Where to go? Cozumel or Belize?

[bryceman]

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking about for a couple of weeks and finally decided to join.

I am taking my open water class in a couple of weeks in preparation for going diving for my honeymoon. My fiance Michelle is a certified advanced diver with about 25 dives, mostly in Thailand and Indonesia. We are getting married in the Mayan Riveria March 27.

The plan was to go diving the week after, but we're not sure of whether to go to Cozumel (nice short ferry trip) or Belize (longer bus trip and short hop to Ambergris Caye). We were originally thinking Belize, but it seems quite expensive with the current economy.

Here is how I break it down.

Cozumel
Pluses - Awesome diving, the ability to do 2 of my open water cert dives the week of the wedding (I am assuming I need to all 4 cert dives with the same instructor), probably less expensive
Minuses - More of a party town atmosphere (we are on our honeymoon!)

Belize
Pluses - still great diving (not going to bother with Blue Hole if we go), quieter atmosphere, more culture
Minuses - Two days of diving without my sweetie (again assuming I need to do all 4 cert dives with the same instructor), longer travel, more expensive

There is always cheap flights to Cancun and Cozumel from Calgary, so it's going to be really easy to come back for either area.

Michelle is not convinced about the diving in Cozumel given the dive experience she had out of Puerto Morales (south of Cancun) last year. She did two dives while I did the PADI discover diving instruction and dive. She says she is spoiled by her week on a live-aboard in Indonesia.

I read the Cozumel VS Belize thread and it doesn't really help...Where do you think we should go, especially with myself as a beginner?

Thanks in advance,
Bryce

 

[Hank49]

San Pedro is a party town also. Honeymoon...try Thatch Caye Resort. It's on a caye just off Dangriga, near Southwater Marine Reserve and close enough to land to do the Mayan Ruins and cave tubing etc. They have an instructor there and nice easy diving. They even have a honeymoon suite.

 

[aitroxa]

Well, I can only speak for the diving in Cozumel because I have never been to Belize. I did hear that Belize was a bit expensive though. Cozumel is fairly cheap and the diving is great. It is mostly drift diving in Cozumel because of the currents. There are beautiful coral formations, but at times, the diving can be on the deeper side 90+ft, so stay hydrated and do at least a 5 min safety stop. Cozumel has many interesting, small aquatic animals, but Belize has bigger marine life (whale sharks) and the famous Blue Hole to dive. There isn't that much to do in Cozumel besides diving, there are some cute shops, but not much else. If you are going to be on the main land, you might want to dive the cenotes and check out the Mayan ruins. Cozumel or Belize, you are going to have a wonderful time and do some awesome diving.

 

[underseasian]

I'm with Hank49! We just got back from Thatch Caye and lovedd every minute of it......

 

[Robert van Brussel]

Hi Bryceman,

I never dove in Cozumel or Belize................maybe in the future you never know.
Why I am writing you is because of your dive course!
You can ask your current instructor to hand you over a so called "referral", this is a student record file what normally indicates the portion of what you already did during your open water course. For example: you finished everything (theory, pool, dive1,2,3) but still have to do dive number 4 to become certified. This dive can be done with any other instructor. The one instructor who do the last training dive will also be your certifying instructor. So there is no obligation to do this dive with the same instructor. So it is up to you how to divide your open water course, as long as you bring this refferal. I wish you an unforgettable vacation.

Nice Dives,

Robert

 

[rye_a]

Cozumel isn't as much of a party town as some other Mexican destinations like Cabo, Cancun, etc. A great choice on the island for a honeymoon would be the Intercontinental. We have stayed there three times and have loved it. Just make sure that you get a beach front walk-out, and join the Ambassador Club (the free night and automatic upgrade will pay for your membership)

The dive op at the hotel has instructors on staff, and if you want to use another operator (we probably will next time we go) any of them will pick you up at one of the two piers at the hotel.

 

[RonFrank]

MOD POST

This thread has been moved from intro and Greets to the Mexico forum. If the OP chooses to announce his arrival on SB that can be done in the into and greets forum. However specific regional travel questions belong in the appropriate travel forum. Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast!

MOD POST​

 

[RonFrank]

Cozumel is a lovely town, and really not the party town that some may say it is. Certainly nothing like Cancun, not even close. Granted, if the Cruise ships are docked, and the pod people are about, it can get very crowded. I generally avoided that situation by... diving! They are not in town most evenings.

The south side of the island has nice beaches. The north end (near Town) has rocky beaches. There might be some nice beach areas north of town, but I never went there, so am not sure.

The diving is anywhere from excellent to Awesome. There are some reefs that may show damage from the hurricane, but in general the South dive areas looked very pristine when I was there two years ago, and I'm sure they are even better now.

As you are a new diver, unfortunately there is not a lot of *newbie* diving in Coz as most is in the 75'+ depth range. The couple of newbies that ended up on our boat generally did not last more than 30 minutes (less if memory serves) as most dives start out deep, and end shallower. However there are some real nice shallow dives, like at the end of Palancar Gardens where a newer diver could stretch a tank. You need to discuss this with whatever Op you choose.

I can not speak first hand as to the diving in Belize, but from what others have said, not as good as Coz for the most part with longer boat trips to get to the good spots. Coz is really a diving destination, and not so much for Belize.

I would highly recommend doing your CO dives before you get to Coz, but that is really up to you, and maybe not much of an option based on your location. If you do your check out dives in Coz, you will likely be doing shore dives or maybe at Paradise reef. Paradise is around 40', so a bit deep for a checkout dive, but doable. However that will eat up two dive days as PADI limits CO dives to 3 a day, and one must do four. Again, talk to some OP's about options. Neither you or your wife is *advanced*, so make sure any dive OP you use is aware that you BOTH are new/newish divers.

If you want even more info on Coz, post in that forum.

 

[Ed Hatfield]

I have been to both San Pedro, Belize, and Cozumel. Both are excellent dive destinations. The boat trips out from San Pedro are no longer than Coz unless you are doing a 'long haul' trip to The Elbow or Blue Hole. Out of your league for a new diver. As far as the 'cultural' aspect of Belize, you will experience far more in Mexico. Belize is more like the Bahamas. The 'British Honduras' feel is more prevalent than the historic Mayan culture. The cultural part of the Yucatan is more inland: Valladolid to Merida, Ruta Puuc to Palenque - not necessarily on Coz or in Playa. The diving in Belize is better suited to beginers, much like Playa Del Carmen. New divers are not welcome in the cenotes despite what any dive op may tell you. I saw a diver with a stalagtite sticking up from the first stage of his regs - a thousand years of cave formation broken off by a new diver with lousy bouyancy. My humble opinion is to honeymoon in/near Playa Del Carmen. Get your certification taken care of. Take a day trip to Chichen Itza, Tulum, maybe even Coba. If the diving feels good and you are comfortable - take a one day trip over to Coz for the 'highlite' of your vacation. I generally find new divers want to experience it all at once - who can blame you. Experience seems to dictate a diver who graduates from level to level with some degree of proficiency will stay a diver longer. My opinion....Best of luck on the nuptuals and the vacation.

 

[RussR]

Cozumel is great but to say it is not a party town is putting it very mildly - if you are looking for low key Cozumel is the place - just stay away from downtown while the cruise ships are in

The drift diving there is fantastic - the diving from Playa, or Puerto Morales, and Tulum, do not compare in my opinion.

If you feel comfortable in the water and have above average buoyancy skill then do the Cenotes as a side trip and you will be totally satisfied (ask your OW instructor if they think you are up to it)

Belize is great but the best sites are far from Ambergris or Caulker and best done from a liveaboard, which is what I will do if I make it back.

As far as skill level Cozumel may be a little more difficult due to the current which can be strong and the depths as mentioned above. Belize is similar on the good sites further out but the local diving off caulker or ambergris is pretty easy, shallow dives (unspectacular imo)

If it were me I would stay in play del carmen and dive Cozumel and the cenotes but stay in Playa as I enjoy some activity, but since it is your honeymoon I can understand.

Congratulations and enjoy.