whats the real deal with the Island?

[Rooster1]

I have been to Coz many times just last January 2005 last time and looking to go back this march.
I read different message boards and can't seem to know what is the real condition of the island. A friend of mine is currently on the island and he says that other then town the hotels are a disaster and some of the pictures I have seen look real bad but, it seems people keep posting pictures of the square and how it has come back so fast but I see very little in regards to the rest of the island. I want to go back this march but don't want to spend my hard earned money based on exagerated reports of how good of condition the island is in when in reality it is just town that is in good shape. We love to go into town for dinner and shopping but we love to go out and enjoy the rest of the island and its beaches. I know many are concerned that the tourists won't return any time soon because the condition of the island but I think it is unfair to tell people all is well just to get them to come down and help the local economy and then they are dissapointed when they arrive. so please those who have been there recently and those who are there living can we have the truth. Recent pictures would be nice if you have any?
Thanks

 

[huntster]

Rooster1 and All Interested,

My girlfriend and I were in Cozumel from Dec. 8-14 and had a wonderful time.

We stayed in Hotel Cozumel (just south of downtown). They had about 75% of their rooms cleaned and ready for guests. They had about 25% occupancy. That seemed to be consistent for most of the hotels.

Several of the main-stay hotels like El Presedente and Barracuda are not operational (and probably won't be till mid summer) but most of the medium and smaller ones like Vista del Mar, Mason San Miguel, Colonial, and Bahia are up and running. The problem is finding skilled workers. As each facility is cleaned and repaired, the workers move on to the next.

Virtually all of the shops and restaurants in town (San Miguel) are open, operating, and welcoming visitors. A few exceptions like the Hard Rock and Carlos 'n Charlies aren't open but Guido's (Rolandi's Pizza) and Pepe's are. We did a good bit of our Christmas shopping while there and virtually every shop owner thanked us for comming and supporting their economy.

Most of the docks are still in dis-repair but dive shops are having their customers meet them at the marina (Cocina) and that works fine. This really isn't that bad for divers since the real hit was on the cruse boat docks. Now the cruse boats unload via tenders. And the main, downtown pier (where the PdC ferry docks) is still in operation although they seem to be working on the outer end some.

The diving was great. All the reefs are open and available. We made 11 dives in 5 days and only dived 1 site twice - 'cause we wanted to see the same site during the day and at night. We say Eagle rays schooling, Octopi mating, Lobsters and Eels watching the world wash by, and much, much more. One of the interesting features now is to see what old coral looks like - where the lower sections are now exposed. The hurricanes didn't kill the corals - they just exposed the lower sections.

A good bit of the sand beaches on the leeward side were washed away but the locals have made great headway in bringing in more. Every day we stopped at one of 3 different beach restaurants on the southern end of the island between dives and saw nothing but sand. A good number of the cruse ship folks were dining and enjoying the beach while we were there.

We dived with Liquid Blue and would recommend them highly. They took good care of us, use steel 120's for more bottom time, don't take more than 8 (usually there were only 4 of us), and have Nitrox available. Michaela and Roberto have a 1st class operation.

In short, GO. Cozumel is ready. The experience was more like it used to be in the '80's - and that's a good thing.

Hunt

 

[redacted]

Most of the docks are still in dis-repair but dive shops are having their customers meet them at the marina (Cocina) and that works fine. This really isn't that bad for divers....

This sounds like a pretty big distractor, especially if you are not diving with one of the ops that takes care of your gear or if you want to do any shore dives. Am I correct in understanding that Scuba Club is loading divers from their property. The impression I got a couple weeks ago was that Dive Paradise was picking up at the Hotel Cozumel peir. I take it now that was not correct. I am somewhat hesitant to try to visit Coz at this time for fear of being disappointed by what we are not being told or by what is simply being misrepresented and hushed up.

Scuba Club was posting reports of damage and repairs until early December when they essentially reported that they would stop the updates as everything was now in fairly good shape. But having seen the pictures of the damage to their property, I find it hard to believe that things could be anywhere close to normal yet in their back yard.

Anyone have any current pictures of the "beaches" of the beach front hotels that are operating?

 

[Rooster1]

But having seen the pictures of the damage to their property, I find it hard to believe that things could be anywhere close to normal yet in their back yard.

Anyone have any current pictures of the "beaches" of the beach front hotels that are operating?

This is exactly what I am concerned about. That many are saying all is ok and not telling about what is not ok just to get you to come down. after going to Cozumel for the last several years in a row, I know first hand that work often seems to move along slowly. so it concerns me how I am reading reports that all is well when I have seen pictures of the Island that just look absolutely awful compared to the pictures I have taken myself in the previous years.

Thanks for the posts.

 

[huntster]

Guys,

It's tough for me to tell what you're wanting from Cozumel. I live in Austin, Texas and have been diving Cozumel since the early 80's. I've got no stake in talking people into going except to encourage fellow divers to have a good time. It is a relaxing, comfortable island and I enjoyed myself as much or more on this trip as I ever have in the past. The hotel rooms we looked at were all clean and ready for occupancy. If they weren't ready, they weren't advertised as ready. The restaurants I frequent were all open and the food was good. And to be honest, I enjoyed the lack of cruise ship tourists.

Here's a couple of pix from below. Give me a little while and I'll upload a couple from above.

Yes, we saw rubble where they hadn't had the chance to clean up but those areas were clearly in the minority. And, yes, we saw some sand on the coral heads but, as you can see from the pix, it didn't mar the colors.

Huntster

 

[huntster]

As promised, here's a few from above.

All of these shots were taken around Dec. 12, 2005.

Huntster

 

[redacted]

Thanks Hunster, but I'm still looking for the pics of the back yards. I'm sure the boat diving is as good as ever. I was there between Emily and Wilma and saw the changed but completely enjoyable reefs. Shore dive showed more damage but still plenty of life. I'm sure a lot of effort went into bringing the town square and shops back up. That is the focus of the cruise ship passengers traiding greenbacks for memories. Most time I don't even bother going to town any more. And I'm sure the rooms are OK and maybe even better, but it's just a place to sleep and secure my stuff. I'm looking for the easy transition from breakfast to collecting my gear from the room and my locker and gettin on the boat right there at the hotell pier. I'm really not keen on catching a cab, with my gear, and then schlepping it again to the boat; and then back againb after the dives. I'm looking for the palapa with the hamocks where I can enjoy a nap after luch while listening to the waves lapping against the iron shore. If I want, I can grab a tank (or maybe just a snorkel) and see what's around or just take a dip. The seawalls and beaches were designed and managed to accomodate those activities.

Somebody please correct me; but those are the things I'm not hearing much good news about. And what I had heard about the pier at Hotel Cozumel was apparently misleading. I'll probably just wait until I see the pictures of the new dock and hamocks at Scuba Club. Or maybe the restored beach and pier at Hotel Cozumel or Fiesta Americana. Or either of the Occidental facilities up and running. Hell, if they really just need the money, I'd put a deposit down now for a good bargain this summer or fall when the backyards are fixed up again.

So what did the beach look like at Hotel Cozumel?

 

[Gdog]

Christi posts that the pier at Hotel Cozumel is up and being used.......

 

[mamanan]

Got back on Dec.18 I think what your looking for is what the major resorts are doing. All southern resorts are closed except Fiesta Americana and Le Cieba. Most are working very hard to reopen by the end of Feb.
The biggest thing you will notice is that the small Palapas on the beaches are gone as well as most trees. You will be hard pressed to find a hammock since there is nothing to hang it on. No shade at all since the palms lost all the branches. Many beach hotels will be bring in sand because they lost a lot. The east side actually gained sand in most spots.
Barricuda hotel is operating but they lost the diveshop, resturant, and the nice terrace. They are building a pool now and expect it to be running by Jan 15.
Scuba Club is taking divers from their pier and have restored all rooms. Caribe Blue has all rooms repaired all new furniture their resturant is open pool rebuilt and was being filled pier was still being worked on but they payed the cab to Caleta. They expect to have the pier ready by next week. VillaBlanca is repaired and all rooms ready. The public beach between Caribe Blu and Villablanca lost all its sand and palapas so shoe diving there is rough on the entry and exit. I saw pics from anouther site I'll try to get the link for you.
I am going back in 2 weeks and again in Feb. The place is getting back to normal realy fast and I Think by the end of Feb most resorts may be open except for El Presidenta and Reef Club. Presidenta will take a year and Reef Club said April 1.

 

[mamanan]

Here is the link for pics
www.cafepress.com/antonioscozumel
about half way down on the left click on the Wilma Album hes got about 800 pics there but watch the dates some are from Wilma to present. Don't get confused by old pics.