May in Cozumel - wind conditions

[morecowbells]

I feel your pain. I also get horrible motion sickness. Taking Dramamine starting the night before, then switching over to Bonine during the day helps tremendously. I eat a light breakfast then pop a cube of candied ginger in my mouth before heading out for dives. I am probably in the minority here, but for me the large boats are worse. I am more sensitive to the rolling motion versus the choppy motion of a small boat. Good luck.

 

[scoopscallahan]

This place is greatness. Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to take another shot at Mexico. Hope for lower winds, load up on Meclizine, and get on the biggest boat I can.

 

[NeilA.]

Also, utilizing operators close to the dive sites makes sense to me. Escape route, rather than hours of torture.

 

[cozcharlie]

@ggunn and others alluded to it , but just wanted to make it clear that the prevailing wind on Cozumel is from the east (coming across the Caribbean ), while almost all the dive sites are on the leeward (west) side of the island. This means about 80-90 percent of the time you aren’t exposed to big waves coming in off open ocean. I have never dove Isla Mujeres but I am not sure they are in the same situation (I glanced a dive site map and it looked like some sites were on windward side of Isla and others were on leeward )

All that said , as Gordon pointed out it’s still an ocean and you will be on a boat , so there’s always a little something. I am also with the group that thinks you might be better on a small fast boat than a slower big boat. I am not really prone to motion sickness, but the slow rolls bothered me more when I was kid than bumpy fast boats.

 

[ggunn]

I am also with the group that thinks you might be better on a small fast boat than a slower big boat. I am not really prone to motion sickness, but the slow rolls bothered me more when I was kid than bumpy fast boats.

That, and on the small fast boats you get to and from the sites faster so there's less boat time.

 

[Charred]

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.

Site like Paso de Cedral and Santa Rosa wall are literally right off Iberostar's dock. Shorter ride, bigger boat, you won't feel the waves or if you do for long.

 

[DandyDon]

My daughter gets motion sickness on car trips unless she drives which forces her to watch the horizon which is the best approach for motion sickness. Her driving scares me tho. You can't drive the boat, but try watching the horizon instead of your gear.

Good luck with the meclizine and short boat rides. I think the fast pangas will serve you better, but whichever - watch the traffic in front.

 

[gopbroek]

I have always found a greasy Torta with extra habanero from the marina bodega helps and a pepcid AC

 

[Carlos Danger]

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 get bad motion sickness too, so religiously pop a couple of regular strength Dramamine first-thing before starting my dive day, which usually serves me pretty well.

My first trip of the year is typically late May into early June. This is a good time to go because conditions are generally calm, it's not as hot, and there are fewer people on the island.

 

[ggunn]

I get bad motion sickness too, so religiously pop a couple of regular strength Dramamine first-thing before starting my dive day, which usually serves me pretty well.

My first trip of the year is typically late May into early June. This is a good time to go because conditions are generally calm, it's not as hot, and there are fewer people on the island.

We like to go in late April to early May for a lot of the same reasons, plus the migratory billfish are usually in the area.