Shore diving on Cozumel at present

[Daxter]

Hello Christi, please let us know how the shore dive is at Caribe Blu if you end up there from your previous post I will be down there in April. Thanks, Tom

 

[MMM]

In response to the original post on this thread (I think), there is great and easy shore diving in front of Caribe Blu - at least there used to be. I've probably done 40 or 50 shore dives there. I just get in, swim against the current for about 40 or 45 minutes (usually taking me up to about Villa Blanca/Papa Hogs pier, depending on how much I dawdle along the way) and then turn around and go back with the current. No taxis. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has done this dive post Wilma however as to what is left there and what markers there are left.
Marg

 

[harpua]

I am interested in this information as well. My wife and I will be staying at Caribe Blue Feb 26-March 5th. We are fairly new to the sport and would welcome the ability to get some puttering time in from shore, as long as its safe.

 

[ggunn]

I am interested in this information as well. My wife and I will be staying at Caribe Blue Feb 26-March 5th. We are fairly new to the sport and would welcome the ability to get some puttering time in from shore, as long as its safe.

I have done the Villblanca to Caribe Blu dift, both diving and snorkeling, many times. Not post-Wilma, though, but I'll be there in January. The last time I did it (in May), three of us cabbed it up to Villablanca at night with all our gear and dove back to Caribe Blu. It was great; we saw more octopuses than we did on our night boat dive to Paradise Reef.

The current there is variable. sometimes it's so strong south to north that swimming against it is very strenuous, and sometimes it is so weak as to not be a factor. Occasionally it is going the "wrong way".

The main consideration now will be the ease (or lack of it) in getting in and out of the water, since there is so much damage right at the water line. And there's also the question of whether there will be anything to see, since most of that dive is in less than 20 feet of water.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

So...if Cozumel is strictly boat diving in many people's minds, but I read that most operators don't go out in the afternoons and there's no night diving...what do you do after your first two dives? Is there halfway decent snorkelling close in (or was there before Wilma)? I could snorkel the day away if there are decent spots.

I'm pretty much interested in diving a lot while I'm there, not really sightseeing/shopping/whatever else, so I'm definitely going to try some of these suggestions for the afternoons. I'd also really like to get some night dives in if it's possible...I kinda bet it is

Thanks for all the ideas, those of you who posted them

 

[TheRedHead]

Humu,

I found the 2 morning dives to be deep and long and by the time I've finished the 2nd dive, I'm so nitrogen-loaded that making an afternnon dive might be unwise and that's after a 2 hour surface interval between dives 1 and 2. Some of the shops, and I think Aqua Safari is one, offer a 3 pm dive and you can always pick up night dives with any number of shops.

I'm not sure about Christi's schedule, but I'm usually up by 6:00 a.m. to catch the boat at 7:45 and back at the hotel between 1:30 and 2:00. Then it's shower and siesta, mabye a twilight dive, then dinner.

I usually get about 2 hours of bottom time for each boat trip with an average depth of about 60 feet. Even if you get fewer actual dives in, you'll probably get the bottom time of 3 dives in other locations.

Hope you have a blast!

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like a Nitrox destination for sure.

I'll probably end up with a lot less time than I imagine. But when you only get so many warm water vacations a year, you have to bite the bullet and dive as much as possible

I'm sure we'll have a blast. Birthday dives on Cozumel? I'll take it!

Gregg

 

[sharky60]

I'm booked with Christi the entire week ...

Pre Wilma there were several fairly good shore dives most in front of hotels,
1.) Airplane Flats in front of La Ceiba
2.) Scuba Club Beach
3.) Caribe Blue Beach
don't know if the last 2 actually have dive site names but that's where they are located

If your booked with Christi the entire week, I'm sure she can set you up with any tanks you would need for shore diving, shoot her and e-mail to be sure.

 

[halocline]

Matt, I made sure to look when I drove by today...shore access does not look possible at this point in front of Scuba Shack...they're definitely working over there...but as of today I would not advise shore diving there.

Thanks for looking, Christi, bit of a bummer. Hopefully I'll find someplace to shore dive a bit while I'm there in a few weeks.

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Why would you want to shore dive when Coz has some of the best drift dives?

BTW, last time we were in Coz, (September 05) going out for a night dive, we had to rescue some divers who were caught in the currents of two cruise ships. They wanted to do a night shore dive, but got trapped because of the currents. Take some advise; go diving with a DM, they know the place, the dangers and the beauty.