Cozumel Dive Trip Report

I'll be your first post. Since I just returned from a trip to Cozumel.
Dive House has been a favorite of mind for many years.
The staff are very friendly, experienced and accomodating.
They cater to almost any of your needs. Once they see you're diving
experience and feel confident with your abilities, the DM's will be very
generous with letting you dive deep for longer and maybe even a little deco.
(A little because they know they have to spend a longer surface interval and
that means other will have to wait. They are trying to be curtious to all.
Just let them know you went into deco. They would rather know than not)

I recommend renting the 100's for your deeper dives at the south end of the island.
Like Punta Sur (Devils Throat) which is probably one of my favorite sites.
Come out of the first hole at about 125, swim away from the coral, turn around
and enjoy the awesome view. Spectacular, breath taking.. Look back at it
and imagine how small you compare to the coral head.. It's like a flat mountain which you just popped out of one of its holes..
Other sites I enjoy and recommend you to dive are:
Santa Rosa: This is a nice wall dive, very colorful, swim throughs and lots of life..
Columbia Deep: Nice massive formations and swim throughs, colorful.. an impressive site.
Palacar Gardens: I like this one for its swim throughs.. nice...
San Francisco: Look to a large cavern, which leads to a very long passageway. Lots of fun, like imagining walking through a long hallway.. I did this alone.. peeking through cracks to see the others once in awhile.. They didn't know what they were missing. I was blessed.
Palancar Caves: Here I love the swim throughs, the valleys, cracks, lots of small life.. Look around, it's there...
There are many other sites to visit. Far sounth of the island is where it's the deepest. Sharks may be found here. The North side of the island has strong current. Experienced divers only here.. Don't push it.
There are a number of places to eat too. Get out of the main square, go back off the beaten path, where all the tourist go and you'll find some small mom and pop restaurants.. WOW... I love Mexico...

Thanks for the Great Detailed Dive Report !!
I enjoyed those dives in Coz myself. while you where there did you hear of some old anchors that where uncovered by the recent huricanes ?

Mike

Yes,

Without my dive log in front of me, the I cannot recall the site.
I will look in my log book and follow-up, if someone doesn't beat me to it.

There are two of them, relatively close to each other.
One is leaning against the coral, the other is still 1/2 burried in the sand.
I would put them at maybe 18+ feet long. They appear like the anchor you
would find on Popeyes arm.. Long and slender.. Not like what we would make
today.

The dive site is a great dive and the anchors are seen near the end of the dive.
One of my favorites out of the many favorites I have in Cozumel.

Cheers,

The site: Columbia Deep.

I found the note in my 2005 trip...
I wrote one of my most favorite sites. Massive Coral heads
Wall, valleys, tunnels, etc...

Enjoy...Cozumel..
Also visit: Palmera Restaurant. Right near the ferries.
Ceviche is awesome.. And the drinks will knock you off your feet.

Cheers,

Interesting report which contradicts everything I know of Dive House policies and procedures. They are well known to be a safety conscious and conservative resort operation with rigid dive plans and do not typically offer the more remote sites. You must be special.

Palmeras restaurant is one of the biggest tourist traps on the island also notorious for padding the tab and overcharging.

I have been going to Dive house for over 10 years. I know the staff, at least
who's left of the originals and the newer ones are getting to know me. They
are good people and do an excellent job. Well organized and timely, safety conscious, as you mentioned and flexible on the locations to dive. My last visit, we dove every site I mentioned (about 16) over 4 days of diving.
Perhaps it is because I've been diving with them so long that they know me
and my diving abilities and I know the good sites and they are happy to take newbies to those good sites.

As for Palmeras, I mentioned them for their ceveche' and the margaritas..
Powerful stuff. I believe Palmeras has become a tradition. LIke the place you have to visit at least once on every trip kind of thing. I also mentioned moving off the beaten path to locations away from where the tourist visit. I guess here again I am lucky when friends who live on the island take me to places to eat and party.
I am sure everyone has their pet places to dive through, ive sites to visit and
places to go and things to see. Each their own. I offer my opinions from my view and experiences of Cuzumel. I love Cozumel for it's people and culture and of course the diving.

Enjoy Cozumel for what is has to offer, there is a lot for everyone to see and do.

Cheers,

So where are the good party spots and some other restaurants you like? For dive sites Palancar anything and most sites are good for any level but I really doubt they are happy to take beginners to Punta Sur, Columbia Deep, Maracaibo or Baracuda. Have you actually dove Maracaibo or Barracuda with Dive House?

Hello all

It's been awhile. Been away.. Traveling, diving and in training.
I just returned from Cozumel a week ago and would like to report
that life is slowly returning to the reefs. Though it was cloudy most
days, I did attempt to dive as many reefs as possible.
Using HD video for every dive, I am please with the way most of the
vids for various sites came out.
This trip was for 7 nights. Since I was with meeting two groups of
divers and my group was in between two other groups, my diving was
limited to sites which most of the divers were comfortable visiting.
I did get to visit Punta Sur twice on this trip. The best part for me is
swimming out, away from the wall and turning around to see the massive
formations and how small divers appear next to it.
Sites visited on this trip: (forgive the spelling)
All the Columbia Sites
Delila
Tormentos
Punta Sur
San Francisco (I looked for my 200+ foot long passageway and could not find it)
Mountain
Cedral
Paradise (Sea horses here)
Palancar Brick
Punta Tornich
Francesca
Chacanaub
and other sites.


The vis was about 80' all week. Cloudy days didn't help but when the
sun did come out, the colors were vibrant.

The island is beginning to look better as well. Plant life is picking up.
I also noticed the south side of the island is being developed. I predict
in a few more years, there will be enough sites setup to warrant a week long trip to the south side. Though there are sites to visit today, most are for
the beginner and some for the Advanced diver.

I also heard Animal Planet is setting up a location on the west side of the
island. They will be researching and documenting sites that I hope someday
will be open to the public. That will be some years from now and will be a nice
change of pace when and if the time arrives. Let's watch to see if this
actually pans out.

Cozumel, the people, culture and the island still tops my top 10 list
of places to dive at least once.

Enjoy... your dives...

Lars

"Let's go diving"

Welcome back Lars :)

Can anyone tell me about the currents in Cozumel? My husband and I are AOW but our daughter, Kirsty, hasn't been diving long and is only has openwater. We have booked to go to the Iberostar Cozumel next summer but I am slightly concerned about Kirsty as I have now been told it is entirely drift diving. Is this right? Are the currents very strong? Are there places suitable for inexperienced divers?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bubbles

Can anyone tell me about the currents in Cozumel? My husband and I are AOW but our daughter, Kirsty, hasn't been diving long and is only has openwater. We have booked to go to the Iberostar Cozumel next summer but I am slightly concerned about Kirsty as I have now been told it is entirely drift diving. Is this right? Are the currents very strong? Are there places suitable for inexperienced divers?

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You did not mention how many dives, how comfortable your daughter is diving, etc..
The current is not strong at all. Cozumel has many locations to dive for the
novice diver. Drift is all you do, some drift is fast enough that you can't stop to smell the coral. most are casual rides...

The South side of the island has new sites which many have not seen.
It appears to be tailored more towards the OW to Advanced.. Mostly OW from what I can make out.

You are on the West side of the island. Here the dives are a little deeper, than on the South side or more towards Central Plaza . Your daughter should be fine if she is comfortable in the water.

My group is heading to Cozumel in July...

Good Luck

I am an inexpierenced diver and had no problem with currents. Loved the Diving. Am hooked. I am returning in May to do my open water dives ( for my cert) . Absolutly loved Palancar Gardens ( good name for it) Saw Nurse shark, 1 eagle ray, barracuda, turtles( lots). I noticed a big difference from last year, more plantlife and new growth and more fish over last year. Would have loved to see reefs before hurricanes. although it is cool to watch the recovery. I stayed at the Iberostar this year, great hotel.

Glad to hear that people recommend the diving in Cozumel even for the less experienced as we are now taking my sister's partner diving with us as well - he will be doing his referral dives out there. Also good to hear that the Iberostar is a good hotel - although we did read tripadvisor before booking and saw lots of good reviews on there. :) Now counting down the weeks till we go! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Conrad

I am an inexpierenced diver and had no problem with currents. Loved the Diving. Am hooked. I am returning in May to do my open water dives ( for my cert) . Absolutly loved Palancar Gardens ( good name for it) Saw Nurse shark, 1 eagle ray, barracuda, turtles( lots). I noticed a big difference from last year, more plantlife and new growth and more fish over last year. Would have loved to see reefs before hurricanes. although it is cool to watch the recovery. I stayed at the Iberostar this year, great hotel.

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Conrad, I hope you have been diving between now and the time you posted
your message, above.

On the subject of your trip to Cozumel Mexico, sounded like diving has seeped
into your blood and rather quickly.. Usually thats how you know you'll be good.
Cozumel is a good place to hone your skills. Sharpen them up in Belize.

Wow, that is exactly how I started in diving. I breathed off a regulator once
and I swore I would learn how to dive... 30 years later.. I'm still diving.. and loving it..

Glad to have you aboard mate!

Cheers,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bubbles

Glad to hear that people recommend the diving in Cozumel even for the less experienced as we are now taking my sister's partner diving with us as well - he will be doing his referral dives out there. Also good to hear that the Iberostar is a good hotel - although we did read tripadvisor before booking and saw lots of good reviews on there. :) Now counting down the weeks till we go! :D

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Noooo... Finish the course before going.. You'll have more time to enjoy
the diving... You can pay to have a DM dive with you..

Have Fun...

Cheers,

I am already AOW it is my sister's partner who will be qualifying and my daughter who is very newly qualified and not done any dives since qualifying. However, when I read the book 'Lonely Plannet Diving and Snorkelling in Cozumel'. It put the fear of God into me - the authors stress how dangerous the divning is throughout, go on and on about strong currents and do not seem to think much of all the dive operators out there. I was really put off by it all!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

The island is bare of tourist... Yea... but the people flocking from the
cruise ships... They tend to get in the way, especially on the AM dive boats.
Afternoon is much better, less people... Like only ONE... Me!!! yea! Private
diving all week..

I wore a 3mm shorty and got a little chilled at the beginning, but I got
use to it after a few days. Wearing a hood would have helped. Seas were a
little rougher than what I'm use to, and the current was stronger too.
Go deeper, around the 100+ on the wall side and the current is comfortable.

Vis is the same, over 100+ feet. No pictures on this trip. Just good ole'
relaxation week..

The Whale Sharks are migrating up near Holbox.. You can get a trip to
see the whales using sunrisediverscozumel.com. Ask for Alex.

Enjoy your trip...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bubbles

I am already AOW it is my sister's partner who will be qualifying and my daughter who is very newly qualified and not done any dives since qualifying. However, when I read the book 'Lonely Plannet Diving and Snorkelling in Cozumel'. It put the fear of God into me - the authors stress how dangerous the divning is throughout, go on and on about strong currents and do not seem to think much of all the dive operators out there. I was really put off by it all!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

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Don't be put off by what you read it one book, as you will see from the numerous posts in this thread and others, there is great diving in Cozumel for all levels of experience. As with any trip, just tell the dive operator your diving experience and they will ensure they visit the most appropriate sites. While there is basically always a current, that's one of the reasons the diving is so good, it varies significantly in strength and you just drift with it and enjoy the scenery. We use Carribean Divers when we're down there, a great bunch, know what they're doing, safe and make sure everyone has fun. We'll be down there early August for a week and really looking forward to it. Cozumel is a great dive destination, good diving, good people, good food, plenty of fun to be had when the diving's done. Go and enjoy it.

By the way, I agree with Lars, get the course finished before you go, that way you all get to go out and just enjoy the diving rather than one person having to complete "lessons" first.

Bubbles, don't know if you've done the Cozumel trip yet, if so how did it go?

We'll be flying down there at the end of next week and really looking forward to it. Got 4 days diving lined up so far, we'll play the rest by ear once we're there. Hoping to do the Devil's Throat again and also the wreck, which I haven't done yet, despite numerous trips to the island. Can't wait! :D