How choppy does the water get?

[AlanTheTrainer]

I'll be in Cozumel in a few weeks for some R & R and, of course, some diving.
The hotel I'm staying at is the Playa Azul which is up on the North side of the Island and I hear that most of the Dive sites are quite a way South.
Can anyone tell me how Choppy the water typicaly gets on the rides between the hotel and the sites.
I've been known to have my breakfast reappear on occasion so I'm trying to get an idea of thr challenge.
I've dived a few times before mostly in Belize off Ambergris and I know there is a huge difference between inside and outside of the reef there. Is there anything similar on Cozumel that I should know about.
Of course I do undertand that the weather on a particular day plays a huge factor but some advice on the general picture would be most appreciated.

Thanks
Alan

 

[Sue Sue]

Do you have your diving already set up and if so with whom? Are you planning on a rental car, taxi , other or none SS

 

[AlanTheTrainer]

Sue
We don't have anything set up yet.
We were planning on diving with the Playa Azul house dive shop Pro-Dive Mex.
We aren't planning on renting a car at the moment.
Is that enough info for you?
Alan

 

[jjwdiver]

Pick up a pair of Sea Bands...distributed by McNett and found at most dive stores. They are an accupressure wrist band that helps with motion sickness. I can get on a boat (kayak to cruise ship) without them or lunch for the fish is my treat.

Sea-Band Ltd - natural relief for all types of nausea

available also at Target

 

[don Francisco]

Generally Cozumel waters aren't choppy except when the wind is out of the north (El Norte").
Often those winds are high enough to close the port to diving in kind of a mandatory small craft advisory. If they do dive, and you're prone to seasickness you might pass on those days.

Other than El Nortes the sea is very calm (less than 1 foot sea, or up to 2-3 feet on a bad day) since it's in the lee of the island during the normal trade winds. Unless you're very prone to seasickness you should be OK.

One thing I need to warn you about is that the weather can change very fast, and you might find yourself coming home in seas you wouldn't have gone out into. If that happens you'll just have to deal with it as best as you can, since it'll be too late to take preventative measures.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

There have been trips, both going out and coming back that have been pretty rough. The smaller, faster pangas can get thrown around a lot. Not all the time, but sometimes. I've seen my dive buddy almost toss his cookies one day and he never gets sea sick. If you are subject to sea sickness, I would plan for the worst and be happy if it never happens.

PH

 

[MMM]

If you are staying at Playa Azul, I doubt that your in-house op will be going very far south and you may miss some good sites. Otherwise, you're going to spend a LOT of time on the water. I never get sick as the port is closed when seas are rough but it's a LONG boat ride south. If I could make a suggestion, you might want to rethink your plans. Rent a car, and drive to the caleta where you will have a wide choice of dive ops leaving and a much shorter boat ride.

 

[BTravlin]

I'm not prone to seasickness but have been on more than a few occasions, seems to be very hit or miss with me. I spend too much time, money and effort to get to the diving locales so I won't take a chance on getting sick and ruining things. I always take one meclizine in the morning when diving Coz and have no problems.

Generally though the waters around Coz aren't bad if the Nortes aren't blowing. I could probably get by without the preventative but don't want to take the chance.

 

[judydivescoz]

We dive with a company who keeps their boat in the northern marina and have taken the boat ride many times to the southern sites. For the most part is fairly smooth sailing! It can get a bit dicey around the cruise ship piers in town. From that point south it is a very nice ride. You may want to take something for sea sickness. I have never been seasick in Cozumel even though I am prone to it. From up north we have dove all the great sites in the south including Maricabo and Punta Sur. We find that the ride south gets us relaxed, there is no rush to get ready to dive.
Enjoy your trip

 

[AlanTheTrainer]

Thanks everyone.
Alan