My Cozumel experience

[Misplaced Priority]

I'm not sure that catfish is a troll, I hope that (he/she) is just describing what he saw. I was in Cozumel in April and honestly folks, there is evidence, and plenty of it, of the hurricane damage. I felt bad for the people there especially having been run over by Hurricane Hugo myself. That said, I still recommend Cozumel highly as the people were very very nice. The dive op was professional and careful. There clearly is much progress with the recovery. We had two great dives and I had a wonderful time. Please don't let the hurricane damage turn you off. Hurricanes are a part of nature for the area. Just accept it and enjoy your time there. Go see for yourself!

 

[Divedoggie]

I can understand when people say they saw destruction.
There is evidence of it everywhere.
You can choose to focus on it, or to look at the positive. Is your glass half empty or half full?

The southern reefs were unaffected by Wilma. Some of the shallow northern reefs were heavily impacted.
Its not worse, just different.
In my 9 trips down there(8 before WIlma), I have to say that this last one may have been the best. Our dives with Blue XT Sea were incredible. While I will dive other locations, I will go back to Coz ASAP!!!

 

[94GTStang]

I still can't wait to go back to Cozumel... For the money, you can't beat it.

 

[catfish]

To say the southern reefs were unaffected is just plain false. You can look at the world through rose colored glasses, or you can call a spade a spade. As I said, we enjoyed our vacation, but to say the diving was even comparable to our previous visit would be a complete farce. Many here will continue to visit Cozumel no matter what. That's fine. I'm just trying to put out the message to the non-diehards that (in my opinion) everything is not as it is being portrayed by many of the posters here. We went on this trip expecting to see damage, but after reading all the posts about how great Cozumel still was, we were totally unprepared for the extent of the damage. This was the only dive trip I've been on where I considered not diving after the first couple of days.

 

[Jcsgt]

To say the southern reefs were unaffected is just plain false. You can look at the world through rose colored glasses, or you can call a spade a spade. As I said, we enjoyed our vacation, but to say the diving was even comparable to our previous visit would be a complete farce. Many here will continue to visit Cozumel no matter what. That's fine. I'm just trying to put out the message to the non-diehards that (in my opinion) everything is not as it is being portrayed by many of the posters here. We went on this trip expecting to see damage, but after reading all the posts about how great Cozumel still was, we were totally unprepared for the extent of the damage. This was the only dive trip I've been on where I considered not diving after the first couple of days.

You're right, Catfish. It's awful what's happened to such a beautiful place. Some reefs were less damaged than others, though, and they are still wonderful to visit.

 

[Moodiejeff]

To say the southern reefs were unaffected is just plain false. You can look at the world through rose colored glasses, or you can call a spade a spade. As I said, we enjoyed our vacation, but to say the diving was even comparable to our previous visit would be a complete farce. Many here will continue to visit Cozumel no matter what. That's fine. I'm just trying to put out the message to the non-diehards that (in my opinion) everything is not as it is being portrayed by many of the posters here. We went on this trip expecting to see damage, but after reading all the posts about how great Cozumel still was, we were totally unprepared for the extent of the damage. This was the only dive trip I've been on where I considered not diving after the first couple of days.

Why don't you tell us who you dove with and what sites you went to?

I've been back twice since Wilma and yes, some of the sites are bad. If I had to dive Tormentos, Yucab, Cedral Pass & San Juan all week I would be severely disappointed.

While I'm not saying that there is no damage, Punta Sur, Colombia, Maracaibo, Chun Chakab, Barracuda are all in great shape. San Francisco, Dalila & Paradise aren't too shabby either. People have complained about Santa Rosa but I thought it was doing pretty good, though it does have some sand spillover.

Some ops are content to take divers to the same old sites, regardless of the damage. Me, i would take my business to a dive op that will make the extra effort to get you to the "good" sites.

Read my trip reports if you like, I found a good dive op and I'm sticking to 'em!

 

[scubabum2]

Here we go again. How many threads are there out here where someone had a less than flattering opinion about the shape of the reefs in Cozumel and select posters tried to beat them into submission with insults, etc. I appreciate what you had to say, catfish. Its as valid as anything else that I've read out on this board.

 

[Christi]

I am not posting to pounce on or to flame catfish...I just have some genuine questions, observations, and clarifications I would like to share.

Obviously these reports hit a nerve with me and sadden me. The truth is that the opinions of the reefs are from one end of the spectrum to the other and everyone is entitled to their perspective...but I ask everyone to keep some things in mind so that your assessments and expectations will be as accurate as possible.

Some things are being mistaken as damage, when they are actually the opposite.

• Many areas, particularly on the east side (land side) of the reefs have been uncovered. They were buried in sand for who knows how many years and now the limestone is exposed. This is not as pretty as the white sand that used to cover in some areas and gives the appearance of sand blasted reef.
• There has ALWAYS been a dusting of sand to a degree on the reefs here due to the currents, etc. When you see sand on some of the reefs, don't assume it's from the hurricane. It is a constant cycle and the current carries the sand away and deposits it somewhere else. Those waiting for the reefs to be completely sand free will be waiting forever, because it's just never been that way and never will be.
• Just like the sand flats on the east side of the reefs, many of the sites further south such as Palancar Gardens, Horseshoe, Caves & Bricks have deeper, and more swimthroughs as a result of the storm. Those areas at the base of the reef structure are again, uncovered after who knows how many years. And furthermore, who knows how deep into the sand those structures actually go.
• Certain reefs do in fact have some extensive damage to the soft coral that once covered the tops of the reefs. However, that does not exist on every reef, or even a majority of the reef system.
• Yes, there are a few reefs with certain ssections that are buried in sand. Again, these are only sections of some reefs, and far from the statement I've read from some that "all the reefs are completely buried in sand." That also is a false statement.
• There is already evidence of regeneration everywhere, even on the most heavily damaged reefs. Sprouts of new finger coral, "baby" sponges, baby seafans, baby anemones...it's actually a facinating thing to see.
• Even the reefs with the heaviest damage are teaming with marine life and juveniles all over the place. That is a wonderful sign as well.

I've been diving virtually everyday for the past couple of weeks and have made some distinct observations which I think have actually helped me to understand why some people are coming away with the negative experiences.

I watch group after group swim through the reef as if they are in some sort of race. If they are not racing through the reef, they are 10 feet above it or out diving the fringe of the reef. In some case, all of the above apply. I can't blame this all on the divers either. The other day I saw a divemaster leading his group out in the fringe (not looking for anything, just swimming). It was almost as if he was just trying to get the dive finished and back to the dock. Other times, the group is so far ahead of the divemaster because they are kicking their hearts out that he can't possibly show them anything.

Remember, Cozumel is drift diving and you do NOT need to constantly fin. Relax, slow down and let the current carry you and I promise you will see more and enjoy your dives here much, much more. If you don't slow down, you're NOT going to see much. If you swim along 10 feet above the reef looking out in the distance, you are going to see sand and more sand because that's what is out there on the fringes of the reef and out in the sand flats. The entire ocean floor is not coral reef as much as I wish it was.

So, catfish (and everyone else that had a less than stellar experience), I would encourage you to think about all of the above and decide if you had the best experience possible. Please don't take offense, I don't know anything about you as a person or as a diver...so some or all of this may or may not apply to you:

• Did you dive with a large group or a small group?
• Did you go slow and take the time to explore nooks and crannies and examine the reef from a closer vantage point?
• Did you race through the reef not stopping to look at anything?
• Did your divemaster stop to point things out to you?
• Did you have the opportunity to visit some of the less visited sites?
• Did you focus on seeking out the damage because you knew there was a hurricane, or did you focus on all of the life and coral that is still there including all of the new growth?
• Did you get enough bottom time to have a chance to enjoy the reef?

Just some things to think about

 

[cxg31s]

I have been to Cozumel multiple times pre-Wilma and twice post-Wilma, once in November, once in April. I've seen many reports, positive and negative about Cozumel post-Wilma, and have posted comments of my own based on my personal experience. Based on everything I've read, I am wondering if I am the ONLY one who finds the reefs even more fascinating now. Yes, there is evidence of damage due to the 2 hurricanes that struck the island last year. As a result, the diving is different, the reefs look different, and there aren't as many drums, seahorses and the like. Some reefs are covered with sand, others are fine, there are fewer sea fans and the huge sponges, broken fields of finger coral, etc.

However, maybe we should look at this in a different way. The damage from Wilma is providing us with a unique opportunity to study the reefs and the reactions of the marine life. Instead of looking around and seeing a wasteland, take a closer look and you'll be amazed at what you see. In the sand there are TONS of baby flounders, they were everywhere in April. There are so many eggs, new hatchlings and tiny juveniles that it's mind boggling. When I was there in November, we saw many octopus out in the open guarding their new nests, and the sponges were also spawning--something Pedro (Blue XTSea) said he had never seen the whole time he'd been diving. Swim closer to that coral head (but don't touch)--you can see baby polyps that have formed! I even saw some new sponges starting up when I was there in April, and lots of new sea fans that were only a few inches high. It seems that the hurricane actually caused the marine life to propogate--nature's way of rebuilding and repopulating.

And let's not forget the formations of the reefs themselves--has anyone else swam through the "new" swimthroughs that the winds and waves of Wilma created and thought "Wow, all this was under sand!" I am amazed at the powerful force that was able to uncover old reef that was buried under 4-10 FEET of sand. The old reef structure, the anchors, even the famed "Bricks" on Palancar that have been buried--it's like Wilma did an archaelogical dig on the underwater topography of Cozumel, allowing a whole new generation of divers a glimpse into the past.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there isn't damage, but instead of glancing around and saying "The diving sucks, I'll come back in a few years when it's "back to what it used to be", we should view this as an opportunity to study the past and learn something, before it all gets covered up again by time or another hurricane (god forbid)

Catfish, I'm not addressing you or anyone else in particular, I can see and understand your viewpoint. I just wanted to take this opportunity to offer another perspective that no one has brought up yet. Thank you for listening....

 

[catfish]

The dive op was not the problem. As a matter of fact, this was one of the real positives of the trip. We dove with Living Underwater. Jeremy runs a very good operation. We liked him far better than Aldora, who we used on our previous trip and didn't care for. As for the dive sites we visited, I don't have a list of the names in front of me, but we primarily went to the far southern sites. Punta Sur and Columbia are two of the Southern sites I can remember the names of off the top of my head.