Recent Visit to Cozumel - Feedback
- Thread starter tashton
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I read in the USA Today 'weekend' section on January 13, 2006 an article titled, "Kicked-Back Cancun kicks in". They state:
"A few reefs right offshore were slightly damaged, say divers at the Scuba Club Cozumel. B ut the more famous reefs surrounding Cozumel, such as Punta Sur, Santa Rosa, and El Mirador, were not harmed." They go on to say that all reefs were expected to recover speedily and that the shifting sands (during Wilma) has actually revealed new sites for exploration, including newly revealed caves at Palancar.
I hope this helps,
Greg
"A few reefs right offshore were slightly damaged, say divers at the Scuba Club Cozumel. B ut the more famous reefs surrounding Cozumel, such as Punta Sur, Santa Rosa, and El Mirador, were not harmed." They go on to say that all reefs were expected to recover speedily and that the shifting sands (during Wilma) has actually revealed new sites for exploration, including newly revealed caves at Palancar.
I hope this helps,
Greg
In early March I'll be in the Playa del Carmen area and a few of us are planning on taking a day trip to go diving in Cozumel... if I get back before you leave, I'll be sure to report back what I hear. Not sure who we'll be going through or anything like that yet.
scubaboyff
Registered
I was wondering the same thing, but the wife and I will be going the end of Feb, first part of March. I 'll try and give you a report when we get back.
I'm going there a week from Friday (leaving 27th). I have read many good things in the Cozumel threads here on Scubaboard. I can update when I get back. Despite the mild winter here in MN, it will be better diving than I did Sunday afternoon!
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tashton:
As long as the terrestrial infrastructure (dive ops, hotels, etc) is up and working, the reefs will be there to greet you.
Even after a hurricane, the reef is undergoing a natural process or regeneration. For the careful eye, there is always something to see.
In that your "profile" has not been filled out, have you ever been to Belize or the Bay Islands (Roatan, etc.)? Expand your horizons. Coz will be there when you return.
rjohn
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My dive partner just came back from Cozumel with his girlfriend. He was going back with me in February but has informed me it is not worth it. He says the infrastructure is not really up yet, (Hotel Barracuda is NOT ready as they had been told it was and they had trouble finding other lodgings). The deeper reefs are OK but the shallower reefs which were always the crown jewels were devastated. The coral is still there but the sponges and ferns were swept away. He saw more sharks than usual but not as much of the teeming sealife we were used to. He thinks it needs another year. We both are hooked on the drift diving which Cozumel is famous for. Does anyone have a recommendation where we can find similar conditions, i.e. great visibility, drift diving, spectacular sealife, etc? I know it will be hard to match Cozumel but I have not been diving in a year and I'm desperate.
GO TO COZUMEL!!! We were there at the beginning of the month and had a fabulous experience. We stayed at the Hotel Cozumel. It is completely up and running- including the dock. We dove with some people who were staying at the Casa Mexicana. They said that it was great too. The dives were all great. We dove Baracuda, San Juan, Columbia, etc. The small patchy reef off of Papa Hogs was severely damaged but the rubble has created very interesting diving, as fish, eels etc have adapted to new 'homes'.
Remember, the dive operators and Dive Masters that we depend on to take us on great and safe dives need the diving community to come spend their money and get the word out that the diving is still great! Plus, with fewer cruise ships in port, you have much less traffic at the dive sites.
All of the great restaurants (Primas, Palmas, Guido's, Pancho's Back Yard, and Rockin Java's etc) downtown are up and running. Chaudrai's grocery store is back to normal too. Our only real disappointment was that McDonalds and the Burger King next to the ferry dock were closed. If you have kids that need their french fries and chicken tenders, you can go to the Burger King behind the Chaudrai's.
(We took our 5 and 9 year olds)
All that being said, be sure to check on your specific hotel to make sure that it is at 100%. Many of those outside of the downtown area were completely devastated and won't be back anytime soon. Also remember that those areas that were damaged but are now open are often nicer and newer than they were before.
Remember, the dive operators and Dive Masters that we depend on to take us on great and safe dives need the diving community to come spend their money and get the word out that the diving is still great! Plus, with fewer cruise ships in port, you have much less traffic at the dive sites.
All of the great restaurants (Primas, Palmas, Guido's, Pancho's Back Yard, and Rockin Java's etc) downtown are up and running. Chaudrai's grocery store is back to normal too. Our only real disappointment was that McDonalds and the Burger King next to the ferry dock were closed. If you have kids that need their french fries and chicken tenders, you can go to the Burger King behind the Chaudrai's.
(We took our 5 and 9 year olds)
All that being said, be sure to check on your specific hotel to make sure that it is at 100%. Many of those outside of the downtown area were completely devastated and won't be back anytime soon. Also remember that those areas that were damaged but are now open are often nicer and newer than they were before.
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