Shore diving options

[MAGELLAN]

Some friends and I are going to cozumel next week. They would like to do a shore dive the day before we do boat dives, to get used to their equipment, get their weight right etc. Any suggestions on a good shore dive location? I've been there before, but never did any shore dives. I'm thinking that theres' an airplane wreck near a hotel and a place called the barge wreck? are those good places? and how would I locate them? Thanks.

 

[ggunn]

Some friends and I are going to cozumel next week. They would like to do a shore dive the day before we do boat dives, to get used to their equipment, get their weight right etc. Any suggestions on a good shore dive location? I've been there before, but never did any shore dives. I'm thinking that theres' an airplane wreck near a hotel and a place called the barge wreck? are those good places? and how would I locate them? Thanks.

Good idea. A good place to do this is at the La Ceiba complex, which is where the airplane wreck is, or what's left of it. There is a dive shop there where you guys can get tanks and weights and a dock where you can giant stride into about 10 feet of water. It's a protected cove, so there's little or no current, and a flat sandy bottom. Ask at the dive shop how to find the wreck.

Where are you staying? This might be something you can do there just as easily.

 

[travelem]

The La Ceiba plane wreck:
http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=1721

 

[dyarab]

Not to hijack the thread but is there a good shore dive by the El Presidente? Going there in Oct?

Thanks for the help, and how far is the Le Ceibia complex from the El Presidente?

 

[ggunn]

Not to hijack the thread but is there a good shore dive by the El Presidente? Going there in Oct?

Thanks for the help, and how far is the Le Ceibia complex from the El Presidente?

The Presidente sits at the south end of Paradise Reef; I have heard from some folks that the shore diving is as good there as from anywhere on Cozumel, that is to say, OK but nowhere near as good as as just about any boat dive there. The current may be problematic, depending on how strong it is running, though, as there is not much in the way of shore access downcurrent from there between it and the cruise ship docks.

La Ceiba is not far from the Presidente; I'd guess half a mile or so.

 

[Charlie99]

Not to hijack the thread but is there a good shore dive by the El Presidente? Going there in Oct?

Thanks for the help, and how far is the Le Ceibia complex from the El Presidente?

the reef in front of the Presidente is one of the best. Better than the La Ceiba reef. Instead of an airplane, El Presidente has an old barge.

La Ceiba is right next to the International Pier. El Presidente is a couple more kilometers to the south. I wouldn't bother leaving the Presidente to go do a shore dive at La Ceiba.

Of the places I've stayed, my ranking is:
1) El Presidente
2) La Ceiba
3) Scuba Club Cozumel
4) Plaza Las Glorias
3 and 4 are near each other, but SCC wins out for all the stuff beneath the pier.

 

[ggunn]

One can do a wall dive from the Villablanca dock using the buoy for the lighthouse power cable as an end marker and getting out at the lighthouse. It's not as spectacular as Santa Rosa, and there's a 100 yard swim in and out (which you need to do at depth because of boat traffic), but the price is right.

Night diving on the section of Villablanca Reef between Villablanca hotel and Caribe Blu is pretty good, too.

Cheers,

 

[dyarab]

Thanks for the info guys! I cant wait to get down there. We are doing at least 3 2-tank boat dives when we are down there but I know I will be up for more diving. And I'm sure it wont be hard to talk one of the three other people I'll be with to get in there.

Thanks again!

 

[deputydan1]

i've done the barge at the presidente......pretty fun! does not compare to boat dives, but a good place to get started....

they have a nice white sandy beach to enjoy as well!

have a blast!

-dan

 

[MAGELLAN]

We'll mainly be doing boat dives. I was just looking for a place to hang out in the afternoon and do a shore dive. I'm getting there a few days before the other guys, so I had thought I would rent the tanks for them, but if we can just show up at El presidente or La Ceiba in the afternoon, and do a shore dive from there, that'll be easier than trying to arrange an afternoon dive, not knowing exactly how long after they get off the plane they would be ready to hit the water.

So, the Barge wreck is off El Presidente then? I suppose it's marked somehow too?