Cozumel for Non-Divers and Best Dive Sites?

[Scuba_Noob]

I've made my decision that I want to dive in Cozumel around May next year. However, I have a few non-diver friends who are coming too.

1. Will my friends have a lot of touristy stuff to do in Cozumel? We're going to be there for a week, and I'll probably dive for three days. They're kind of the younger mid-20s semi-partying type. We might just rent a car for the duration.

As for resorts and dive ops, I was looking at the Iberostar Cozumel - I'm thinking the 5-star, all-inclusive would make my friends happy. And their dive op seems good. Any other suggestions for resorts and dive shops?

2. Has anyone dove with their dive op (Dressel Divers) in Cozumel before? The free nitrox sounds great! They seem like a professional op.

3. Do they 'compile' the dive trips depending on the experience/skills of the divers? I only ask because when I went to the Dominican Republic, the dive op treated us all like newbies and we did quite shallow, simple dives. I just want the best dive experience there.

4. What dive sites are the best around April to June? What dive sites shouldn't I miss in Cozumel? I want to see sharks for at least one dive .

 

[fishi]

What dive sites shouldn't I miss in Cozumel? .

Paradise, Las Palmas, Chankanaab, Chankanaab Bolones, Wreck C-53, Tormentos, Yucab, Punta Tunich, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Paso Del Cedral, La Francisco, Punta Dalila, Palancar Gardens, Palancar Horseshoe, Palancar Caves, Palancar Bricks, Colombia Deep, Colombia Shallow, Punta Sur, Chun-Chacaab, Maracaibo, Barracuda, and San Juan

 

[Insta-Gator]

All good dive site suggestions. But if you can't remember all that, a safe bet is to ask for anything with Palancar in the name.

 

[cvchief]

I've made my decision that I want to dive in Cozumel around May next year. However, I have a few non-diver friends who are coming too.

1. Will my friends have a lot of touristy stuff to do in Cozumel? We're going to be there for a week, and I'll probably dive for three days. They're kind of the younger mid-20s semi-partying type. We might just rent a car for the duration.

I personally always like to have mobility, so back when I stayed way down south, I had a car. If you are going to go places much at all, a car might be the best idea. Isis is good for cheap cars. It is fairly easy to entertain oneself at Ibero, but with car they can find other things to do. If you go to the Museum on Melgar in town for like $35 you can buy a week long pass to the parks on the Island. Then they can go to them as much as they want. Like Punta Sur, Chankanaab, the Museum itself, etc. After the second visit I think you are saving money.

As for resorts and dive ops, I was looking at the Iberostar Cozumel - I'm thinking the 5-star, all-inclusive would make my friends happy. And their dive op seems good. Any other suggestions for resorts and dive shops?

I don't know about 5 star, but the Ibero is very nice. It will entertain you non-divers. As for Dive OP, Coz is the home to smaller dive op. Most all of them will pick you up on the Iberostar pier. I never dove with Dressel, but they strike me as more the cattleboat large op. I think you miss the fun of a smaller op. That is more of a personal preference I think alot of us Coz Junkies share, but that isn't to say there is anything wrong with Dressel.

2. Has anyone dove with their dive op (Dressel Divers) in Cozumel before? The free nitrox sounds great! They seem like a professional op.

See previous opinion. You can search the forum a little and find endless discussions of various ops. For the most part it is about who is the best. There are generally few threads about ops to avoid.

3. Do they 'compile' the dive trips depending on the experience/skills of the divers? I only ask because when I went to the Dominican Republic, the dive op treated us all like newbies and we did quite shallow, simple dives. I just want the best dive experience there.

Sure they do take consideration of your experience, but with the exception of a few locations considered more advanced, I don't think that will limit your experience.

4. What dive sites are the best around April to June? What dive sites shouldn't I miss in Cozumel? I want to see sharks for at least one dive .

People have favorites, but every site is SOMEONE'S favorite. I still can't pick a favorite, but I am going to keep trying. You can't go wrong on any site as far as I am concerned. As for sharks, you most likely will only encounter nurse sharks and surely you will see a few while you are there. Resist the urge to hug them.

 

[Dan G]

The only thing you might regret is going for a week and only diving 3 days. Just tell your friends that you're diving everyday, that you'll be back by noonish and then you'll be ready to do whatever they want for the rest of the day. Send them over to PDC one evening while you stay behind and get in a 2 tank twilight dive.

If your friends say that they are going downtown one afternoon just tell them that they should head out and you'll just catch up after you rinse your gear. Proceed to rinse your gear on Colombia or Palancar reefs. Act confused when they ask you where your were. Do, however, go into town on Sunday late afternoon/ early evening and enjoy the main square.

 

[cvchief]

Oh, I missed that. Get them drunk every night. By the time they are moving the next day, you can be back from diving.

 

[mstevens]

If your friends say that they are going downtown one afternoon just tell them that they should head out and you'll just catch up after you rinse your gear. Proceed to rinse your gear on Colombia or Palancar reefs.

:lol:

---------- Post Merged at 11:00 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:52 AM ----------

Will my friends have a lot of touristy stuff to do in Cozumel?

Yes.

Of course, it depends on what they like to do.

My wife just spent 2 months on the island and didn't run out of stuff to do. She only dived one day during the 7 weeks that I wasn't there.

What dive sites are the best around April to June?

We'll see if anyone disagrees with me, but I strongly recommend the ones in the ocean.

"Best" varies by day. Listen to your divemaster.

There is no significant seasonal variation in which sites are "best".

What dive sites shouldn't I miss in Cozumel?

I should think that rather depends upon what you like.

Wrecks? Swim-throughs? Massive coral formations? Lots of big fish? Lots of little stuff? Seahorses? Preposterous current? Take-it-easy diving?

I want to see sharks for at least one dive.

On my last trip we saw them on literally every dive. There was at least one turtle on each dive as well.

 

[MMM]

I want to see sharks for at least one dive .

Nurse sharks are abundant. Other varieties...not so much. You'll occasionally see some (white tips or black tips...I forget which) down at Punta Sur off in the distance. Others have reported seeing a hammerhead although I have never seen one in Cozumel. Finally, there are bullsharks over on the mainland in the Playa del Carmen area. It is unlikely that a dive op will take you there from the Iberostar unless you come up north for a departure as the distance/gas is too far.

There have been a number of reports on the board of people happy with Dressel.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Thanks everyone for your answers; they're very helpful.

Anyone have any idea about the weather during these months? Are there any chances of storms and such?

Also, any other suggestions for resorts and dive ops?

Thanks again!

 

[MMM]

It can be rather rainy that time of year but no storms that will prevent you from diving. I actually think it's a nice time to be there.

Thanks everyone for your answers; they're very helpful.

Anyone have any idea about the weather during these months? Are there any chances of storms and such?