I'm tentatively planning on being in Cozumel December 9-16, and some of the events on the Brochure look intriguing - I wouldn't mind catching a couple of the lectures and programs, and I'm really curious about the Taste of Cozumel - what is that? Are booths set up somewhere, like on the Plaza, where I can sample foods from different restaurants? I can't seem to find any details in the brochure, and, since I don't read spanish, the website I found is completely unhelpful. Where can I find more detailed info?
For DJDiverDan, here's what I know or think I know for sure ....
tasteofcozumel@cozumelfest.com for all questions related to the Taste of Cozumel part of the festival.
Each day of the festival, starting at 4pm and running until (I think) 9pm, there are small booths set up with samples of various Mexican dishes. I read that one has lionfish to taste, but I cannot recall if that was last year, this year, or both. I would think that the booths are manned by local restaurants as this is supposed to be a get to know Cozumel kind of event.
For all .... The majority of the events take place in the museum, in front of the museum, or in the main square starting at 4pm. Diving starts at 8am, and there is a schedule of dive sites that people are trying to hit -- the New Mayan Meso American reef Route. This consists of Paradise, Chankanaab, Tormentos, Yucab, Santa Rosa, Paso del Cedral, Palencar Gardens, Palencar Caves, Columbia, and Punta Sur. One of these is a night dive. I think that there is a certificate for anyone who dives them all during the festival. My Spanish isn't that fantastic, but that's what I'm getting out of the English version of the program attached in the first message of this thread.
Last year there was a lion fish catch competition of some kind. I don't see it this year. There was a photo contest last year, and there's another this year. Wildlife, above, and below water seem to be the themes.
Additionally there are vendor booths -- I'm guessing the typical PADI, DAN, GoPro, ProDive, Scubpro, Bare, Sherwood, and such, and lectures. It seems from the program that there are 2-3 per night, and each is an hour long. I don't see all the topics completed, but there's a biologist, some photography ones, and Jeal-Michel Cousteau.
Bottom line .. the website, although in Spanish, does have a "
Contact Us" page and you can submit questions. I may give it a try and see what comes back.
Hope that helps. I'm still on the fence about the worth. :-(