Dove in Cozumel, does Honduras Compare?

[Marylstar]

I was certified in Cozumel and found Palancar Reef AMAZING. I was floored, great drift, spectacular reef and swim throughs, perfect visibility up to 90 feet and crazy pelagics....so, now it's freezing again in the states and I am planning a new dive vacation. Can anyone tell me after that description, if Roatan or Belize etc. offer something similar? The flights are all outrageous and comparable in price (March time frame)...so trying to decide whether to return to Coz and see some more of that fabulous underwater world or try somewhere else. I am most interested in seeing pelagics. Thanks all!!!

[Dustin1300]

Might post in the diving forums as the audience is a lot more certified divers. Would comment if I could but need to make use of my open water cert this spring too

[DUPioneers]

There is a specific scuba diving area of the forum, here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

BUT....since I've been to all of those places, I can maybe shed some light, here.

While many places in the Caribbean have a handful of dives that can classify as drifts, none (really) have the sheer abundance of drift dives as Cozumel, where essentially EVERYTHING is a drift dive. As such, given the nutrients involved with the ocean currents and the fact that pelagics generally FOLLOW those nutrients (and the life it brings) your chances for encounters with pelagics are, GENERALLY SPEAKING, somewhat greater in Cozumel than in Belize or Roatan.

However...

I would recommend you NOT try to duplicate your experience in Cozumel by going somewhere else that's "just like Coz". If you really want drifts and pelagics, go back to Coz and hit it again. But, if you're moved by a spirit of adventure, go somewhere else and experience it on it's own merits. Why not hit up Bonaire, or the Caymans, or Trinidad and Tobago? Yes, the diving will be different, but isn't that half the fun?

(As an FYI, if you really pressed me, I'd tell you to save your pennies and go to Fiji....though that could ruin Caribbean diving for you forever....)

[lemmy_k]

Originally Posted by DUPioneers

There is a specific scuba diving area of the forum, here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

BUT....since I've been to all of those places, I can maybe shed some light, here.

While many places in the Caribbean have a handful of dives that can classify as drifts, none (really) have the sheer abundance of drift dives as Cozumel, where essentially EVERYTHING is a drift dive. As such, given the nutrients involved with the ocean currents and the fact that pelagics generally FOLLOW those nutrients (and the life it brings) your chances for encounters with pelagics are, GENERALLY SPEAKING, somewhat greater in Cozumel than in Belize or Roatan.

However...

I would recommend you NOT try to duplicate your experience in Cozumel by going somewhere else that's "just like Coz". If you really want drifts and pelagics, go back to Coz and hit it again. But, if you're moved by a spirit of adventure, go somewhere else and experience it on it's own merits. Why not hit up Bonaire, or the Caymans, or Trinidad and Tobago? Yes, the diving will be different, but isn't that half the fun?

(As an FYI, if you really pressed me, I'd tell you to save your pennies and go to Fiji....though that could ruin Caribbean diving for you forever....)

I thought Fiji was horrible. I thought the Florida Keys were the best. Guess it all depends on the person diving.

[DUPioneers]

Originally Posted by lemmy_k

I thought Fiji was horrible. I thought the Florida Keys were the best. Guess it all depends on the person diving.

If you thought the diving in the Florida Keys was, in any way, comparable to the diving in Fiji, then your experience in Fiji must have been limited to the bottom of the garbage dump in Suva.

I mean...different strokes and all...but, honestly, I'm completely floored by the comparison.

[lemmy_k]

Originally Posted by DUPioneers

If you thought the diving in the Florida Keys was, in any way, comparable to the diving in Fiji, then your experience in Fiji must have been limited to the bottom of the garbage dump in Suva.

I mean...different strokes and all...but, honestly, I'm completely floored by the comparison.

Three different dives in Fiji and I have seen better stuff at Catalina Island off the So Cal coast.
Plus the fact that on my 3rd dive I got a bad tank of air AND they sank our boat and I lost ALL of my honeymoon pics... Fiji REALLY sucked, and not just the diving. At least the flight was long...

[jeff20578]

Just got back from Roatan Island last week. We were absolutely amazed at the reef that was out our back door. From the beach and roughly 90' out and for miles was some of the most gorgeous marine life I have ever witnessed! The island its self is touristy and way over priced for being Central America. The only reason I would go back would be because of the Reef's.

[DUPioneers]

Originally Posted by lemmy_k

Three different dives in Fiji and I have seen better stuff at Catalina Island off the So Cal coast.
Plus the fact that on my 3rd dive I got a bad tank of air AND they sank our boat and I lost ALL of my honeymoon pics... Fiji REALLY sucked, and not just the diving. At least the flight was long...

Judging an entire archipelago of 332 islands and 500+ islets' diving by THREE measly dives with an obviously disreputable dive operator seems....oh, I dunno....unbelievably short-sighted.

Just sayin'.....

If you have further questions on why anyone with any semblance of critical thinking skills would struggle to find your experience persuasive regarding the actual quality of diving (or anything else, really) in Fiji, kindly Google the term: Anecdotal Evidence.

Thank you.

[heckfire]

im still drooling at the thought of Cuba opening up to USA travel, being in S Fla i got a ton of Cuban friends, they have showed me pics and vid,, ............my god,, its another world

[heckfire]

and on a side note, you could dropped into the most pristine reef in the world, and if the weather is not on your side your done, mother nature can ruin any dive,, so luck is important

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by DUPioneers

There is a specific scuba diving area of the forum, here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

BUT....since I've been to all of those places, I can maybe shed some light, here.

While many places in the Caribbean have a handful of dives that can classify as drifts, none (really) have the sheer abundance of drift dives as Cozumel, where essentially EVERYTHING is a drift dive. As such, given the nutrients involved with the ocean currents and the fact that pelagics generally FOLLOW those nutrients (and the life it brings) your chances for encounters with pelagics are, GENERALLY SPEAKING, somewhat greater in Cozumel than in Belize or Roatan.

However...

I would recommend you NOT try to duplicate your experience in Cozumel by going somewhere else that's "just like Coz". If you really want drifts and pelagics, go back to Coz and hit it again. But, if you're moved by a spirit of adventure, go somewhere else and experience it on it's own merits. Why not hit up Bonaire, or the Caymans, or Trinidad and Tobago? Yes, the diving will be different, but isn't that half the fun?

(As an FYI, if you really pressed me, I'd tell you to save your pennies and go to Fiji....though that could ruin Caribbean diving for you forever....)

I agree. Difficult doing the Caribbean after getting hooked on the Pacific. But St. Vincent is still interesting for frogfish and sea horses and Cozumel is great for drift diving if that is your thing.

[DUPioneers]

Originally Posted by heckfire

im still drooling at the thought of Cuba opening up to USA travel, being in S Fla i got a ton of Cuban friends, they have showed me pics and vid,, ............my god,, its another world

As has been written elsewhere in the diving press:

Dive ops in the Cayman Islands are shaking in their fins at the prospect of Cuba opening up to US travelers...

Though, from what I gather from those who claim to know, Cuba's reefs have been very adversely affected by the recent hurricanes. Supposedly much, much worse than those in Cayman...