Is Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

An Overview Of Is Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe

By Dennis Anderson

Is Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

Is Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

At Villa Deja Blue, we help travelers enjoy Cozumel scuba diving in a safe atmosphere leveraging information from our experience living on Cozumel Island.

Cozumel offers underwater photographers an ideal setting to discover macro subjects such as anemone shrimp and juvenile drumfish, while waterproof cameras or video cameras should also be brought along to capture stunning underwater scenes.
Diving off of this island is an unforgettable experience with year-round high visibility and an active dive community, offering divers a great chance of seeing eagle rays, blacktip reef sharks and even bull sharks during specific times of the year.

Is The Water Temperature for Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

Cozumel’s water temperatures range between 78 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, with November through March being peak season for diving and snorkeling activities. Mesoamerican Reef coral growth reaches its maximum density during these months, as marine life thrives – you might even spot some spotted eagle rays as you swim around Cozumel!
Cozumel’s busiest season, with hundreds of scuba divers arriving daily to dive the underwater world, can be daunting for newcomers who may not be used to so many people in the water at once. Since all diving on Cozumel involves drift diving, diving sites may become overrun with divers all on a mission for reef exploration.
As tourists have less to see during December through March, your diving experience should become far less hectic. With less boats visiting dive sites, crowdedness should become less of an issue allowing operators to better space dive groups apart for maximum enjoyment and reef exploration at your own pace.
Weather during these months is also very comfortable: days are bright, warm but not overbearingly so, while evenings remain cool and restful. Additionally, water temperatures still reach between 25-28 degrees Celsius for optimal swimming experiences.
Diving during the low season provides another advantage – you have a much higher chance of seeing sea turtles! These animals tend to nest on beaches during these months, giving birth and raising their young. Aside from sea turtles, you will also encounter an abundance of marine life; during low season there are still beautiful coral formations to discover and the reef is still filled with fish!

Villa-Deja-Bue-Cozumel

Is The Wind for Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

At any time of year, Caribbean waters are warm and inviting, but wind can have a considerable impact on diving. Wind from the north can be particularly strong in southern areas of an island and make diving boats difficult to keep close together as surface currents prevent divers from enjoying their reef dives. One way to combat these conditions is carrying an SMB (surface marker buoy). Doing this will allow your dive guide to locate you quickly on ascent while keeping drift at bay from moving too far from its location.
Whoever seeks the perfect combination of water and weather should visit Cozumel during its shoulder season of May or June. Fewer visitors mean dive operators can space out their groups more effectively, creating the sensation that you are diving alone on the reefs – especially on its western side where nutrient-rich ocean waters have created magnificent coral formations; divers can explore caves adorned with vibrant sponges; dive through canyons and tunnels; see marine life from hawksbill and green turtles to nurse sharks resting on ledges!
Low season is also an advantageous time to travel as many hotels and rental car companies provide discounted accommodations, leading to lower dive tour and other excursion prices. Furthermore, airfare and hotel deals may also make this an optimal time for travelling to Cozumel.
January to March are typically the months with the lowest air and water temperatures, making wetsuit wearers feel slightly chilled. Furthermore, they may be affected by a northerly wind known as “el norte,” causing harbor masters to close ports for recreational diving or cause turbulent boat rides.
Cozumel diving should only be undertaken between July and October during hurricane season, even though no hurricane ever actually touches down there. Hurricanes create high winds and waves which could make diving dangerously unpredictable and unsafe.

Are The Currents for Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

On your dives in Cozumel, you may come into contact with the Caribbean Sea’s natural current system, which can affect the types and intensity of marine life you see. Most currents tend to be mild; however they may sometimes become stronger enough to cause difficulty for some divers. Your dive guide should be familiar with wind conditions affecting currents here so he or she can select suitable sites. If you feel uncertain how best to handle currents during diving trips in Cozumel, start off with shallow shore dives prior to embarking upon your boat diving vessel before embarking aboard your diving vessel; boat dives may also provide better conditions compared with shore dives at sites with firm ground or gentle sloping bottom surfaces.
On Cozumel, drift dives are popular. This means entering from your boat, descending to a dive site of choice, surfacing once finished and being picked up by another boat waiting at the end. While drift diving offers great thrills and adventures, it also requires proper buoyancy control as well as staying with both your dive buddy and dive guide in turbulent waters or during sudden changes of direction or depth.
As part of your dive briefing and by sticking close to your dive guide, make sure that your BCD fits snugly without being restrictive or pinching, and that your fins are securely fastened onto your feet. With these precautions taken and following their guidance closely, Cozumel drift diving will offer an exhilarating adventure!
If you want to spot large pelagic species like nurse sharks, eagle rays and stingrays on a dive trip to Puerto Rico’s Northern End Island, deeper dive sites with strong currents such as San Juan or Cantarel reefs offer better chances. Their rich nutrient-rich sand draws large numbers of these pelagic fish species.
Cantarel’s Eagle Ray population is remarkable, as the site’s deep hog-back reefs attract these breathtaking marine animals between January and March for feeding, often gathering here to feast on small crustaceans collected along their long migration journey!

Are The Dive Sites for Scuba Diving In Cozumel Safe?

Though Cozumel offers diving year-round, December through March is considered its high season when temperatures and sea conditions are at their best and when most tourists visit. Off season can still offer great dive sites with more reasonable prices; though you should note that some dive sites may experience sediment runoff after rainstorms which could impact visibility; your dive guide should be able to advise which sites offer optimal visibility based on weather and currents.
Cozumel dives tend to be drift dives with a South to North current that affects certain areas more than others. Some more difficult sites, like San Juan and Barracuda, may contain stronger currents which require experienced divers for safe exploration.
Other sites feature gentle currents or no current at all, making them suitable for novice divers. Examples of such dive sites are Las Palmas and Columbia Shallows – two excellent dives that offer beautiful coral growth as well as opportunities to spot marine life.
Chun-Chaab is an ideal place for beginners, often chosen as their second dive site. This shallow site features a long strip of reef with patches of coral heads, multicolored sponges and gorgonians as well as sand scoured overhangs which offer refuge to lobster, banded coral shrimp and arrow crab; groupers, horse eyed jacks and midnight parrot fish can also be seen here.
Palancar Bricks offers advanced divers an expert level dive that features coral pillars rising from the depths. As it is located near open waters, this spot makes an excellent place for large pelagic sightings.
Cozumel dive sites are conveniently close together, and Cozumel International Hospital provides a hyperbaric chamber to further ensure divers’ safety. If an accident does happen while diving, however, be sure that your dive insurance covers Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Artery Gas Embolism (AGE). Visit DAN website for more information regarding available dive policies.

Be sure to book your trip with Villa Deja Blue and enjoy your stay on the beautiful island of Cozumel.