Isla Mujeres instead of Cozumel?

[jdlo]

In about a month time, I'll catch a flight to Cancun to do
some diving. Until now, I always went to Cozumel, however,
I would like to try something else. The diving is great, but
the island quite boring. I did a search on the board for diving
in Isla Mujeres, but not a lot is available.
Does anybody have information about the diving: dive centers
to recommend, dive sites, ... I would dive 2 or 3 days in
Isla Mujeres before going to the cenotes.

Thanks!

 

[scorpionfish]

Hi, jdlo!

Well, if you think Coz is "boring", Isla will positively put you to sleep! It is a small Island with a fairly large number of small "hotels" which are more like guest houses. There are about a dozen restaurants or cafes on island and some gift shops, too. It used to be a fairly isolated spot and then the Cancun folks spotted it and now a whole slew of boats make there ways across the 5 miles of water.

I have not been there recently, but there is one dive, that if still done,that is a must: the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks. During the day you used to be able to see dozens of sonambulent sharks, including Bull Sharks, on that dive. If it is still the same, it is worth doing. Other than that, the diving is similar to that on Coz. The only shop with which I am familiar is Bahia Dive Shop:

http://www.isla-mujeres.net/shops/bahia/home.htm

They did a reasonable job, but times may have changed. Be certain to ask about the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks, how big their boat is now and how many divers they take. Isla is no longer a diver's town the way Coz is and, so, things may have changed substantially!

Since it has become so popular with folks visiting Cancun, I suggest an early start to avoid the sleep-in crowd!

Hope this helps.

Scorpionfish

 

[jdlo]

Thanks for the info, scorpionfish.

Might check out the shark dive and than head out to Cozumel
for the remaining days.
You were mentioning bull sharks, are these not to be avoided?
I thought they can be quite agressive, as opposed to nurse
sharks for instance.

 

[scorpionfish]

Hi, jdlo!

Yep, they are to be avoided from all I have read, but there they were dozing away! And, believe me, I did nothing to make them pay any special attention to me!

Let me know if they still do the dive and, if you go, how it was.

Thanks,

Scorpionfish

 

[DocVikingo]

Bulls are long gone, and most of the nurses as well. Lucky if you see even a few small nurses.

You need to get down to Mexico more often, amigo.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[scorpionfish]

DocVikingo once bubbled...
Bulls are long gone, and most of the nurses as well. Lucky if you see even a few small nurses.

You need to get down to Mexico more often, amigo.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

Well, Doc,

As I wrote, it's been a long time since I went to Isla and, clearly, the Cancun crowd has had its effect. La Cueva used to be a neat dive and I am sad to hear it has gone the way of all whatever.

As for getting down to Mexico, I cannot seem to get there more than 2-3 times a year. At one time that would have been sufficient to keep up, but now, it seems, things are changing more rapidly. Sad, sad, sad.

Now, I am heading over to Coz pretty soon for my annual communing with the Spotted Eagle Rays. Don't tell me they have disappeared since last year!

Scorpionfish

 

[montereydivemas]

just got back yesterday from cancun we did a reef dive with aquaworld on the reefs off of mujeres and it was GREAT. lots of life clear warm water and a huge eagle ray. we got lucky because at this time of year not too many people are around so we got a big cattle boat all to ourselves. 7 divers and 4 staff so they took good care of us. loved the island too, rented a souped up golf cart and circled the island and beached it for pina coladas at garrafon. going back soon !!