Cozumel or Isle Mujeres

[ns2ny]

Hi folks, Needing to get out of NYC and decompress for a few days at the end of this month. Never done Coz or Mejures but it may be the easiest and reasonably priced trip at such a last minute. Curious if anyone would share their opinions about which you would choose over the other. Also, which shops you would recommend. Seems like Mau gets a lot of business in Coz. Any others?

Thank very much!

(frankly we are open to a variety of solutions as long as its fairly easy from NYC so if anyone know of some great last minute deals, pass that along too

 

[Dirty-Dog]

There's not much actual diving off Isla Mujeres... You can take the ferry over to Cancun though. It's cheap and fast.

You'll see the same critters in Cancun and Cozumel, but there tends to be more fish in Cancun.
The Cancun reefs are relatively shallow (50-60FSW) with less current than Cozumel. There are a couple wrecks that are a bit deeper (~80FSW) and tend to have more current.
Cozumel reefs tend to be deeper (90-130+FSW for things like the Devils Throat) but the structure (i.e. swimthroughs and caves) is more spectacular. There also tends to be more current.
There is at least some shore diving on Cozumel but none at all from Cancun.
There's more nightlife in Cancun.
In Cancun, we always dive with Alvaro from AlwaysDiving.com. Small groups, fast boat, and he is THE man, as far as we're concerned. We've dove with him in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, the cenotes and made one trip from Cancun to Cozumel for a 3-tank with him.
We'll be on Cozumel Dec 5 - 15 this year, and will be diving with Aldora Divers. Small, fast boats and 100 or 120cf tanks for more bottom time despite the deeper reefs.

 

[ns2ny]

Thanks for the info. Since this is more a decompression trip (from work) diving is secondary to chilling with a margarita . Seems like isle is smaller, more kicked back and what the doctor ordered.

We do hope to get a few dives, maybe the whale sharks but not full blast like most of our trips. I will send a note to Alvaro but you if the run to isla?

 

[ranchonodinero]

We stayed on Isla last year and if you are wanting decompression it is the place. Diving is not so good. We dove at the park and then out from North beach. Not many fish and not much in the way of reefs. The dive out from North beach was interesting as there were a few arches and swim thrus. Vis was great. We also did the whale shark tour and it is recommended-fascinating! After the whale sharks, they take you snorkeling by the reef at the point. Isla is very laid back. We stayed at Privelege Aluxes and would go back in a heartbeat.

 

[Mike]

Isla Mujeres is about 1/100 the size of Cozumel. You drive around the island in 25 minutes on golf carts. Mujeres has an awesome European foody atmosphere, Cozumel is Mexican food. North beach on Mujeres is pretty much one of the top 10 prettiest sites in the Mexican Carribean, Cozumel beach time is not the norm, it's possible but there is effort put into it to get it. Diving in Mujeres is an after thought, if you're a newbie you won't know any better. Diving in Cozumel is world class. Mujeres has ridiculous sport fishing available, Cozumel will most likely amount to a day of drinking beer on the boat in hopes of a bite here or there. Mujeres has whale sharks. Mujeres is the place to go to relax, Cozumel is the place to go to dive.