July 2003 Snorkel in Cozumel?

[xeon]

I'm going on a cruise that will take me to Key West, Cozumel and Belize. I thought I might like to snorkel in Cozumel, any tips or advice in doing this? To be specific I'd like to take out somewhere in the morning around 10-11'ish and be back with time to spare so the wife can do her dolphin thing.

We have two small girls, so we will have to juggle between the two of us. Any comments or suggestions appreciated. I've even heard Belize might be a better place to snorkel, any comments on that?

I will be taking pictures btw.

 

[cid90]

I would recommend going to your local dive shop and purchasing quality mask, fins, snorkel, and snorkel oral inflatation vest. The cruise ship will probably have gear but the quality will probably be an issue.

If you are looking to get some depth for photo's, you should consider taking a snorkel class with your local dive shop and learn how to weight yourself properly in order to get down deep and learn the basics. It can be done in one afternoon.

You should also consider buying a dive skin. It is a thin layer of protection between you and things like jelly fish and fire coral. It is also good sun protection. Your back side is going to get major sun!

Since you are on cruise ship time, I would just get with the excursion director once you are onboard and go out with the cruise ship folks. Try all the locations.

If the cruise snorkel trips do not fit into your schedule, ask around and find out where you can snorkel from the shore on your own.

Have fun!

 

[xeon]

First of all I noticed your location... nice place I hear some of the smartest, good-looking... people are born there. I didn't stay there long, but I've taken my kids to the science museum there and they love it. Anyways, back on topic.

I think the cruise offered excursions are offered by the ship, but run by people on location at the stops. I am also looking at some of the local shops directly, all of which will supply me with fins, mask and snorkel. I'm hoping they have something that isn't total junk, or at least I hope. I'm not sure about purchasing a set, since my snorkeling is few and far between. Snorkeling in my pool just isn't too exciting. LOL

I might look into the skin, I saw some local shops will rent shorties or full suits rather cheap. Excuse my ignorance on this one, but is a skin suit the same as a dive suit? I'm also not too sure if I need to worry about the sun since I have a relatively good tan and generally don't burn. Again, if this is a dump response let me know.

I used to live in the Florida Keys when I was a kid, but I was like 6 when I moved away. I did spend many hours out on the ocean with my dad who was and maybe still is an avid scuba diver. I'm looking forward to getting back in the ocean as I remember it, not the dirty murky water I see further up the coast.

To further this just a bit further, what is the snorkeling view like in and around Cozumel? I found a few pictures, but there were mostly fish closeups and nothing panaromic. I want to see some nice reefs if I can full of fish... I keep a reef tank in my home, so I want to see more than a fish here and there if you know what I mean.

 

[cid90]

Those are all good questions.
In Cozumel you can go ashore and walk to a dive shop. They will let you rent all the stuff. Some of the shops in Cozumel will let you snorkel right out their back door. The staff from the ship can probably point you to a shop close by.

A dive skin is similar to a wet suit. It is very thin material. If you are not worried about getting sun burned or possible jelly fish sting then I would not worry about it. No wet suit or shorty needed this time year since you will be on the surface.

The view in Coz will be great, even for snorkeling. If you know how to free dive (hold your breath and descend) you may be able to get some pics. Anywere there is a pier or underwater structure should have plenty of sea life. Just stay in a desigated swim area. I hear The water in Belize is awesome too.

Where the ships dock in Key West there will not be much to see in the water. You would have to take a dive boat out for that. If you have time it is worth it. Walk down Duval street and there will be guys set up on the street selling trips.

Take care and have fun. If you come back to the boards after the trip let me know how it was. I have not been to Belize....yet.

 

[Brules]

How old are your daughters?

Is your wife wanting to snorkel as well?

What time does your ship dock?

Email me if you want: jstory@pldi.net

I can pass on alot more info that way.....

Justin

 

[xeon]

In Key West I decided to go on a charter fishing boat, so I'm not sure I'll have time to snorkel there. Maybe if I have time, but we'll have to see when I get there.

I signed up with one of the cruise excursions for snorkeling in Cozumel. The description says it takes you by boat to one of the best snorkeling sites in Cozumel. Where that is I do not know. The only other description is that it will be 15-20ft. of water and all equipment will be provided and will eat up about 3 hours. Hopefully I can free dive good enough here to get some good pictures. I'll work on it in my pool this week.

In Belize we have scheduled a tour for Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha, which I think will be fun. We are there for a full day so maybe I can fit in a little water time there too. I imagine there will be dive shops scattered around there too.

As far as my kids go, they are 3 and 6. So water sports are pretty much out for them. The six year old does swim, but not well enough. My wife isn't crazy about snorkeling either, in fact I think it scares her. The fact that she is scared of it is enough to tell me not to push her into doing it. So I have to go it alone, but to be honest I need the alone time. Having started a business this year I'm about ready to pull my hair out and look forward to a relatively stress free week.

We will be arriving in Cozumel via Royal Caribbean on July 23rd aboard the Enchantment of the Seas. We will dock around 10AM and be departing at 7PM. So far I've got snorkeling scheduled at around our dock time and my wife is doing the swim with the dolphins thing around 3PM. Brules if you have any other ideas, I'd love to hear them. Keep in mind the age of the kids, someone has to be watching them and we might just hang out at Chankanaab which I think they might enjoy.

I'll certainly follow up after the trip. I'll even share photos... if I can get some good ones worth sharing.

 

[Brules]

Hey Xeon, email me PLEASE! I may have an idea for you that if it worked would prolly be good for you wife and 2 small kids.....

Get ahold of me at: jstory@pldi.net

Justin

 

[xeon]

I had a good time snorkeling in Cozumel. The excursion I went on did have 60+ people, but it was still fun nonetheless. I just tried to stay at the back of the pack to stay out of everyone else way, which seemed to work. Getting beat with a flipper isn't exactly fun. Near the end some were getting pretty worn out, so many headed for the boat which cleaned up some of the mess.

My wife surprised me the day before I went snorkeling and said she'd like to go with me. So we signed her up and really she enjoyed herself. She didn't do any diving, but had a great time as the water clarity was top notch.

Both of us had to adjust our breathing at first, but we relaxed pretty quickly. She had never done it and it has been a very long time since I've snorkeled. Actually it's been like 24 years. LOL

We snokeled close by the southern most cruise ship dock and did two separate reefs. The first was about 10-20ft. of water and the second was 20+. I enjoyed the first reef more as there was much more life on it. We were also in a pretty good current on the first one and I found myself applying the brakes and circling back a few times. I took 27 pictures with my handy dandy disposable camera and got some good pictures. I'll have to scan them after I hook my scanner back up.

We also got a nice picture by a local who bombards the snorkel groups for photo ops. The dive masters called them the popparazi. He had some fish food or something on him and had a school of fish at his disposal for a pretty cool pic. It was overpriced at $20 for the pic, but it's a picture my wife and I will enjoy.

If we go to Cozumel again, we will definitely go snorkeling. I will probably do it differently and go with a local operator though.

I also enjoyed Belize and from talking to others the snorkeling was top notch also. Some went to shark alley, which has rays and nurse sharks. I didn't even touch the water though as we toured some of the Mayan ruins there. The mosquitos were pretty thick at the ruins, but nothing a little repellant would not take care of.

I'm glad I didn't do anything in the water at Key West... well actually I went light tackle fishing... but talking to a couple that went scuba diving... they could barely see their hand in front of their face. This was their second similar experience there, although the local dive operator says it usually is better. :shrug:

 

[cid90]

Sounds like you had a good trip. Thanks for the report.
What was the quality of the rental gear? My folks are cruising in Feb. and can't decide if they are going to bring their own.

 

[ggunn]

cid90 once bubbled...
Sounds like you had a good trip. Thanks for the report.
What was the quality of the rental gear? My folks are cruising in Feb. and can't decide if they are going to bring their own.

If they have their own stuff, I say bring it. Mask fit is a personal thing, and a snorkel... Well, I'm not particulaly fastidious, but I prefer to use my own or share only with family in a pinch.