Hi everybody. Looking for advice on diving Riviera Maya vs Cozumel :)

[enfieldtom]

Hi everybody, I'm new to diving and these forums. I do the open water dives of my certification this weekend.. hooray.. its about time!

So I need some advice about the quality of diving out of Riviera Maya vs Cozumel. I am staying at a resort north of Akumal, and want to do a number of the local dives. I am trying to find out whether it is worth the effort to do a day trip to Cozumel for some diving as well. I definitely want to dive some cenotes, and it all adds up in time and cost

so I was thinking about just doing a few local dives and hitting the cenotes.

Can anybody give me advice on the quality of the local dive sites as opposed to jumping on the ferry and diving off cozumel? seems to me they're 2 sides of the same piece of water.. can't be TOO much difference surely?

Thank you!

 

[jcm1911a1]

Welcome aboard enfieldtom! My wife and I also are newer divers and just registered on SB. I can't speak for diving Riviera Maya (but we stayed there twice prior to becoming divers, LOVED IT, the resorts are HUGE.) We have done 2 trips to CZM as our only "real" dives. The diving at CZM is all "drift" diving (I believe) where the current just carries you along as you enjoy the ride! VERY nice, unless you want a second look at something! We never felt as though we were wisked along, nor did we feel like we missed anything.
We saw everything from spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks to the smallest of seahorses and splendid toad fish. Both trips we went with "Dive With Martin". Smaller boats and small groups of divers (6-8 max). We saw some of the larger "cattle boats" go by, and couldn't imagine going with that many people.
We are in the process of planning our next trip, and may venture away from MX, just for a different experience.
I know you'll have a great time no matter which side of the sea you dive.

 

[floridanewbe]

welcome

 

[WVMike]

Welcome to Scuba Board. Just jump in, ask questions, and have fun.

 

[driftwood]

Hi Tom,

Actually there is a huge difference between the two. Already mentioned that Coz has more walls and a lot stronger current. That is what keeps the reef healthy there. The coast has more finger and sloping reefs with much milder currents. The problem is that the Mexicans have not done a very good job managing the sewage from all the developments along the coast and combined with a lot less current to dilute the problem a lot of reefs have suffered. To add to the problem, the reefs south of Puerto Morelos are outside of a marine sanctuary and fishing is still going on. There are still a few good spots starting around Puerto Adventuras and north of there.

Regarding the cenotes, you really need to have pretty good buoyancy control before diving there. They are not beginner dives.

 

[enfieldtom]

Hi everybody, I'm back! Thanks for the advice.

I'm back, and the weather prevented me from doing any local dives at all, so I did Cenotes and Cozumel, and had a good time.

The drift dives were a lot of fun, and the reefs were in pretty good shape. Saw a moray, that was nice...

The cenotes were not as exciting as I expected (cenote Dos Ojos), but I think that was largely due to my lack of skill. I had to spend a lot of my focus on buoyancy and breathing, and didn't get to enjoy the unique surroundings as much as others might have. It was an interesting dive though, that is for certain. I'd love to go back when I am more experienced and skilled.

Now I have to find a way to keep diving in New England so next time I go abroad I can relax more!

Thanks again for the advice and welcomes everybody!

 

[wildroseinwater]

congrats!
ok as an ex playa del carmon dive master, i can testify that diving in playa and most places on the riviera can NOT at all compare with cozumel.
so if your going to dive ocean go to cozumel but if you are ok with not diving ocean then spend all you time diving cenotes it is truly worth it.
i personally will never go back to dive ocean in playa but plan on doing my cave diver when i go back.