New diver / Cozumel

[hermitagehill]

I am a new diver having just finished my PADI cert. last month. I am going to Cozumel for my first ocean diving experience the first 2 weeks in Sept. My dive instructor said that he thought that Cozumel was NOT the place to go for a new diver, I guessed that was because of the currents? I have made arrangements with Blue XT Sea dive group to shepherd me and my crew (3 newbies and 1 veteran diver) around. Does anyone on the board have any experience with this group? The lady sounds very professional and serious about her job, to me that sounds reassuring given my newbie-ness, but am I getting into "dive nazi" territory here?

On an aside any one have any jellyfish reports from Coz. to warn me about?

Thank you for your help. This site has been very helpful to me as a beginner. Herm

 

[redacted]

You will be fine with Blue XT. It is a great operation with excellent DMs who will take good care of you. I'm sure they will start you out on the shallower reefs where currents are usually quite light.

 

[twinkles]

I love coz. I am seriously considering moving there I like it so much. Though I wouldn't have picked it as my first dive spot. Because, I was a wimp. My sister and her husband learned to dive in Cancun (in essentially the same currents). They had no problems. I haven't dove with Blue XT Sea (I am loyal to Aldora--which I wouldn't recomment to you, yet), but I have stopped in to chat with them. I agree with you, they struck me in person as quite professional. I think you can count on them having a boat that goes to calmer shallower water if you remind them you are just starting out.

 

[djanni]

You've chosen an excellent operator. We always dive with Christi. She has a great crew who'll work with you on the sites and conditions and they have small boats.

Don't worry about the currents too much. While it's never completely predictable some sites have very little current while others typically have stronger currents. Shallow or deep doesn't really make too much difference with current. When the currents are strong you just go with them and fly along. Be sure to take an SMB.

On any given day/site we've encounted stronger currents in the Bahamas and Saba.

You'll love it...

 

[ligersandtions]

I did my OW certification in Cozumel. The dives were awesome, and definitely noob-friendly. You'll be fine and you'll have an amazing time! Drift diving is a lot of fun....and since you are basically being pushed along in the current, you don't have to work very hard, so air consumption is generally better.

Have a great time....I can't wait to go back!

 

[scubadobadoo]

You have picked possibly the best dive op in Cozumel. This is the same woman (Christi) who housed and fed my Wife and I for over a week as hurricane Wilma pounded Cozumel for three 36 hours straight. At the time, we weren't even diving with her. Now, we will never dive with anyone else. Our dive op kicked us out of our hotel and then told us good luck. Luckily we ran into Christi at the airport.

Go, have fun! You are in good hands as long as you explain to the dive op what you have just explained to us. Express your concerns, they will ease you into the experience, and then remember that YOU are ultimately in charge of your own safety when in the water. Cozumel is just fine for new divers.

Congrats and have a blast! Tell Christi and Hector that Becky and Jason in NYC said hello! Her future husband and I are both break dancing magicians, lol.

 

[don Francisco]

There might be better folks to go with, but I don't know of any. Christi is one of the best ops you could have picked, and if your instructor knew her, he would NOT have told you to avoid Cozumel.

Christi will make sure you get quality dives consistant with your skill and comfort level, and make sure both of those grow thoughout the week.

have a great trip. dF

 

[novalyne]

I just got back from Cozumel. Like you, I am a newer diver - I had only 10 dives to my name, all in freshwater. I found Coz dives to be pretty easy - in fact, some of the things like buoyancy and trim finally started "clicking" during my trip. I dove with Scuba Mau and told them I was new - they sent me with a personal DM for my first dive and I always felt looked after and taken care of. I'm sure if you let them know you are new, your dive shop will take good care of you.

I did do a couple of dives where the currents were definitely stronger (Paso de Cedral for one), and while I did okay, it was definitely a little unnerving at first. I had to work on relaxing and just going with the (faster) flow. So you might request one of the plenty of dive sites with gentler currents. I really liked Delila, Paradise, and Chankanaab Bolones for shallower dives with less current.

Have a great trip! I'm jealous!!

 

[oceanbound]

I am very new, (and new to these boards). I had only two freshwater dives before going to Cozumel last week. The op knew ahead of time that me and my buddy were new, and they booked three more newbies and we had a great time! I wore a 3 mm full suit due to concerns of jelly fish and landing on coral. oh, and our dive master also got me to drop 4 lbs of weight that I didn't need. It was an excellent experience and I hate that someone told you it wasn't the best place to start.

 

[hudson]

Cozumel is easy. Just don't lose sight of your group, otherwise you'll have to shoot a bag to ascend, and that is not a terribly newbie-friendly exercise.