Going to Mexico in June- Cancun Diving or Cozumel? New Diver

[Landlocked123]

I have 12 dives logged thus far. Regular open water only. Going to Cancoon in June for a week. Trying to determine the following…any input would be greatly appreciated.

1. Will I be able to dive Cozumel with regular Open water only? Or are the dives there deeper and require AOW ..

2. If I can dive Cozumel with regular OW is it worth my while given the depth limitation…meaning will I most likely end up hanging at 60 feet starring at bubbles from below?

3. Given I can only dive to restrictions of regular OW is it even worth paying extra and doing day long trip to Cozumel?

So the decision I am trying to make is do I stick to the 2 tank dive trips offered in Cancoon? I dove Riviera Maya last year in the 40 foot range and it was great diving so is it safe to assume Cancoon would be similar? Any special concerns regarding currents etc in the Cancoon area that would vary from the overall feel of the Maya Riviera section of the coastline?

Should i book in advance of my trip or just show up at the local outfitss when I get there in June ? Or is it better to wait until I get there to try and pick good weather for the dive?

Thanks
G

 

[Bryan Cunningham]

Cozumel is better diving, and yes you can dive with just OW. But if you are doing a few days diving, why not pay a bit extra and do your advanced while there? Prodive Mexico has some good deals on advanced courses. They also have outlets in R Maya, Cancun and Cozumel, so you can split your diving. If you buy one of their diving packages it'll only cost you $99 extra to get your advanced cert.
I would book before you go to make sure you have space, June can be busy as its whale shark season.
Shout if you need help booking, I have a working relationship with Prodive.
PS: Try get in a cenote dive too.
Cheers
Bryan
SCUBA DESTINATION DEALS - HOME

 

[DandyDon]

The suggested 60 max for OW is the most ignored aspect of diving. You can do the 80+ ft dive at Coz, but do hire a private DM the first day there. Getting from Cancun to Coz takes time, but Blue Angel has a mid morning boat. I've never dived Cancun, but it may well be a good idea to hire a private DM the first day there too.

Suggesting cenote diving to a newbie is a bit reckless, IMO. If you do well diving, control your buoyancy well, and enjoy some night diving - then you might consider a day of cenote diving.

 

[Mike]

Like Don said, if your dive operator in Cozumel stops you from going below 60ft it will be a surprise.

That being said - my advice is to skip Cozumel. You're a brand new diver, if you dive in a mud puddle you're going to be excited. Don't worry about Cozumel for now, there is plenty to dive around Cancun, you'll be happy and won't feel you're missing anything. Why spend all the time and frustration going across the channel when you won't know the difference between the two areas anyways?

The diving around Cancun and further south such as Playa is shallower and generally (sometimes) less current, easier diving with plenty to see. There are wrecks, their are reefs, turtles, lots of fish... there is lots to see where you will be staying. Enjoy a nice relaxed fun time in Cancun area without wasting all your time running back and forth between Cancun and Cozumel and explore the diving they offer there and save Cozumel diving for later with a specific trip staying there and diving there. There will be generally more chance of some current in Cancun than what you experienced farther south, but it won't be anything you can't handle and it will be a good introduction to drift diving that you will use when you do get to Cozumel. Baby steps are good ways to progress in diving. In my opinion, getting your AOW while there wouldn't hurt you, but it's no substitute for more dives under your belt. Experience is as if not more important than AOW. Combine both and you're on your way.

If it was me I'd spend a day snorkeling with the whale sharks out of Isla Mujeres before I'd spend a day going over to Cozumel. The diving won't be dramatically different between the two for you to notice at this point, but you'll certainly notice the excitement of a once in a lifetime experience with the whale sharks since your timing happens to coincides with their season, that's what I'd do!

 

[Landlocked123]

Great info from all of you. I will stick to Cancoon. Cozumel will still be there next year and since I am going with my wife and children I have been given the green light to dive 2 days. 2 tank dives per day. This way less time away from the fam and another step in the right direction of building skills in a safe way. Sometimes less is more. I definitely want to dive Cozumel but it will be next year at which time I may do a dive specific type vacation...Do you guys know of any specific Cancoon dive sites that I should request when I book..ie better than others ? There is apparently 1 wreck that I came across but don't recall the name. Time for dumb question 93… are all Cenote dives essentially Cave dives? meaning is there always penetration with overhead? could you not do a cenote dive and check out the hole itself or is there always some form of narrow passage navigation ? Thanks for your feedback as always.
George

 

[DandyDon]

If you only get 2 days of diving, forget the cenotes - unless the wife & kids will go with you and not count that as a dive day. Some can be interesting to visit, snorkel the daylight area, etc. Don't use Sunblock until after diving reef or cenote. Mosquito repellent is essential for the whole trip, but not before a cenote. You may not notice the skeeters, but they'll get you some - and you don't want dengue.

 

[Landlocked123]

Sounds good…Thanks again.. Safe diving to all

 

[Mike]

are all Cenote dives essentially Cave dives? meaning is there always penetration with overhead? could you not do a cenote dive and check out the hole itself or is there always some form of narrow passage navigation ? Thanks for your feedback as always.
George

The ones you'd be able to do are classified as a cavern dive, meaning you will always have sight of the exit. Many cenotes are fun to dive as cavern dives and are the number 1 way most are dived. Beyond that you need to be cave certified.

 

[farsidefan1]

Plus 1 for the whale sharks out of Isla Mujeres You will have done something that divers with 10 times more dives than you would kill for. Go for it.

 

[lamarpaulski]

Coz is better. Like the others said go there and consider getting AOW while there or pay a little for DM. After a day or two you won't be worried about this issue.