Heading to Cozumel June 7th through the 14th

I know there will be quite a presence down there June 1-3. Is anyone hanging around longer? This will be the first trip down there for my wife and I. Due to limited flights to Cozumel we're actually flying into Cancun and taking the Ferry across. I'd be interested in any suggestions anyone might have concerning the diving. Magazine coverage has led me to believe the shallow reefs are pretty trashed and that only the reefs at 60+ ft were spared damage by the hurricane. Anyway, if anyone is hanging around I'd happily buy you a few rounds to pick your brain ...or whats left of it after a few..

Gary

Gary,

I was just in Coz April 22-29 and had a great time. I was there at a meeting at the Occidental Grand Resort. Got in 13 dives with Dive Palancar (on site operator).

This was my first time down there so I'm no expert on pre/post Wilma reef conditions, but the shallow reefs did have a lot of sand on them. However, there were lots of fish around (biggest angels I've ever seen and lots of diff kinds). It was hard to get good pics because of the currents and sand on the shallow sites but drifting with those fast currents was a blast . The deeper reef were in great condition IMHO.

We dived mostly sites around Palancar reef, nice short boat rides from the resort, but a lot longer if coming from town.

Hope you have a great time down there, wish I was going back!!

PM me if you have any specific questions and I'll answer what I can.

Doug

One of our HUPS members just returned from Coz and he makes regular trips to the area. He said all the shallow reefs were trashed and the deeper reefs were hit pretty hard. Basically he said it wasn't what it was pre-Wilma. He reported seeing lots of little stuff, but nothing big. Sounds like you should temper your expectations just in case. I believe what the guy was telling us, but I don't know what his expectation level is, so its hard to judge. Just my $.02.

Thanks Ken,

Right now my only expectations are to have a good time. Since I haven't ever gone there before, the diving will all be new to me. I get to the ocean once or twice a year so I'm usually "wowed" by just being there. It'll be the first time I've had my camera in the ocean so I'm eager just to get down there and learn.

BTW...one of the items on my must-do list is the Flower Garden Banks in your neck of the woods. Isn't it like the 2nd week of August that the coral spawn happens?

regards,

Gary

In that case, you should have an excellent time since very little beats riding the currents in Coz. But if you're expecting world class diving, you'll probably be disappointed.

Not to hijack the Cozumel thread, but the coral spawn for the FGNMS is in August. Its somehow correlated to the lunar cycle. It happens 8 nights after the August full moon. Those trips are usually fill up pretty early. I haven't been to the Flower Gardens yet, but I'm going to make another attempt at going this September. I'll send you a PM with the details if you're interested.

Ken

Just saw this thread, Don't miss Coz if you have not been there. We have been diving there for three years. Before and after the big one. Last dived there in Nov. and could see the change since the hurricane but there was still so much good about it would go back tomorrow. Cant say enough good about hotel Casa Mexicana downtown and dive operator AquaSafari, which is located right out the front door. You wont regret it. :)java script:emoticon('')

,

Thanks Borderdog,

After a year of physically covering 2 sales territories, I'd settle for just laying around on the beach or facedown in the shallows breathing through a tube while doing nothing for a whole week. The diving will be an added bonus. We're staying at the Iberostar. It was the only place at the time offering child-care while my wife and I went diving. All-inclusive with food, drinks and includes 5 days of 2 tank diving.

Its all good,

Gary