Cozumel Rookie

[CHEESEYRAMONE]

First off thanks to everyone for their helpful information on previous Cozumel posts. I'll try not to ask any questions that have previously been answered in a bunch of threads, although no promises. I'm coming down to Cozumel in February/March for a week with a bunch of family/friends. We only plan on diving 2-3 days and will be staying at Secrets. I've heard/read that Divehouse the in-house op is reputable and a decent op so we will probably dive with them due to the convenience factor. The 2 other divers in my group are both AOW certs and have several hundred dives. I have about 25 or so with an OW cert, but feel very comfortable in the water and while diving. My questions are:
A. What type of larger marine life can I expect/hope to see that time of year?
B. Since Divehouse generally asks divers where they want to dive, can I expect to be on the same boat as my friends?
C. Where is the best Pina Colada in town?
D. Any "must go to" bars or excursions for a group of experienced drinkers?
E. What mil wetsuit if any are needed?
F. Are night dives generally available if I've never done one before or do I need an AOW cert?

Thanks for taking the time to read/respond! I'll see you on the bottom or at the cantina!

 

[Donnah]

A. Big turtles, groupers, barracuda, moray eels, sharks.
B. Let Dive House know that you are a group. They will put you on the same boat. Dives that time of year may depend on weather.
C. No idea
D. I'd stay away from the places nearest the water where the cruise ship people go. Unless you want to be with a bunch of drunk, crazy people wearing balloons on their heads.
E. Most people in our group in Nov. wore a 3 mil. I also have a lined skin and a lined hooded vest, but that's for at least 2 dives/day and diving all week.
F. Night dives are available. There are usually lights to rent if you don't have your own it would be a good idea to read up on doing a night dive before you do one. They usually go out before sunset and stay close to shore. Again, it depends on weather and current. You will need 2 dive lights and it's helpful for you and your buddies to have a little light on your rig for identification. Many places don't let you use caylumes anymore.

Have a great time. Dive House is a good bunch.

 

[DjDiverDan]

First, you are going to be missing a LOT of what Cozumel has to offer by staying at an AI Resort way down south. Consider a Resort closer to town, or even in town. If you really need Beach, you'll have to be South - El Presidente is probably the closest to town with real beach; pretty much everything north of there has ironstone shore, some with small artificial beach areas. I won't go into detail on all the dining options on Cozumel, that's covered by other posts, but the number and variety of good restaurants are why I will NOT do AI on Cozumel.

Second, don't feel that convenience requires that you use a House Dive Op. A great many Dive Ops are available, most will take care of your equipment (at least one will even take care of your wetsuit) and pick you up wherever you are staying. I have no experience with Dive House, but there are a lot of very highly rated Valet Dive Ops on Cozumel, like Aldora (which I have been diving with, and I love, for the Steel 120 Tanks, the long Surface Interval at a Beach Club, the very long bottom times, the great DMs, etc.), Blue XTSea, Living Underwater, Dive with Allison, etc. Figure out what you want from a Dive Op, then look at other operators - you'll find a lot of detailed reviews on these pages.

Third, I've been going to Cozumel for years, and at different times of the year, and I've never needed more than a fleece-lined 1/2 mil "Skins Plus". That suits me fine for 3 days in a row of 2-tank a day diving. If I'm going to step up to 5-6 days in a row of diving, I'll go to a 2-mil wetsuit. Unless you are paricularly susceptible to cold, I doubt you'll need a 3-mil or a hood. Count on water temps between 79 and 82 F.

Fourth, you will almost certainly see Turtles and Morays and big Groupers. The sharks you are most likely to see are Nurse Sharks and, possibly, some Black Tip Reef Sharks - I've seen those each of the last two Decembers at Palancar Bricks and Palancar Caves. More pelagic shark species, like Hammerheads, are very rare, and only likely to be seen (if at all) at the more advanced dive sites way South. Aldora has located some areas up North, outside of the Marine Park, where som Grey Reef Sharks congregate - mostly sleeping during the day. AFAIK, Aldora is the only outfit which takes divers there. Pay attention to the coral structure as well - awe inspiring at sites like Palancar Caves and Palancar Bricks (a couple of my very favorite sites), and the fascinating small stuff that can be hard to find, like the beautiful Splendid Toadfish, which can only be seen on Cozumel Reefs.

Fifth, I'm not a heavy drinker (not for about the last 20 years, at least; many of my College friends would be shocked at that admission), so I can't really give any advice on Pub crawls. Wet Wendy's seems to be a favorite of a lot of heavy drinking tourists, but I'm not certain of its status now that they are tearing up the Plaza. But for a fun time, with great food, cheap drinks, and a rowdy good time, check out El Moro. Even though I don't drink, I love that place.

Have Fun!

 

[diver 85]

Question A's answer---------sharks, turtles & green eels(I don't classify spotted & golden tail morays as 'larger marine life,,)
E's answer---------I have only worn skins in the last 8 or so trips there....
F's answer---------Yes.....

 

[Skittl1321]

I've heard/read that Divehouse the in-house op is reputable and a decent op so we will probably dive with them due to the convenience factor.

The people we talked to at the resort who used them didn't have complaints; but almost any op in Cozumel will pick you up at the exact same pier, and most will take care of all your equipment except wetsuits (which a few ops do). So there really isn't much convenience to go on, except for night dives where many ops will want you to go to the marina to meet them. Not to say you shouldn't dive with Divehouse; just don't feel like you have to.

 

[Queen Triggerfish]

Just want to chime in on E since my answer differs from the previous posters. In my last few trips to Cozumel, I've worn a 3 ml. In January I will be bringing my 3 ml and also my 5 ml. I tend to be chilly underwater all the time, dislike being chilly, and it gets worse after a couple days. I've rented shorties to layer over a 1 ml or 3ml in the past.

So I think it depends a lot on the individual. You can always rent, but if you already own one and have needed it in other Caribbean destinations, I'd bring it if I were you.

Happy diving!

 

[cvchief]

Jeez ya bunch of teetotalers...

On those night we stay out to all hours, howl at the moon till the crack of dawn (or about 2200 hrs, whichever comes first,) I like a nice Wet Wendy's Chocolate peanut butter margarita to finish the night on the way home. They often have live music. Probably make a good Pina Colada. (weird) Get a nice cigar from Bob there too.



After dive lunch, you HAVE to stop by Money Bar which is down you way a bit. Lovely place on the water, good service, excellent bathrooms. Apparently the have bands and live music, but we are mostly afternoon drinkers there.

Also for the afternoon and early evening, get a touch of local by going to a cantina. El Fish is a nice one to start. Get a beer and the staff will offer some sort of botanas. They are free. You can drink your way through a free meal, local style.

Of course Pina Colada make me think of the Godfather, so maybe you should try La Rumba. They make a nice mojito. They have some live music too.

And you ought to stop by Ohana for one. Matteo is usually tending bar. Really nice guy and DM/Instructor at Blue Angel. Two for one hamburger on Thursday I think.

 

[CHEESEYRAMONE]

Thanks for all the helpful information. To clarify a couple things I'm going with a group looking to spend most of their vacation intoxicated and a few of us will dive as well. The hotel has already been chosen (by the non-divers) so no wiggle room there. I typically only wear a wetsuit when diving in Lake Michigan but my wife tends to get a little chilly even in the caribbean. I'll tell her to bring her 3 mil and she should be good. Thanks for the detailed information regarding cantinas, I've heard the resort we are staying at (secrets) is a little rundown and I love going out and playing with the locals. It's gonna be a long 89 days until i get down there. Thanks again!

 

[cicopo]

I dive Coz in late Jan & early Feb almost yearly & never wear a wetsuit but I'm in the minority & often the only 1 on the boat diving without one so if you tend to be cold in 77-80 F water or once back on the boat wear something. As to what you might see lots of albums here from my trips.

Picasa Web Albums - Larry

 

[Skittl1321]

In December my husband and I dove in 3 mm wetsuits and were comfortable. We use them locally (Iowa) in the late summer and they work to keep us chilly instead of freezing. I would have been cold in cozumel without one. If your wife gets cold suggest she brings a fleece or something to wear on the boat between dives. There were a number of shivering women last year (especially those that dove in shorties).