September 2000

Vol. 15, No. 9     What's this?

Cozumel Warning

from the September, 2000 issue of Undercurrent  

During the early and middle of the Caribbean hurricane season — say into September — it’s not unusual for Cozumel divers to face strong and unpredictable currents, including vertical ones. Since May, there have been a number of reports of heavy downwellings and roller coaster-like horizontal currents.

One day in July, groups of divers at southern sites such as Palancar Caves and Santa Rosa Wall, ran into downcurrents as shallow as 15 feet and some divers were uncontrollably sucked from 60 feet to more than 100 feet.

Five divers from a group on the Santa Rosa Wall sustained DCS, including both Types I and II and required multiple chamber treatments. At least one diver from another group joined them for recompression, and others may have sustained Type I DCS and did not seek treatment.

Be properly trained, be aware, be tuned in to local knowledge and be careful out there.