Water Temperature in Cozumel

[Butch Fries]

(Note: site moderators may want to delete this post after a couple of weeks as it has a short shelf life.)
We spent last week (March 11 - 18) in Cozumel and have dived there many times before (every month except July). The "Norte" storms have continued longer than usual this year and the water is fairly cool as a result - from 78 at Cathedral to a low of about 70 on one dive at Chankanaab. You might want to check with your dive shop for water temperatures if you're traveling in the next few weeks so you take the right wet suit (my 3 mil shorty wasn't adequate).

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Wow, 70 is chilly for Coz! I bet the shorty was less than you needed. We dove there 3/6-3/13 and had consistent temps between 77 and 79. I dove in a full 3 mil with a hood and was cold near the end of the dives. I'm considering taking down a 5/3 next time.

PH

 

[Butch Fries]

Yeah, I took the shorty and a 2-mil full and neither was quite up to it. Great wildlife, though (sharks and turtles) and who can complain about a week's diving?

 

[cal776]

I did a night dive on March 11 and two morning dives on each of March 12 and March 13 and the water temperature was a constant 79° F. The norte did bring with it cool air topside.

 

[Butch Fries]

There was another Norte after those dates, and the water definitely cooler after that.

 

[fishi]

On 1/14 my computer read 68. Thats a computer that I wear on my wrist. My body heat raises the temperature 2 degrees, so the actual water temp was 66. yeah 66!, It was freezing!! I would have worn my 7mm if I had it with me. Evan a 5 would have been nice, but that was at home too. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Butch Fries]

Yikes - I have a 7 mil that I use here in Colorado but I don't usually take it to Cozumel because of the weight and because I've never needed it in Cozumel before. The reading of 66 is definitely chilly!

 

[fishi]

Yikes - I have a 7 mil that I use here in Colorado but I don't usually take it to Cozumel because of the weight and because I've never needed it in Cozumel before. The reading of 66 is definitely chilly!

Yeah, it was cold. They set a record low of 55 a few days before, that's what I heard anyway. The hotel rooms don't have heat, so it was freezing in there too. I wished I had my electric blanket. The water warmed back up to 74 than 77 the next few days.
For me here at home, 70 is a 7mm. If I'm cold when I'm diving I'm not having fun.

A electric blanket and a 7mm in Coz, yeah, it wasn't the best week to go.

 

[judydivescoz]

I have a hard time believing that the water temp was 66. Where were you diving that day? I dove for a week in Feb and the lowest my computer read was 78. The air temp might have gotten that low. On several dives, the water was warmer than the air. So happy I had my fleece lined dive parka.

 

[fishi]

I have a hard time believing that the water temp was 66. Where were you diving that day? I dove for a week in Feb and the lowest my computer read was 78. The air temp might have gotten that low. On several dives, the water was warmer than the air. So happy I had my fleece lined dive parka.

Your right, it wasn't 66. My computer reads the lowest temp for the entire dive. When we came up we all had the same thing, our computers read 68. We all thought it was 68. I just looked at my home computer and it was 68 for the first minute only, at the end it was 76. So it was the air, you are right! It did seem odd that I was able to stand 66 in a 3mm and a vest, but I was cold. I didn't have a fleece lined parka, and I was freezing, so was everyone else. We all thought it was that cold. I felt like I wanted my 7, but my 5 would have been good enough. Ive got to get a parka.
I wonder how many other people make that same mistake.