New to Cozumel, drift diving and dive shop "Blue Project"

[MMM]

Lucky you! A few days ago we went to Palancar Caves. We were the first boat to the site but certainly not the last. I would have to guess that we saw at least 150 divers pass us during the dive. Some were in large groups (there was probably more than one DM to maintain the requisite ration but they were all diving in a herd) and some were in smaller groups. They were above us and below us. Our DM finally just moved over to the shallows where we continued in peace.

Correct, but it never happened to me. They do not mix the groups (neither from different ops) for a matter of reciprocal respect. You can occasionally meet other groups, but you will never dive with dozen people from other groups.
Also, almost all the dives in Cozumel are drifts, a couple of minutes of separation is enough to get distance from other groups.

 

[npole]

That's Palancar during the "bad" days, our DM's were smart enough that when they found a large number of boats there, we just divert on another (less crowded) reef, moving Palancar to another (better) moment. There's so many beautiful reefs out there.

 

[ggunn]

You can occasionally meet other groups, but you will never dive with dozen people from other groups.

If you do a night dive on Paradise Reef you might. Once a couple of years ago a cattle boat dropped at least 20 divers right on top of us. Couldn't they see our lights???

 

[Dogbowl]

If you do a night dive on Paradise Reef you might. Once a couple of years ago a cattle boat dropped at least 20 divers right on top of us. Couldn't they see our lights???

I aborted a night dive at Paradise recently due to the swarm of divers descending on us. I got claustrophobic because there were so many impolite divers in the water, literally enveloping our small group of 3. It’s like everyone forgot their manners on the boat.