Photographer-Oriented Cozumel Diver Operators?

[Phoenix1]

Can anyone recommend dive operators in Cozumel that cater to underwater photographers?

It's my understanding that currents can be fairly brisk there, and a lot of divers really like drift diving and prefer to zip along without stopping. I would rather dive with others who, like me, would prefer to stop regularly. I'm probably describing a smaller operation, but it could be a large one with a few small boats in the fleet. I'm willing to pay a little more for a smaller number of likeminded divers.

Any ideas out there? I'm eager to consider as many places as people might recommend.

Thanks.

 

[Mossman]

I doubt you'll find anything like that. Basically, the currents vary from slack to strong and they're not entirely predictable. Stopping often involves kicking against the current and that's not very fun. Other times you can find shelter behind a ledge or coral head where you can squeeze off a shot or two, then catch up with the DM. Wide-angle works best. Second dive sites are shallower, there are more places to hide, and currents tend to be milder so you might even be able to take some macro.

That said, some DMs keep going without stopping as if they're trying for a distance record. I mainly dive to see critters (and take their pics), so those thrill rides don't suit me. Therefore, I was very happy when I finally found Jeremy at Living Underwater, the slowest DM I've had the pleasure of diving with in Cozumel. I'd give him a try. At the least, he'll balance your photo needs with the others on the boat and find sites that suit both.

Otherwise, my recommendations are 1) shore diving - currents are relatively slower close to shore and you can photograph all sorts of juveniles and other macro life, especially at night; and 2) diving somewhere else where currents are more photo-friendly, though you unfortunately won't get that splendid toadfish shot.

 

[judydivescoz]

Miguel Reyes a dive master at Blue Xta Sea is a great photographer and might be a great choice. Most of the small boat operators should accommodate your photography needs. Be specific with your expectations and call and ask questions. The current can be a challenge but most times the dive master and captain will be able tom get you to sites that will work.

 

[Tunaman68]

Jose at Blue Angel is another critter master (he dives with a magnifying glass) and is a very chill guy. As has been said, it's a matter of getting the rest of the boat 'on board' so to speak.....

 

[DandyDon]

If you want a freshwater rinse on the boat, you may have to carry your own. It can be done, or you can ask your Op if s/he can. I get upset when I see a mask go in a camera bucket.

 

[jlyle]

I'm always surprised that you don't see very many "big" cameras in Cozumel. There are lots of "happy snappies," but only a few, housed, dual strobe dslrs. As a result, unless you travel with a group of like minded u/w photographers, you will often wind up being the odd man out on a dive.

We have dived with Jesus at Scuba Club Cozumel for years. Jesus enjoys diving and finding critters for the divers/photographers and will often pause on the reef to let the "drifters" fly by.

If you tell the dive guide what you want to see and do, most will go out of their way to please you. Just ask!

You can always sign up for a PADI specialty (private instruction for group rates) and have your own DM to dive with or simply hire your own guide.

As Mossman mentioned, you should stay somewhere, like SCC, where you can shore dive and play with your camera to your heart's content.

All of the boats at SCC have freshwater rinse tanks.

Check out my website for what to look for in Cozumel - many of the images were taken on shore dives.

---------- Post Merged at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:22 PM ----------

If you want a freshwater rinse on the boat, you may have to carry your own. It can be done, or you can ask your Op if s/he can. I get upset when I see a mask go in a camera bucket.

Not nearly as upset as I got when an idiot rinsed his girlfriend's wetsuit in the camera tank after the first dive. My wife had to restrain me.

 

[MMM]

I will echo what Mossman said. One of the reasons I dive with Jeremy at Living Underwater is because he goes SOOOOO slowly and loves to find teeny-tiny things for me to photograph. How he sees them, I don't know; I often need to look through my magnifying glass to spot them. Younger eyes, I guess.. Also, he has a HUGE fresh water rinse tank for keeping cameras in. And yes, you WILL pay a little more, but you will also be offered LP steel 120s for maximum bottom time.

Current notwithstanding, I like to poke along and can't stand diving with DMs who try to set world records for how quickly they can cover a reef.

 

[Phoenix1]

I may be the odd man out if the big camera observation holds. I've just upgraded from a Nikon D700 to a D800 system (the housing arrived about 20 minutes ago, and I am pumped!), so I'm dying to get to work with it.

I dove in Providencia, Colombia this spring where there was no rinse bucket either. Our hotel did have a fresh water pool, however, so me, my wife my evening adult beverage and my rig went for a traditional evening dip. The solution wasn't ideal, but it was the best anyone had.

I think I've seen personal DMs available at some places for around $50 a trip. That might be a worthwhile investment if it proves possible to meet up with the rest of the group at the end of the dive.

---------- Post Merged at 03:48 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 03:41 PM ----------

I will echo what Mossman said. One of the reasons I dive with Jeremy at Living Underwater is because he goes SOOOOO slowly and loves to find teeny-tiny things for me to photograph. How he sees them, I don't know; I often need to look through my magnifying glass to spot them. Younger eyes, I guess.. Also, he has a HUGE fresh water rinse tank for keeping cameras in. And yes, you WILL pay a little more, but you will also be offered LP steel 120s for maximum bottom time.

Current notwithstanding, I like to poke along and can't stand diving with DMs who try to set world records for how quickly they can cover a reef.

Another vote for Living Underwater. I don't mind paying a little more for value.

I divide my time between macro and wide. I like macro, and good wide is a challenge (so I'm trying to get better at it). We just came back from 3 weeks in Bonaire, where we go yearly, so we have better "little critter" eyes than many. Still, six eyes are better than two.

BTW, I assume LU, SCC and most other dive sites offer Nitrox. I've seen one price at $11 per tank. Is that in the standard range? Bonaire has spoiled us, where Nitrox is free, but everywhere else it's between 10 and 15.

 

[MMM]

Yes, nitrox is widely available, albeit generally only 32%. I always use it on my 2nd tank due to long bottom times. I pay $10/tank. It might be less for ops using AL80s.

---------- Post Merged at 03:48 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 03:41 PM ----------
BTW, I assume LU, SCC and most other dive sites offer Nitrox. I've seen one price at $11 per tank. Is that in the standard range? Bonaire has spoiled us, where Nitrox is free, but everywhere else it's between 10 and 15.

 

[Ron Lee]

If I were on a dive where the DM spent five minutes at a spot every few yards, I would leave. I vary my scan between wide views and macro views but still move along.