How choppy does the water get?

[ggunn]

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.

Just to quantify, not to disagree - "LONG" is relative. The farthest dive site from Playa Azul is maybe 20 miles, and for nearly the whole boat ride you will be a couple hundred yards from shore. To many folks the sight of land nearby is a pretty good seasickness remedy, and typically the waters are fairly smooth, as the dive sites are nearly all in waters protected from the open Caribbean by the island. In the case of norte conditions when the winds are from the north or northeast, of course, all bets are off.

 

[Harro10]

Ask your Dive Op if they bring you to shore (a beach club) in between dives. Being a fellow Mal de Mer sufferer that is by far the most problematic time for me. I usually seek pharmaceutical assistance on all but the calmest days. The first thing I do upon rising in the morning is to check the sea condition and decide if I will take said assistance. That being said I have never had a problem on Cozumel.

 

[Noboundaries]

My wife can just look at a boat and blow chow. If the wind isn't out of the north, our experience is that the morning is fairly calm, then the water can kick up a bit in the afternoon. She takes a dramamine an hour or two before boarding the boat and never has a problem.

 

[Sue Sue]

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

The reason I asked the questions was I was curious as to how long you may be on the boat traveling to your dive sites. My husband also gets sea sick so I understand your concern. We need to take certain precautions and he is usually fine. We find the length of time on the water, not IN the water is a major factor. He does not have any trouble even in the slightest chop of water traveling in the small fast 6 pack boats that so many Cozumel Dive ops use. Within no time at all after leaving the pier we are at the dive site for the day and in the water. He does need to avoid the larger slow boats though in rougher water. We tried that once when the port was closed to the smaller dive craft and it was a mistake. The rocking and rolling motion is what does him in. If you have an urgent need, you could ask your captain to drop you off at any pier en route to your from your dive site in order to call a cab for a land trip back to your hotel. Contact your dive op to see if this could be an option. Have a wonderful time ! SS

 

[Scubabun]

If seasickness is a concern, then I recommend not even chancing it. There are great options out there to prevent seasickness. Personally, I would rather just take something then I never have to worry about it. I can relax and enjoy myself instead of wondering if need to find the side of the boat.

I used to use the Transderm Scopalamine patch and that was awesome! Small boat, settling in the swells for a 40 minutes surface interval and I was perfect.

This year I tried the scopalamine in pill form. That seemed to work just as well, but it was only two dives so the verdict is still out.

 

[Flashbazbo]

Hi,
As above... it can get rough. I was there two weeks ago...el Norte was in and the port was closed from Sat-Tues. Wednesday was choppy so I took a Bonamine (dramamine) or I would have fed the fish. Rest of the week was calm. I tend to get motion sickness so I use bonamine if it may be rough. I have dove PV with one and a half hour each way punta trips out of the bay in 10-12 foot+ swells and been fine (with bonamine!).

 

[jjwdiver]

sea bands - work every time for me!

 

[teknitroxdiver]

It can get pretty rough. I think the winter waves in Cozumel cured me of seasickness. I used to always have to use the Scop patch or I'd be puking if I got even close to a boat. Then I did my full Trimix in Cozumel in January, during a patch of bad weather, and something about being out every day for 2 weeks in 2-4' seas wearing gear that weighed more than I did, cured me. Never even got nauseous. I read deco tables, programmed computer, set up tanks, all things that normally will ensure a person gets sick. Nope, nothing. Still haven't had a problem since. It's really cool!

 

[ggunn]

It can get pretty rough. I think the winter waves in Cozumel cured me of seasickness. I used to always have to use the Scop patch or I'd be puking if I got even close to a boat. Then I did my full Trimix in Cozumel in January, during a patch of bad weather, and something about being out every day for 2 weeks in 2-4' seas wearing gear that weighed more than I did, cured me. Never even got nauseous. I read deco tables, programmed computer, set up tanks, all things that normally will ensure a person gets sick. Nope, nothing. Still haven't had a problem since. It's really cool!

You got it. The best cure for seasickness is acclimation.

That said, it is also true that some folks can do that more easily than others. My wife can eat a squid sandwich in a hot cramped cabin full of diesel fumes reading a book in 8 point type in 10 foot seas and never feel a twinge. I usually feel a little uneasy for an hour or so my first time out after a long hiatus, but after staying out on deck with the wind in my face and my eyes on the horizon for a while I'm fine.

 

[Mawg]

This one sentence is just SO disturbing!! But , 20 minutes later I'm still laughing. What's wrong with me?