Shore Diving

[AandA]

I would certainly recommend shore diving in Cozumel. ;D There are a number of fine places to go. Easy access for entry and exit points can be found at many hotels and dive shops.

A couple of points to consider overall:

Currents in Cozumel can be strong and may change significantly during a dive. :o Unless you have planned for a different exit point always begin your dive swimming INTO the current. Consider getting a drift diving specialty rating from the pros in Cozumel while you're there (when in Rome...).

The best access points will be ladders off piers or sand slopes at dive shops and hotels. When going in, or planning an exit point, at a different location carefully inspect it. The ironshore can be very challenging. Longspined sea urchins are really something you don't want to step on. :'( Delicate marine growths next to the shore are easily damaged, as are you, by touching or stepping on them (DON’T). >

Use a dive flag!! If you try a night dive make sure to use a lit one. Boat traffic is a very real hazard. Keep a short fairly taught line to your flag so that it does not touch any of the coral heads.

Be sure to get out on some of the boat dives. The reefs of Cozumel are not to be missed (just ask Jacques Cousteau). Unbelievable, spectacular, ;D ;D ;Dyou will run out of adjectives! Don't like deep dives, no problem! There are a number of wonderful shallow reefs (my personal favorite would be Columbia Shallows). You’ll see a greater variety of fish at the shallow reefs and you’ll have better light for underwater photography.

Shore diving has a couple of advantages that should really appeal to you. Shore diving will allow you to take your time. On a drift dive from a boat you MUST keep up with the dive master or you WILL be separated by the current. Considering almost all operators use live boats that can pose additional problems when surfacing. When shore diving you can take the fifteen or twenty minutes watching a single coral outcropping and get to see an incredible entire ecosystem contained in one small area (its really COOL!). For taking photos you’ll want to be able to take time to compose your shots, when shore diving you’ve got the time.

My favorite place to shore dive would be the reef just north of the southern cruise ship pier. This is located between Del Mar divers and Papa Hogg’s. Either place will rent you tanks or an unlimited shorediving package. The reef has lots and lots of coral heads and a wide variety of fish. The depth is fairly shallow at a max depth of about 23 feet.

My second favorite would be down the road a piece off a little sea side restaurant and is called Dzul Ha. Some of the best coral at this location is actually right against the shoreline north of the restaurant (nice Elkhorn coral.) Have seen “herds” ( they just remind me too much of fishlike cows) of huge parrotfish here grazing in about 25 feet of water.

I’ve also had great dives right along the ironshore shoreline both off of the hotel Plaza Las Glorias and farther north just south of the Coral Princess hotel and the boat harbor. A wonderful variety of fish can be found hidden right along the shoreline wall. These dives may vary from 5 to 15 feet. The current is often less of a concern right along the shore, but you must be careful if the swells are large that you are not pushed up against the coral. This can be a great start for a less experienced night diver. You can stay close to your entry/exit point and follow the wall.

Here is a link to a site where I’ve downloaded a few photos from these shore dives.