My wife and I escaped from Coz yesterday on the first flight out on Mexicana Airlines. The flight went out only partially full because nobody knew about it. We talked to a lot of divers and experiences varied widely. I can tell you a lot of people are really pissed at Continental Airlines for cancelling flights to save money and leaving people stranded. We were lucky to get shelter and considerate treatment from our hotel the Cozumel Palace.They evacuated all the guests except my wife and I plus one other couple because Continental had confirmed our flights for the next morning. Continental canceled at the last minute leaving us stranded.The weather was still good at that time but we were told that they did not want to send down an empty flight.
The wind lasted an incredible 60 hrs. The force was almost unbelievable and pretty damn scary. We spent sixty hours in a laundry room which was often pitch black sleeping when we could on lounge chairs in close quarters with the hotel staff.I didnt expect anything to be left when we emerged from the shelter.As it turns out the Palace was trashed. I think every single room was destroyed. Everything and I mean everything was smashed against the inside walls.Dont expect to stay there this year and maybe for even longer.The surge came right through the lobby to the highway in front carrying everything with it.
The island has very extensive damage to the infrastructure that will take months or years to fully repair. The citizens are doing an amazing job on the cleanup and the security forces locked up the situation almost immediately after the worst winds were over. I could not begin to describe how bad it was that first morning with cars laying upside down in the road and power lines swing in the breeze. Debris of every sort was waist high in places. People were just walking around amazed.The cruise ship pier at Puerto Maya is gone.I understand thr Reef Club took a hard hit. We went to the Scuba Club Sunday and they were relatively OK except for the oceanside buildings.
Gotta run but if you need info I will be back later. We got around the central part of the island and have info as current as yesterday.
The wind lasted an incredible 60 hrs. The force was almost unbelievable and pretty damn scary. We spent sixty hours in a laundry room which was often pitch black sleeping when we could on lounge chairs in close quarters with the hotel staff.I didnt expect anything to be left when we emerged from the shelter.As it turns out the Palace was trashed. I think every single room was destroyed. Everything and I mean everything was smashed against the inside walls.Dont expect to stay there this year and maybe for even longer.The surge came right through the lobby to the highway in front carrying everything with it.
The island has very extensive damage to the infrastructure that will take months or years to fully repair. The citizens are doing an amazing job on the cleanup and the security forces locked up the situation almost immediately after the worst winds were over. I could not begin to describe how bad it was that first morning with cars laying upside down in the road and power lines swing in the breeze. Debris of every sort was waist high in places. People were just walking around amazed.The cruise ship pier at Puerto Maya is gone.I understand thr Reef Club took a hard hit. We went to the Scuba Club Sunday and they were relatively OK except for the oceanside buildings.
Gotta run but if you need info I will be back later. We got around the central part of the island and have info as current as yesterday.
