Where to go? Cozumel or Belize?

[Niko17]

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

If you are in Riviera Maya u are already in Cozumel. Come on over and experience the Cozumelenian hospitality.

I manage Pascual scuba centre and we can hook you up with some great diving. e-mail: nmatlhong@hotmail.com

[stortecky]

I have not dove Belieze. But if you are on your honey moon I would stay on the Playa del Carmen side. You can get a MUCH nice hotel/ resort for less money. If you are new to dive that diving is easier over there and you can also take a day trip over to Cozumel. I just know new divers do not do well with the currents. They get thrown around and get nervous and suck there air down in less the 30 minutes. When you start breathing fast at 75 to 100 feet your air does not last long. One newby signaled out of air and I had 2300 psi left. So if you are not super comfortable in the water and good with air I would get some more dives under your belt before you tackled drift diving. I thought Akumal Was great for beginner diving.