Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean Scuba Diving
Including Cancun, Costa Maya, Mayan Riviera, Akumal, and the rest of the Yucatan

An Undercurrent Insider Report on Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean Diving
The Consumer Newsletter for Serious Divers Since 1975

Overview of Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean

Cozumel and nearby Yucatan Peninsula took a big hit by Hurricane Wilma in September 2005 and many shallower reefs were seriously damaged. Most deeper sites are in good shape, with abundant corals and fish life. Some divers who have visited Cozumel over the years say they're heart broken and won't return. Others say Wilma uncovered some long-buried coral formations, and created new swim-throughs at some locations. . . .Spectacular dives exist for experienced divers, but many operators are reluctant to visit these sites, especially if the divers aboard have mixed experience levels, because much of Cozumel's diving is deep or fast-current drift dives. Carry surface-signaling devices for both day and night (strobe, safety sausage, etc.) and stay with your dive guide or group. . . .There are plenty of suitable sites for beginners. . . .Dive operators vary widely in quality and safety, but several excellent operators cater to serious divers. Check the reviews in Undercurrent's Chapbook to find one that's right for you. . . .The best diving is in spring and summer; it can be rainy during the fall (hurricane season) and winter. There's better diving on the western side toward the southern end of Cozumel, with the eastern side generally unsafe to dive. . . .Expect water temperatures in low- to mid-80s. Visibility is among the best in Caribbean. . . .Cozumel is a good travel bargains, with accommodations ranging from the inexpensive downtown Hotel Bahia, to diver hangouts to high-dollar hotels. . . .Cruise ships regularly disgorge divers and great packs of shoppers who descend on the flashy night clubs, restaurants and bars galore. . . .Many divers take day trips to the Yucatan mainland to dive the freshwater cenotes. Heading down the Mayan Riviera coast, ocean the salt water diving is mostly patch reefs until you come to the immense reef structure of Chinchorro Banks, pretty but heavily fished. Isla Mujeres, off Cancun, has some decent reef diving and a drift or two. Whale sharks spend several summer weeks northwest of Cancun, near the island of Holbox. See Undercurrent, October 2004, for a review of this site, where whale shark snorkeling encounters are almost guaranteed in season.

Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean Seasonal Dive Planner

Cozumel enjoys a fairly constant temperature of 80°, but it rises into the 90s during July and August, which are also rainy months. During these months, it can get hot and humid if you venture away from the sea breeze or don't have an air-conditioned room. The rainy season runs from June through October (which is also hurricane season). Rainfall doesn't affect water visibility, as there is very little run-off. Cozumel is blessed with great visibility because of its strong currents. Cold fronts blowing down from the north can make temperatures fall during the coldest winter months, but Cozumel, because of its size and proximity to the mainland, is usually less affected than most Caribbean islands. Water temperatures vary from upper 70s to low 80s.

Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean Feature Articles and Reader Reports

Editor's Book Picks for Cozumel and the Mexican Caribbean
Including Cancun, Costa Maya, Mayan Riviera, Akumal, and the rest of the Yucatan

The books below are my favorites about diving in this part of the world All books are available at a significant discount from Amazon.com; just follow the links. -- BD

World Atlas of Coral Reefs by Mark D. Spalding, Corinna Ravilious, Edmund P. Green, United Nations World Conservation Monitoring Center. If there is one book that belongs in every traveling diver's library, this is it. The superb World Atlas of Coral Reefs has everything you want to know about the reefs from Costa Rica and Cuba to the Coral Sea and Cayman. The information is specific and up to date. The photos, maps and layout superb. And the price, for this 424 page, full color, hard bound volume, is a steal at $31.50

The Atlas was released in September by the United Nations World Conservation Monitoring Center to document and conserve the world's coral reefs. Clearly written with divers in mind, it's an invaluable resource for global travelers. Here's what you'll find.

• 94 maps, including global maps of biodiversity and reef stresses, regional maps showing 3-D bathymetry and high resolution maps showing reefs, mangroves, population centers, dive centers and protected areas.
• 280 color photographs, showing reefs, wildlife, people and places, Including 84 photographs taken from space by Shuttle astronauts.
• Text explaining the formation, structure and ecology of coral reefs; their various uses and abuses at the hands of humans; and the techniques used in coral reef mapping.
• Detailed texts describing the distribution and status of coral reefs in every country.
• Data tables listing information on biodiversity, human use, and protected areas. These include statistics on coral reef area, biodiversity, fish consumption, and threats.

For example, you can learn about pollution damage to the reefs at Providenciales and the lack of human impact, as well. Or, where extensive bleaching took place in Honduras 1998. You'll read that Milne Bay in Papua New Guineas has the most extensive reef system in that country and where, in Fiji, the bumphead parrotfish and tridachna clams will not be found, thanks to overfishing. Order now.

Diving Cozumel, 2nd Edition ... Diving Cayman Islands ... Belize ... Bay Islands ... Bonaire ... Diving Bermuda, 2nd Edition ... British Virgin Islands ... Hawaii ... Micronesia by Speck, Garoutte, Middleton, Cancelmo, Strohofer, Lewbel, Martin, Douglass, Verdure, Rosenberg, Hanauer... No matter where you are headed, the Aqua Quest Books covering your destination are the only way to supplement Undercurrent's hardhitting critical information. Each of these books describes specific dive sites, depths and location, shore diving entries, the critters you'll see, local history and customs, places of interests. Take one as you travel or buy one after you return for the memories. Scores of excellent colorful pictures and maps supplement each of these 7x10 paperback 128 page books.

Paul Humann ID Books by Paul Humann, Ned Deloach: The three set fish, creature and coral ID books by Paul Humann are the unparalleled sources for information on Caribbean sea life and identification. This month Paul and his partner Ned deLoach released updated and expanded editions of each, with scores of new critters, even better photos, and information unavailable anywhere else. Why, the Reef Fish Identification book, at more than 500 pages, is 20 percent larger than the previous volume, which came out in 1994. Whenever I travel to the Caribbean, I tote all three books and spend my down hours figuring out what I saw and where to look to find rare creatures. Paul's splendid Reef Creature book (420 pages), covers sponges, nudibranchs, octopus, crustaceans, Christmas tree worms and plenty more. His Coral ID book (276 pages) helps you identify all the hard and soft corals, spawning, and even the growth on top of corals, as well as algae and other plant life. Beginners may want to ID only fish, but I'd recommend that all three books be part of every diver's library. And, if you have an old set, by all means replace it. You'll be delighted at the additions and improvements. Each book normally retails for $40, but are discounted when you order here. And the boxed 3-volume set is available now at a bigger discount, $81.60 (June, 2004). You'll get the best prices Amazon.com has to offer, speedy delivery, and the knowledge that a large hunk of our profit will go to the Coral Reef Alliance, which is working to keep our reefs alive and well. All are spiral bound, 6x9

• Reef Fish Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas ,
• Reef Creature Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas and
• Reef Coral Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas
• The Boxed Set of all three (now listed at $81.60 -- June, 2004)

Watching Fishes: Understanding Coral Reef Fish Behavior by Roberta Wilson, James Q. Wilson. Your buddies can probably name the reef fish, but read this volume and you can explain what those critters are actually doing -- and why. This fascinating book describes why and how fish change color, how they smell and socialize, the difference between day and night behavior, even how damsels cultivate algae patches -- which is why they attach you when you fin by. Watching Fishes, Understanding Coral and Reef Fish Behavior is written for divers, not scientists, by Roberta and James Q. Wilson. They describe in lively nonfiction prose the behavior of basslets to blennies, clownfish to crinoids, damsels to drumfish. Perfect for between-dive reference. Paperback, 6x9, 274 pages.

You might find some other books of interest in our Editor's Book Picks section.