May in Cozumel - wind conditions

[scoopscallahan]

I am looking at going back to Mexico after a disastrous trip in January. Apparently, I am VERY susceptible to motion sickness. I knew I had some tendencies (nauseous on roller coasters) so I took motion sickness pills on a dive in Isla Mujeres in January. I've never been more sick in my life. Winds were at about 15 knots. Decent waves but nothing closing the port. So, I want to go back but I know I need winds at 10 mph or less. I'm going to try the scopolamine patch regardless. I'm wondering if I should chance Cozumel in mid May or should I jump to shore dives and eliminate the chance of motion sickness altogether. Shore diving considerations would be Curacao or Bonaire. Cozumel is easier to get to (from DFW) and substantially less expensive. I just don't want to ever get that sick again or travel to dive to dive once and then pray for sweet death on the floor of the boat during the 2nd dive.

 

[Redfoot]

That stinks-sorry to hear you had such a rough time.

From what I have read, May and June generally get more flat conditions on the water.

Another thing to note is that Cozumel is almost all drift diving- i.e you are dropped into the current and drift along the reef/wall and then get picked up again. Some folks get motion sick drift diving, the sensation of moving in a new environment like that can be overwhelming. Just a thought- as you do not want to get sick at depth.

Have you been to an ear specialist to see if you have any inner ear issues that may be causing such vicious sickness?

 

[ggunn]

I am looking at going back to Mexico after a disastrous trip in January. Apparently, I am VERY susceptible to motion sickness. I knew I had some tendencies (nauseous on roller coasters) so I took motion sickness pills on a dive in Isla Mujeres in January. I've never been more sick in my life. Winds were at about 15 knots. Decent waves but nothing closing the port. So, I want to go back but I know I need winds at 10 mph or less. I'm going to try the scopolamine patch regardless. I'm wondering if I should chance Cozumel in mid May or should I jump to shore dives and eliminate the chance of motion sickness altogether. Shore diving considerations would be Curacao or Bonaire. Cozumel is easier to get to (from DFW) and substantially less expensive. I just don't want to ever get that sick again or travel to dive to dive once and then pray for sweet death on the floor of the boat during the 2nd dive.

I go to Cozumel a lot in late April and early May. A stiff SE breeze is very common at that time of year, but except for the most southern dive sites it doesn't usually affect the surface conditions much. The Cozumel dive sites are all close to the island and most are sheltered from a SE wind.

That said, it is the ocean, after all; there will nearly always be at least some wave action.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

You can always go to the cenotes.

 

[bhalah]

I am looking at going back to Mexico after a disastrous trip in January. Apparently, I am VERY susceptible to motion sickness. I knew I had some tendencies (nauseous on roller coasters) so I took motion sickness pills on a dive in Isla Mujeres in January. I've never been more sick in my life. Winds were at about 15 knots. Decent waves but nothing closing the port. So, I want to go back but I know I need winds at 10 mph or less. I'm going to try the scopolamine patch regardless. I'm wondering if I should chance Cozumel in mid May or should I jump to shore dives and eliminate the chance of motion sickness altogether. Shore diving considerations would be Curacao or Bonaire. Cozumel is easier to get to (from DFW) and substantially less expensive. I just don't want to ever get that sick again or travel to dive to dive once and then pray for sweet death on the floor of the boat during the 2nd dive.

I don't have any first hand experience with motion sickness medications, but some of my friends have been afflicted with motion sickness to varying degrees. A common theme with them is that they suffered much less if they started taking the medication several days before they were exposed to rough conditions.

 

[inquis]

You may have already looked into it, but taking meds the night before and morning of seems to be widely recommended for maximum effectiveness.

 

[Carlos Diver]

I also get motion sick. It was horrible as a kid, then outgrew it (going to high school then college on a mountain helped) now as an adult its back again. While on liveaboards, I take meclizine (Bonine) 12.5 mg at dinner then again in the morning. Its worked so far very well.

That being said, I havent had to take meclizine while in Cozumel. I have logged dozens of dives on Cozumel, and only once (deep south on Punta Sur) have I even had a slight feeling of being sick, which went away as soon as we entered the water. I think if you are concerned, try that regimen and start a few days before you get there, and I think you should feel fine. Hopefully .

Also, make sure your operator uses a fast, 8-pack boat. You want something that moves fast and cuts the waves, not rides them.

 

[scoopscallahan]

I also get motion sick. It was horrible as a kid, then outgrew it (going to high school then college on a mountain helped) now as an adult its back again. While on liveaboards, I take meclizine (Bonine) 12.5 mg at dinner then again in the morning. Its worked so far very well.

That being said, I havent had to take meclizine while in Cozumel. I have logged dozens of dives on Cozumel, and only once (deep south on Punta Sur) have I even had a slight feeling of being sick, which went away as soon as we entered the water. I think if you are concerned, try that regimen and start a few days before you get there, and I think you should feel fine. Hopefully .

Also, make sure your operator uses a fast, 8-pack boat. You want something that moves fast and cuts the waves, not rides them.

That was one question I had. The boat in Isla was tiny. I felt like I was on a glorified rowboat. The boat in the Florida Keys was huge (the wind that day was 1 mph, which was awesome). Are their operators in Cozumel with larger boats?

 

[Carlos Diver]

Look at the different operators websites. they will show you the general size of the boats. If you want large, large boats, you are looking Dressel Divers (Iberostar) or Scuba Club Cozumel.

 

[jonhall]

Are their operators in Cozumel with larger boats?

Not the usual ops that you will get recommendations about, but I would say your looking at Dressel Divers located at the Iberostar or ProDive located at Occidental/Allegro. Both have larger boats, short rides to dive sites (since they are right by the marine park), and both may go back to their dock where you can get off of the boat for surface intervals.