rwe

Getting ready to go to Cozumel in late March. Any updates on whether Cozumel customs is charging a 'tax' for underwater camera gear? Thanks, Rick

I went to Cozumel the last week of May 2024. This was my 15th or 16th trip there over the last 20 years; mostly flying into Cozumel but also flying into Cancun a few times. In May, I was carrying my camera, housing, WWL, strobes, and lights in a duffle bag. At the X-ray, the person at the discharge 'red/green' light button kept saying I had 2 cameras and I kept saying no only one camera in an underwater housing. He then tried to say I had big batteries and I explained those were the underwater 'flashes' (he didn't appear to understand the word strobe). He periodically communicated with the lady actually viewing the X-ray in Spanish. Eventually, he let me through without ever opening the bag since I got a green light when I pushed the button. However, this is the first time that I have received any hassle getting through the airport exit process to get into the country.

My most recent trip to Cozumel was early December 2023. You can see photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8459071@N08/albums . Lot of coral bleaching and SCD but still had some good dives. Dive sites are limited by park service and vary each week to reduce impact since coral beaching became significant. I have dove with a number of organizations over the years but for the last 6 years or so I have been diving with Tres Pellicanos (https://trespelicanos.com/). 3 relatively small fast boats (third boat just added), good dive guides, know photographers likely to end up separate from group, etc. They will store your gear and take it to the boat except for regulator and mask which they started requiring you keep after Covid started. You meet at shop in the morning and they take you to the marina in a van or cab. Since I usually stay within 2-4 blocks of the San Migel square this is convenient for me.

I have been diving since 1971. My most frequent dive locations are southeast Florida and Cozumel but I occassionally go other places when budget allows. My present camera is a Sony 6400 in a Fantasea housing with two Inon 240Z strobes and a Fantasea WWL.