 times since we went in May.

I would dive both of them if it was me...but if I was only going to do one, it would be coz. The best way to do Belize is on a liveaboard.