Going to Cozumel...Best reef?

[eb8919]

I'll be going to Cozumel in March and plan on diving. It will be our first time and I was just wondering which reef would be best to goto. I see that there are quite a few along the island and was wondering if any one here has been to them. Thanks for any advice.

 

[sbeason]

I just got back from a trip this past Tuesday from there. I would strongly suggest you go to Puerto Morelos...it is the 2nd largest reef in the world only to the Great Barrier Reef. I haven't had time yet to get my underwater pictures developed yet, but it was well worth it. The snorkel trip was for two-45 minute sessions. The first part was anywhere between 6 to 8 feet deep, then we went to the shallow part where there were HUGE elkhorn and many other stony corals. Saw nurse sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, barracuda's, and many colorful fish.

The reef is in a national marine park and is about 20 miles south of the airport in Cancun and maybe 35 miles or so north of playa del carmen(across the sea from Cozumel). I stayed in a resort called El Dorado Royale just north of Playa Del Carmen.

-Steve

 

[jedininja]

There are many dive sites along that reef. My favorite dive there was Palancar caves. Its called caves but its just really cool reef formations and tons of life. But all of the dive sites are pretty awesome. The wreck dive is really cool too.

 

[eyeguy]

We dive Cozumel 2-3 weeks per year. You can't beat the diving there! I have to disagree w/ sbeason's recommendation to go to Puerto Morelos instead of Cozumel. The visibility is always better on Cozumel's side of the channel. The "best" site all depends on what you like. If you like deep, Palancar is spectacular and there are many sites there...horsehoe, caves, bricks, etc. If you like relatively shallow, La Francesca has great life and swim throughs. For really long dive times, Columbia Shallow is no more than 30ft deep w/ great macro-photo opportunities and minimal current so you can stay until you run out of air! Night dives= Paradise Reef. Your best bet is simply tell the divemaster what type of diving you like or what critters you hope to see and they will suggest the best site based on the current and visibility at the time. You can do 3 dives a day for a week and never repeat a site so you will surely find something that lights your fire. You can never go wrong w/ Dive Paradise. They have great divemasters w/ Emilio being one of the best on the island. Request him and the boat Coquetta if possible.