Is Cozumel still Fishy?

[Jackie]

I first got certified in Cozumel over 20 years ago. While my recollections may not be too accurate, I seem to recall that Wilma did a bit of damage, in particular. Still I have a lot of great times 2010-2020. I was just in Roatan at Cocoview and was stunned at not just the poor conditions of the reefs but also at the lack of fish. On our night dive I saw a turtle, a flounder and an octopus. There is some pretty good macro, even I found a sea horse.
But it felt a little disappointing all round.
I am hearing the same about Caymans and Bonaire,
im going in December and hope it’s as good as I remember, I know that this persistent heat and high sea temperatures are not helping. Is the meso-American reef in decline?

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Sorry to hear that - but you won't see fishy like this in the Carribean:

Regrettably, true.

 

[Jackie]

Looks like RA (Mellisa‘s Garden).

 

[Zman96]

I have been diving Cozumel since 2008 and just got back a few days ago from another trip, and I have never seen dives so devoid of marine life. I did 4 dives all 90 minutes and saw very few adult fish (Columbia Deep, Palanacar Bricks, Punta Sur Wall, Cedral. I saw 1 small turtle, 1 really small reef shark, 1 Moray eel, a couple of small parrot fish and then all just very small fish, almost all of the above was on Cedral. I haven't seen an adult Grouper in at least 4 trips, nurse sharks are hard to find and even turtles that were once plentiful have diminished in numbers. I could not believe we were seeing 87 and 88 degrees on all dive computers. My guess it is a combination between temps, over fishing, and lionfish eating juvenile fish that contribute to the decline along with coral disease. Its sad to see, I love Cozumel but my need to dive 10-12 dives in 8 days just isnt there anymore.

 

[gopbroek]

I have been diving Cozumel since 2008 and just got back a few days ago from another trip, and I have never seen dives so devoid of marine life. I did 4 dives all 90 minutes and saw very few adult fish (Columbia Deep, Palanacar Bricks, Punta Sur Wall, Cedral. I saw 1 small turtle, 1 really small reef shark, 1 Moray eel, a couple of small parrot fish and then all just very small fish, almost all of the above was on Cedral. I haven't seen an adult Grouper in at least 4 trips, nurse sharks are hard to find and even turtles that were once plentiful have diminished in numbers. I could not believe we were seeing 87 and 88 degrees on all dive computers. My guess it is a combination between temps, over fishing, and lionfish eating juvenile fish that contribute to the decline along with coral disease. Its sad to see, I love Cozumel but my need to dive 10-12 dives in 8 days just isnt there anymore.

I noticed the decline over the pandemic and only recently have I seen reports of the government stopping some of the commercial poaching. The Lionfish population is probably the lowest in the caribe due to divers slinging them (I have tried to do my part) and the juveniles / small fry have rebounded. Unfortunately that fish filet you have at a local restaurant may very well have been poached in the park.

Vessel and catch seized off Cozumel for fishing without permits - Riviera Maya News

Cozumel, Q.R. -- Federal officials have seized illegally captured marine life and a vessel off the coast of Cozumel.

riviera-maya-news.com

Federal authorities seize Progreso boat with three tons of shark fishing illegally off Cozumel - Riviera Maya News

Cozumel, Q.R. -- Approximately three tons of shark meat was seized from an illegal Yucatan fishing vessel Monday off the island of Cozumel.

riviera-maya-news.com

 

[Zman96]

I know Cozumel has done a good job with killing the Lionfish, I have shot tons myself as well, but when you talk to people that dive very deep they are still quite prevalent over 130 feet. In total I only saw 2 on the 4 long dives I did. Even hunting up north a few months ago we did get to shoot a lot.

 

[ggunn]

I know Cozumel has done a good job with killing the Lionfish, I have shot tons myself as well, but when you talk to people that dive very deep they are still quite prevalent over 130 feet.

That's not at all surprising and it is evidence that divers removing them is the prime reason that there are so few around where we dive. It also means that if we stop killing them they will be back in short order. During our last two week stay we only saw three or four lionfish and they were all only about 4-5 inches in length.

 

[Mike (Annapolis MD)]

I would agree with most posts. Diving in Coz has been a staple for us though. In the past few years we have found sea horses, lots of reef fish and even got real lucky and found a green frog fish. So enjoy the warm water and most of get wet and stay safe.

 

[rick00001967]

Sadly the worldwide problem with reefs dying is something that may never be reversable.

With that comes less life in those areas.

I am certainly no expert but warmer water, polution, human over population, etc etc combines to make what may be a combination that might eventually lead to our demise.

Quite frankly, as far as coz is concerned, it has over rated diving imho. The southern areas certainly have amazing formations etc but we rarely see any substantial life.

Maybe try curacao? The reefs we dived maybe 6 or 7 years ago were beautiful. And i can def tell you we see more life in st maarten then coz. A combo trip of st maarten and saba would be pretty awesome.

 

[ggunn]

I first got certified in Cozumel over 20 years ago. While my recollections may not be too accurate, I seem to recall that Wilma did a bit of damage, in particular. Still I have a lot of great times 2010-2020. I was just in Roatan at Cocoview and was stunned at not just the poor conditions of the reefs but also at the lack of fish. On our night dive I saw a turtle, a flounder and an octopus. There is some pretty good macro, even I found a sea horse.
But it felt a little disappointing all round.
I am hearing the same about Caymans and Bonaire,
im going in December and hope it’s as good as I remember, I know that this persistent heat and high sea temperatures are not helping. Is the meso-American reef in decline?

Wilma did indeed bring about some changes to the reef; some are temporary and some are (at least when compared to a human lifetime) permanent. Some of the shallow areas that had lots of soft corals, sea fans, etc., were scraped clean by wave action during the storm and are just now starting to make a comeback. For a while many spots on the reef were buried in a layer of sand, but much of it has been washed away and/or grown over now. There are new swimthroughs that were not there before Wilma, and I assume that some which were there before the storm are no longer there,

I still enjoy diving Cozumel and I will make more trips there in the future, though change is constant and inevitable, Wilma was the "perfect storm" for Cozumel, and it did a number on many of the reefs there, but the protection of the west side of the island from most of the effects of the open Caribbean hasn't changed.

 

[Jackie]

It’s refreshing to hear honest opinions. And it’s good to have my expectations set.
I was thinking about Curaçao, maybe next time. The dive ops didn’t blow me away when I was looking. one place seemed like a cattle boat, the other is under new management and finding its footing. Sadly, the Dutch don’t get very high marks for the kind of hospitality we all enjoy in CZM.
I mean all the ops have great DMs and helpful people. that and the easy topside environment make it an easy destination.
I am remembering that Villa Blanca had an amazing reef before Wilma. is that right?