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Thread: Cozumel Dive Trip Report

  1. #1
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    Default 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...
    Lars

    Explore, understand, protect
    "Let's go Diving"

  2. #2

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    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
    Dive Into Life and Live for Diving!
    www.scubarecoveryco.com

  3. #3
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    Default Old Anchors

    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,
    Lars

    Explore, understand, protect
    "Let's go Diving"

  4. #4
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    Default Anchors Away

    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,
    Lars

    Explore, understand, protect
    "Let's go Diving"

  5. #5
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    Default

    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.

  6. #6
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    Default Dive House/Palmeras

    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,
    Lars

    Explore, understand, protect
    "Let's go Diving"

  7. #7
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    Default

    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?

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    Default Cozumel Trip Report

    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"
    Lars

    Explore, understand, protect
    "Let's go Diving"

  9. #9
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    Default

    Welcome back Lars

  10. #10
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    Default Can anyone tell me about the currents in Cozumel?

    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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