Going to coral princess in Cozumel!

[sean48183]

I am going to the Coral Princess in Cozumel on April 9th-14th and I was wondering if anybody has stayed there? If you have do you have any tips? It is supposed to be one of the top diving places in the world in the fact that you can dive right out the back of the hotel. Happy reefing!

 

[percula99]

I have snorkelled in Cozumel twice. The first time was on a Carnival cruise excursion. Jacques Cousteau said this is one of the top five dive sites in the world. It was quite exciting as it was my fist snorkel adventure ever. I have pictures my wife took of me almost invisible because I was in a school of fish that were swimming along with me. I could reach out and almost touch them, but they casualy moved away and just stayed out of reach without darting away. I also took a submarine ride to 108 feet deep. Everything is blue that far down. Do both.

My second time was in a resort called El Dorado Spa and Resort. The reef was ten feet in front of the resort. There were lots of tangs, some butterflies. Tons of other fish. Lots of brain corals, porities, feather dusters, gorgonians, sea urchins, anemones. I came face to face with a barracuda. That was a little unnerving, but I stayed still and he eventually went around me and disappeared. I never saw another one.

Have a great time. One tip, we bought our own fins and masks as we were only allowed to loan the resort's equipment for an hour at a time. Plus who knows whose mouth has been on the snorkels. We take them with us every time we go to a tropical destination. Hawaii next month.

 

[sean48183]

Wow thanks. I already have my own snorkel gear as me and my wife go somewhere new every year or so. Where are you going in hawaii? I went there 5 years ago and absolutely loved it. There are some great snorkeling destinations right off the beach in maui that are great for going in and out of the water at will.

 

[percula99]

We are actually taking a cruise that leaves from San Diego and takes five days at sea until we arrive in Hawaii. Once there we have a seven day cruise around the islands, twelve days total. We spend two days on Maui (Hakului), two days on the big island of Hawaii (Hilo and Kona), one day on Kauai (Nawiliwili), and two days on Oahu (Honolulu). I have a full itinerary of dive sites we are going to explore, as well as a Sea Trek adventure on Oahu. If you get the chance to Sea Trek, do it. You put a diving helmet on a walk along the botom of the ocean. We have done that once before and want to do it again.

 

[soim34]

Shore diving in Coz is rather bland. I mean, it's better than sitting on a beach baking all day, but when compared to other shore diving places like Bonaire, it's the pits. Especially after the hurricane a few years back, there is virtually no coral life in shallow water. In Coz you'll need to get down to around 40 feet before the real nice reefs appear, and you can't reach 40 feet reefs from shore dives as the reefs are more than a 1/4 mile offshore. By the time you swam out to the reefs you'd be on your way to Cuba. Don't miss the boat dives, those are the real key to beauty in Coz.

With that said, if you just take the time to do shore dives, you'll get a better chance to view animals than you will on the reefs. The reefs are current swept, and not great for photography because of this. All my best photos from Coz come from shore dives... you just gotta be willing to wait and search and not expect a shallow water reef.

The Coral Princess itself has had like 5 names over the last 15 years. It's an okay place to stay, but like any other place in Coz the beds are like sleeping on cardboard and the tap water smells like rotten eggs (sulfur). There are no 5 star resorts in Coz, so depending on what you are used to, it will either be a nice resort or not measure up.

Coz is a fun place. Enjoy.

 

[jallen100]

I have snorkeled in Cozumel while on a carnival cruise excursion. I snorkeled in Belize the day befor and while the reef in Belize had more to see I have to say Cozumel was much better due to the water being so clear. I am going back to Cozumel for my first dive in 7 weeks. I cant wait.

 

[veurli]

Once you're in Cozumel find this little bar
http://thisiscozumel.com/content/view/169/43/

most of those pics were taken from there. All you have to do is buy a beer.

www.swad-prod.com/Snorkeling

Cheers

 

[sean48183]

Just got back from cozumel and what a place. The reef out the back of the hotel is something special. To be able to go in and out of the water all day and see something new everytime is fantastic. Awsome pics veurli. I didn't take to many pics because the underwater digital camera I bought sucked. You had to charge the flash and buy the time I got down to take a pic the thing would shut off on me. GRRRRRRR!

The absence of staghorns was a little alarming but the rest was great. I swam with maybe the biggest fish I have ever seen. This grouper had to be 200-250lbs with remoras all over it. It was just cruising buy slow as molasses without a care in the world. I was literally a foot from it. Nasty teeth on this guy.

 

[soim34]

Did you get a chance to dive the reefs at all, or only do the shore thing?

I have roughly 200 UW pics from Coz right here for your viewing pleassure. Surely you'll recognize a lot of the fish.

 

[thor32766]

wow great shots. Cozumel is one of my favorite places in the world. love it there.

 

[truthdesigns]

Cozumel Is great I went last year for a week and loved it.
The corals are really starting to show growth and color since the huricane. I found lots of corals at less than 10 feet of water!
I dove with Papa hogs They are a great outfit. Go to the end of the island to a little raggae bar they have great mixed ceviche!!!
And the turtles Dock right there at the bar:0)