Diver + snorkeler on same boat?

[FiReaNG3L]

Planning to go for vacation to Cozumel 16th of July to 3rd of August with my girlfriend - I got PADI OW certified last year in Australia (great place to start) and logged 17 dives, so I'm still quite a beginner. My gf tried scuba and didn't like it - but she LOVES snorkeling above reefs, chase fishes (and sharks, too!).

For myself I love shallow (<60 feets) dives where there's lots of fish - I also enjoy underwater photography, I find it relaxing and it improves my bottom time by quite a bit

In australia we were on boats used by both snorkelers and divers, so I could be with my gf between dives and we would talk about what we saw etc.

Is it possible to do the same in Coz or will we be on separate boats for diving / snorkeling?

Also, any recommendations of reef sites / diving companies / hotel packages and such?

Thanks a lot!

 

[KOMPRESSOR]

I'd be really surprised if you couldn't go together, unless you're in open sea. I did do some freediving after my scuba diving with a tour operator once. Nobody would mind at all. And while I was "restricted" to 60 ft with the rest of the group while scuba diving, I dove to 100ft while free diving, and they couldn't complain at all since they had no rules ready for that, ha ha!

Anyways, I don't even know where Consumel or Cozumel IS... (what ever, I can't spell it either without looking!).

 

[sasscuba]

Welcome. My wife snorkeled before she got certified in Cozumel while I was diving. She did not snorkel on the first dive since the boat follows the divers and was moving to fast for her but she tried.. The second shallow dive should not be a problem to snorkel.

 

[diveborg]

In australia we were on boats used by both snorkelers and divers, so I could be with my gf between dives and we would talk about what we saw etc.

Is it possible to do the same in Coz or will we be on separate boats for diving / snorkeling?

Yes it is definitely possible to be on the same boat. Blue Angel does a combo trip. It leaves around 10:00 AM which is great if you want to sleep in and take your time getting ready to go in the morning. I'm pretty sure that Eagle Ray Divers, Cozumel Mexico also does combo trips as does Scuba with Alison

Also, any recommendations of reef sites / diving companies / hotel packages and such?

Thanks a lot!

Stay at Caribe Blue and dive with the on-site dive op Blue Angel. Make your booking thru Travelnotes.cc

Get the Cozumel map from Can-Do Maps and travel guides and rent a car thru Cozumel Insider - Cozumel MX - Activities, Accomodations, Trip planning for at least one day and do a driving tour of the island. Take a t-shirt to leave at Coconuts for their "ceiling" and enjoy the view from the highest point of land on the island.

BTW, you will find UW photography to be more challenging in Cozumel as almost every dive is a drift dive, but it can be done. It just take a little more work.

 

[Martha]

I don't know if you'll have a say where you go, but Columbia Shallows would be a great site for you to take pictures and for your girlfriend to snorkel. It's one of my favorite sites and it has a myriad of fish.

 

[judydivescoz]

Rita and Burak at Albatros Charters(Cozumel - Mexico - Albatros Charters) might be able to accomodate a snorkeler as well. In November, we traveled with 2 other couples, one person did not dive. She went out on the boat with us and snorkeled, swam and sunned while we dove. We all had a great time.

 

[driftin' by]

Columbia Shallows would be a great site for you to take pictures and for your girlfriend to snorkel.

I'll second that.

Typically, I've seen were the snorkelers will get dropped off first close to shore then the divers. The boat stays with the divers and will pick them up followed by the snorkelers. Because of logistics, it'll limit your site selection but it's possible.