how to compare COZ vs. HAWAII?

[deputydan1]

hey buddies...

we just got back from a great time in coz....but since we live in LA, it's much easier for us to go to hawaii...

i loved COZ! but i think for travel time, hawaii would be the better choice for those 3-4 day weekend trips!

can anyone PLEASE compare the two?? is there any comparison????? i was hoping to know what to expect at hawaii with regards to diving, which isl is best, hotel, etc.

i simply loved the feeling of cozumel.....such a nice place, and i really, really enjoyed the presidente...i simply had the best service there....i'm afraid to go else where now...

-dan

 

[scubabob1234]

hey buddies...

we just got back from a great time in coz....but since we live in LA, it's much easier for us to go to hawaii...

i loved COZ! but i think for travel time, hawaii would be the better choice for those 3-4 day weekend trips!

can anyone PLEASE compare the two?? is there any comparison????? i was hoping to know what to expect at hawaii with regards to diving, which isl is best, hotel, etc.

i simply loved the feeling of cozumel.....such a nice place, and i really, really enjoyed the presidente...i simply had the best service there....i'm afraid to go else where now...

-dan

I am a new diver also in LA so share your flight times
I have dove on Kauai off Poipu (shore dive) and it was great have been told that trip to Niihau is better than great; I will be going to Coz and Kona in August and will post my comparisons.

 

[Christi]

hey buddies...

we just got back from a great time in coz....but since we live in LA, it's much easier for us to go to hawaii...

i loved COZ! but i think for travel time, hawaii would be the better choice for those 3-4 day weekend trips!

can anyone PLEASE compare the two?? is there any comparison????? i was hoping to know what to expect at hawaii with regards to diving, which isl is best, hotel, etc.

i simply loved the feeling of cozumel.....such a nice place, and i really, really enjoyed the presidente...i simply had the best service there....i'm afraid to go else where now...

-dan

They are totally different places.

I spent close to a year in Hawaii (Oahu) back in 95 and even thought about moving there permanently, but I ended up here several years later.

Hawaii as an island(s) is prettier in my opinion, with the mountains, and long stretches of beautiful beaches, nicer resorts, more activities for non-divers and tourists in general, but the diving here is much better in my opinion as well as the sincerity of the people. Cozumel has its own charm and is much less expensive than Hawaii.

I guess my point is it depends on what is more important to you. I do love Hawaii and hop I can make it back there one day!

 

[JenM]

hey buddies...


can anyone PLEASE compare the two?? is there any comparison????? i was hoping to know what to expect at hawaii with regards to diving, which isl is best, hotel, etc.

-dan

Hawaii is very different but alot of fun and definitely worth it just for ease of travel if you live on the west coast. Hawaii is an all-around type of vacation. There's lots to do topside as well as underwater. The best diving is on the Kona coast of the Big Island. The underwater topography was mostly created by lava so there are swimthroughs, arches, caves, rocks. There's no soft coral in Hawaii (sea fans, gorgonians, etc) only hard coral, but there's a good diversity of fish including several species that are only found in Hawaii. Lots of butterfly fish, different creatures, lots of turtles, a good chance of seeing at least one or two manta rays during the day (as well as the manta night dive which is one of the top 10 dives in the world if the mantas actually show up), plus if you go in from Dec-March, you get humpback whales. You probably won't actually see them underwater but you can hear them on most dives. There's nothing like doing your safety stop just chilling out to whale song.

The diving itself is very easy. It is not very deep, usually between 30 and 80 feet, usually not much current, but there does tend to be alot of surge. Water temps are typically around 74-76 in the winter and 78-79 in the summer.

As for accomodations, there are lots of 1 and 2 bedroom condos in Kona, some decent hotels and if you are into luxury, some true five-star resorts north of Kona that will spoil you forever if you stay at them.

We just got back from our first trip to Coz and have been to Hawaii 4 times to dive. We will definitely be going back to both. Now that we've been, would love to go to Coz more, but Hawaii is just so much easier to get to and meets the requirements if you just want to get wet and have a good trip without any hassles.

 

[Charlie99]

I love 'em both!

Cozumel, and the Caribbean in general, have a lot more soft stuff like sponges and gorgonians than does Hawaii. Hawaii has lots of endemic (unique to Hawaii) fish. Drift diving is more common in Cozumel.

Boat dives are about twice as expensive in Hawaii; and Hawaii is also more expensive for food and lodging.

The water temperature in Hawaii is more constant. Mid-low 70's in winter, low 80's in summer. Cozumel has a wider variation in temp.

Hawaii rarely gets the really humid sort of weather you will see in Coz.

Most Hawaiin islands have lots and lots of interesting topside activities for non-divers. OTOH, my wife doesn't want to join me when I travel to Cozumel. Hawaii is beautiful. Coz has great underwater scenery, but so-so topside.

 

[deputydan1]

so good to know! you guys are great. i love this board...

as for the other islands....since my wife and i have been to the big isl, what about maui? we've never been there.....how's the diving there?? is it comparable to big isl? we've been wanting to see maui for the longest time....

aloha! and gracias!

-daniel

 

[tndiveinstruct1]

so good to know! you guys are great. i love this board...

as for the other islands....since my wife and i have been to the big isl, what about maui? we've never been there.....how's the diving there?? is it comparable to big isl? we've been wanting to see maui for the longest time....

aloha! and gracias!

-daniel

Having been to Hawaii 5 times, and having friends on all of the islands there, I must say that the diving on Maui is not as good as the diving on the Kona Coast of Hawaii Nei. However, it is still good. Check in with Mike Severns Diving or Charlie at Scuba Shack Maui.

The trips out to Molokini Crater is crowded with snorkelers that fill up the inside of the crater. The backside of Molokini Crater is an EXCELLENT wall dive.

The saying in the title means "Maui Is The Best" in Hawaiian and the overall experience on Maui is the best of all the islands I have been to. It is expensive over there, but there is NO shortage of things to do on Maui. You can dive, snorkle, take bike rides down the side of Haleakeala, try out windsurfing. It really is the best over there...

And should you really want to dive again at Kona, it's a simple 30 minute flight over that costs about $75.00 round trip last time I did it in 2/2004.

Hope this helps Dan!

Randy

 

[itziar]

I agree with all that was said before by others: Cozumel and Hawaii are both great places to go diving. I will only add that
Kona has the advantage of having great shore diving. You can plan a whole vacation of shore diving in spectacular and tranquile places with diverse topography and marine life, and you also have the option to do some great boat diving, including the famous Manta Ray night-dive.

I definetely would not miss any of the two places... they both are charming in their own way.

Itziar

 

[diveborg]

Plus the Big Island has an active volcano. Hiking from the end of the road to see the red hot flowing lava is a pretty memorable experience.

 

[deputydan1]

thanks, everyone!
will look into kona for our next trip!

anyone wanna come along????????

-dan