Cozumel

I recently went to Cozumel (Nov. 2018) for some great drift diving! We stayed at the El Cozumeleno Resort, which is certainly not five star, but it is clean, quiet, and relatively inexpensive. (If you are looking for nicer digs, check out the El Presidente, on the north side of the capital.) It was all inclusive, which means that all of our meals were included in the price. The hotel is located north of the capital city, San Miguel, on the beach. There was a dive shop on the premises, Island Divers Cozumel. I managed to get in eight dives while we were there (I would have done more but a tropical depression prevented diving for three days.) Cozumel is on the edge of the Caribbean Reef system, which is the third largest in the world, and is best known for drift diving, which means that the boat drops you off in one spot, and then follows you as the current propels you along. The current is fast, which allows you to see a larger area of the reef underwater than you would in a non-current area. The marine life is abundant: many species of fish, sea turtles, rays, and eels. I had the pleasure of meeting a professional photographer, who free-lances for publications like National Geographic, and was amazed at his $50,000 camera setup! It was huge! Island Divers Cozumel had relatively small dive boats, but they were never crowded, and they were very accommodating. On one occasion, I was the only diver signed up and they took me out anyway, because I had made an advance reservation. I’m sure they lost money on that trip, but they certainly gained a friend and customer for life. Cozumel is a warm and friendly place, and just a 45 minute ferry ride from Playa del Carma, a charming little Mexican town. I would certainly recommend Cozumel for the diving, the amenities, and of course, the very friendly people who live there. Olla!