Wanted to share our recent experience in Isla Mujeres.
we decided to go and try our luck with sailfish snorkeling the 2nd week of Jan. We organised it through Squalo Divers. Unfortunately the weather was not good half of the week so we only got to go out once. Squalo didn't have enough people so they put us on the boat from cancun run by Solo Buceo. We saw whalesharks, manta rays and mobile rays, but no luck with sailfish. Apparently it is 50% chance of seeing them per outing according to the guide so the real chance may be lower. We may try again in Feb. On the whole we enjoyed it. The sea wasn't too rough and the boat was nice and fast.
We also did some diving with Casa Buceo who were willing to go out earlier in the day around 7 - 7:30 and most of the time just took the two of us out. Diving in the south side around the wrecks was great with lots of eagle rays. We were told that the current can be quite strong at times and indeed the 2nd time we dove there some kicking was needed to get to the wreck. We dove near the shark hole which was uneventful other than spotting a longnose batfish which is our first time seeing it. The other highlight was the Lavandera reef which was beautiful unspoiled reef.
Overall we enjoyed our stay in Isla though felt like we exhausted diving potential during the 4 days we dived there. Casa Buceo was professionally run win good equipment - I rented the bcd which seemed very new - and valet service setting up and cleaning of the gear. It is out of town but that wasn't too much of a problem since the cabs are cheap.
I wouldn't go out of my way to go diving there again - Cozumel is hard to beat from convenience of diving and the variety and quality. But the eagle rays were pretty spectacular to watch. at one time there seem to be around 20+.
we will try the sailfish spotting again in the future but whether we combine it with cenotes and base ourselves in the mainland or try Isla again would be difficult to decide.
we decided to go and try our luck with sailfish snorkeling the 2nd week of Jan. We organised it through Squalo Divers. Unfortunately the weather was not good half of the week so we only got to go out once. Squalo didn't have enough people so they put us on the boat from cancun run by Solo Buceo. We saw whalesharks, manta rays and mobile rays, but no luck with sailfish. Apparently it is 50% chance of seeing them per outing according to the guide so the real chance may be lower. We may try again in Feb. On the whole we enjoyed it. The sea wasn't too rough and the boat was nice and fast.
We also did some diving with Casa Buceo who were willing to go out earlier in the day around 7 - 7:30 and most of the time just took the two of us out. Diving in the south side around the wrecks was great with lots of eagle rays. We were told that the current can be quite strong at times and indeed the 2nd time we dove there some kicking was needed to get to the wreck. We dove near the shark hole which was uneventful other than spotting a longnose batfish which is our first time seeing it. The other highlight was the Lavandera reef which was beautiful unspoiled reef.
Overall we enjoyed our stay in Isla though felt like we exhausted diving potential during the 4 days we dived there. Casa Buceo was professionally run win good equipment - I rented the bcd which seemed very new - and valet service setting up and cleaning of the gear. It is out of town but that wasn't too much of a problem since the cabs are cheap.
I wouldn't go out of my way to go diving there again - Cozumel is hard to beat from convenience of diving and the variety and quality. But the eagle rays were pretty spectacular to watch. at one time there seem to be around 20+.
we will try the sailfish spotting again in the future but whether we combine it with cenotes and base ourselves in the mainland or try Isla again would be difficult to decide.
