Is Shore Diving at the Presidente in Coz worth it?

[HammerNoMore]

ebony111 once bubbled...
And I will be careful not to catch the current to the cruise ship port!

Just make sure you start the dive swimming against the current. You'll use about 1/5 the air/time coming back depending on the current but as a new diver you should start conservitavely and assume you're going to use as much air coming back as going. You can then adjust your turn around time on future dives.


James

 

[Charlie99]

James Goddard once bubbled...


Just make sure you start the dive swimming against the current. You'll use about 1/5 the air/time coming back depending on the current but as a new diver you should start conservitavely and assume you're going to use as much air coming back as going. You can then adjust your turn around time on future dives.

An even more conservative approach is to "stay within the buoys". El Presidente has buoyed off two areas to keep out boats. The approach to the piers is between the two buoyed areas. Other dive operators typically pick up customers at the pier next to the restaurant.

The entrance to a rather busy small boat harbor is just to the north of the northern buoyed area.

There isn't much within swimming distance further offshore than the buoyed area. Just more sand, with scattered vegatation and ocassional small clump of coral. I found the most interesting area to be the little miniwall of coral between the 7' shelf and the 22' shelf. That's only 100' offshore.

Paradise Reef is just to the north side of the channel into the small boat harbor. The Scuba Du night boat dives take less than minute to get to the reef, but I still recommend using the boat for diving Paradise since you can drift northward with the current and get picked up at the end of your dive rather than having to swim against a current.

 

[5615mike]

ebony111 once bubbled...
[
Question: Does anyone have experience with DMs that will come pick us up at our hotel (presidente) if we decide to go with another outfit?

Thanks again,
Josh [/B]

Josh

most of the DO will pick up up at Presidente. You might think of diving with Scuba Du the first several days and then try another DO to get a feel for how others compare. There are many posts on this board about DO in Coz so do a search under Mexico.

 

[ggunn]

One more thing...

If, on a shore dive anywhere along that stretch of shoreline, you go any distance out, come all the way back in (or at least inside a swim buoy chain) at depth. The boat traffic along there gets very heavy at times, and they go really fast.

Carry a safety sausage with you as well, in case you must surface unexpectedly.

I guess that was two more things... :^)

Have a great trip, and hoist a cold Leon Negra (or several) for me!!!

 

[MAGELLAN]

Hey it's worth a try,
That's a pretty cheap dive if you think about it, and your on nobody eles's time table. I like the idea of doing your morning boat dives and then taking your time in the afternoon doing shore dives, of course your not gonna see the same qualit of stuff, but a shore dive in cozumel is bound to be better than any lake dive in Texasut:

 

[ggunn]

There's one shore dive I like to do there. You can put in at the north end of the La Ceiba complex, swim out to the wall, and drift down to Villablanca or Lorena (Caribe Blu), depending on the speed of the current. It's not a bad little dive, and it's cheap.

 

[Ondeen]

This board is great! Thanks for all the info. I just sent Scuba Du an email to confirm the cost/transportability of tanks/weights if I decide to go with someone else.

I think the idea of doing morning boat dives and then afternoon shore dives sounds great.

And I will be careful not to catch the current to the cruise ship port!

At a minimum, if i do 3 days with scuba du i get the unlimited shore dive and i can always change up if i am not happy.

Question: Does anyone have experience with DMs that will come pick us up at our hotel (presidente) if we decide to go with another outfit?

Thanks again,
Josh

I went into town and armed with info from Undercurrent, I found a reputable dive operation that only took out six/boat. I was picked up after the Presidente boat went out and returned before it returned. You probably wouldn't need info from Undercurrent when there are so many here who could direct you to good operators.

 

[Photocoz]

Wow - you now have a TON of GREAT info! True, Cozumel is known for it's boat dives as oppossed to shore dives ( Bonaire is known for its shore dives!)but the reality is that we DO have really good shore dives! The sunken airplane in front of El Cid La Ceiba is home to schools of fish, large crabs a large green moray, and the entire little reef line around it is PACKED with marine life (if you take the time to look!) It is probably the best night shore dive on the island! And I have had many clients get great images right in front of Presidente both day & night. Other good options are:
Chankanaab National Park (daytime only)
In front of Casa Del Mar / Scuba Shack
In front of Villa Blanca Hotel / Papa Hogs Dive Shop
In front of Scuba Club Cozumel (but you might have to be a guest - not really sure)
In front of Baracuda Hotel

One single coral head can hold a plethera of creatures if you take the time to look and that is the beauty of shore diving - you usually have that luxury!
Have a wonderful time!
Holly
www.photocozumel.com
ISLAND PHOTO-VIDEO CENTER OF COZUMEL

 

[Christi]

I went into town and armed with info from Undercurrent, I found a reputable dive operation that only took out six/boat. I was picked up after the Presidente boat went out and returned before it returned. You probably wouldn't need info from Undercurrent when there are so many here who could direct you to good operators.

Do you realize that this thread was from August of 2003???