Punta Sur/Devil's Throat

[ChuckP]

Devils throat is a great dive, all of Punta Sur is a great dive for that matter - if you like big formations.

But - your air consumption needs to be good, you need to be a capable diver and all those things SHOULD be judged by the dive op on dives leading up to that. I will not take just anyone there, I have to know you or have dove with you. Aldora does go to that area a lot, not always doing Devils Throat but the rest of Punta Sur, Challange goes there too - most others are hit or miss. You should not be able to dive with another op all week then walk into Challange or Aldora and do a one day trip to Punta Sur with them - it happens but should not happen.

These short dives you all experience, I wonder if it's because the dive ops just don't do it much and don't understand how to stretch it...... Sherif at Aldora has done Punta Sur, the whole thing in 120 minutes - it's very common for 80-90 minute dives there with them - they have big tanks, do it a lot and have a great plan. We often do 60-70 minutes on Aluminum 80's there - it's the plan or going with someone that has a plan in how to stretch the dive....

And, yes, you really need nitrox or it is a short dive - you exceed ppo of 1.4 but even dragging your belly in the sand on the exit of DT you are right at 1.6 and it's for less than a minute - it's done every day here......

 

[Dan G]

You may be able to find a dive op who will commit to taking you to DT via email, but that would be contrary to my experience. Any time I have been on a boat and a diver gets on and requests DT, the DM has said, "No. Not today." In my experience, which for DT is admittedly limited, the DM planned it the day prior with the entire boat. Everyone agreed and we all dove air. A good DM will want to know they can trust everyone in the group. The highest Nx I would dive DT with is 28%, because the MOD @ 1.4 PO2 is 131 and IIRC we exited DT close to 130'. The most common Nx mixes on Cozumel are 32% and 36% and I am unsure you can easily get anything else without spending a premium.

Unlike many, I really enjoyed this dive and think it is well worth doing. I found the entrance interesting and fun to dive. I enjoyed the swim through, as well, despite the fact that there is not much to see compared to caverns and caves in Tulum. Upon exit, the view id pretty cool and we had plenty of time to dive Cathedral which is one of my favorite sites on Cozumel.

 

[Ole Larson]

Here is a list of closures and corresponding dates:

View attachment 671420

Thanks for this information.

 

[Ole Larson]

I'll wager that we saw a lot more cool/beautiful things, (including some somewhat challenging swim-throughs), on our Santa Rosa dive yesterday during our 47 minutes at 85 - 103'.

Yes, I would agree that Santa Rosa is beautiful. I think my favorite spot has been Columbia Deep, breath taking in my opinion.

 

[Ole Larson]

Apart from what @cicopo said- which I agree with 100% - depending on when you are going in August, some reefs get temporarily closed. See below.

If you are going to do it, I would check with Aldora Divers. One of your better chances for getting on a boat with other experienced divers willing to do that dive and you can get a 100 or 120 CF tank, which would be a nice thing to have for such a deep dive.

I typically dive 100's air or Nitrox but have never tried a 120 didn't know that was an option, thanks for the information.

 

[uncfnp]

I typically dive 100's air or Nitrox but have never tried a 120 didn't know that was an option, thanks for the information.

I’ll be honest and admit I don’t often recommend Aldora but in this case I agree they are probably your best option since they have multiple boats and tend to go south regularly. But also agree that they will likely want to see you dive before taking you there.

They offer steel 100’s and 120’s. And (historical) dive as a group only, everyone ascends and descends together.

Also maybe reach out to Tres Pelicanos (my go to dive op). It would be an al 100 tank but they go south a fair amount and if you get another diver or two an afternoon dive there might be an option, if you plan it ahead of time.

 

[mediumone]

Yes, I would agree that Santa Rosa is beautiful. I think my favorite spot has been Columbia Deep, breath taking in my opinion.

Most dm's will lead you on a great Columbia Deep dive. Fewer, (a lot fewer), will lead you on a Santa Rosa or Bricks dive that I'd call special.

 

[gopbroek]

With Palancar caves down to Columbia closed for August and September the chances of going to Punta Sur are probably higher. The depth makes these dives 'advanced' and if there are relatively novice divers on a boat it becomes a problem. An additional issue of the southern sites is wind and swell. If the wind dips below east towards the south the sweells pick up the closer You get to Punta Sur.
One of my favorite dives is Maracaibo but it's a short dive with depths of 100' to 140'+. Without a group of experienced divers and the right surface and current conditions it is really not doable that often, but the wall is beautiful.

 

[ColoDale]

I've done Devils Throat quite a few times and in IMO it's a bucket list dive. It's a long swim through but if I dive Punta Sur I go further south or go directly over the wall to the usual exit. Of course, I have already done it so I can say this.

In any case, the sponge cross in the cathedral is long gone but exiting on the wall side is very cool. I will say that on occasion, we had to press ourselves against the swimthrough wall to let a large nurse shark squeeze past us coming the opposite way, that we once bailed on the dive since the island side entrance was almost sanded closed and again when the currents were bad, and once when I was last in line and some knucklehead up front sanded up the swimthrough so badly that I could barely see the fins of my wife in front of me and hoped no one in front took a wrong turn.

The other times were good . So, we have used two exits, one at ~100' and one at ~120'-125' (the throat). It's up to you to organize it and can depend on your air consumption. I have never done it as a deco dive. I recall doing it backwards once. (btw, I have not checked my logs but I just don't recall the lower throat exit being at 130-135').
Swells can be bigger down there.

Pay attention to the briefing.

I am not trying to talk you out of it. Just letting you know what you could expect. Go do it.

I use Bottom Time Divers and Raul (owner and DM) knows it well. He charges a $5 fuel charge for Punta Sur and he wouldn't go with one diver unless you have the whole boat. He does have experienced and return divers coming down frequently. Maybe dates match up and you all go. He may want a day with you on other sites to gauge experience. Send an email and ask, you never know.

He can get AL 100's (no steel 120's). Usually AL 80s.

As far as I know, no dive op regularly schedules Devils Throat and depends on demand.

 

[MMM]

IMO, it's one of those sort of dives if conditions are right, if divers are right, and you have a dive op that will do it with the previous two, then you are golden. All those things don't always line up. I dive with an op that will do this if the first two conditions are met, no questions, no extra charges. I have done it so many times that I will only do it if others on the boat really, really want it and they won't likely get another opportunity. Not one of my favourite dives. If we are going that far south in good conditions, I would really far rather do Maracaibo Shallows/Chunchakaab which is a truly unique site you won't find anywhere else in Cozumel. But it is so far south with a square profile that you will likely be on an "everyone surfaces together" rule and so nitrox for all makes for a lengthier dive.