10 Cozumel Scuba Diving Tips

If you are planning a coastal Mexican vacation, be sure to check out these 10 Cozumel scuba diving tips. Cozumel boasts a number of excellent diving spots, many of which are accessible from the shore. Not all are easy dives, however, so keep these Cozumel scuba diving tips in mind when picking out which diving spots are best for you:

1. Seek out dive shops that have biligual employees if you are not fluent in Spanish. Being able to communicate with your guides when you arrange a Cozumel scuba diving tour is important for both safety and enjoyment of the trip.
2. For offshore dive sites, consider finding one of the small "fast boats." These typically hold up to half a dozen people, and can get you out to the reefs much more quickly than the larger boats can.
3. When swimming from the shore to Paradise Reef, be sure to account for the drift that can occur during the 200 yard swim. The currents off Cozumel are very strong, and you need to compensate for them.
4. Many people enjoy night diving at Paradise Reef. One of the best Cozumel scuba diving tips if you are considering a night dive is to make several scouting trips during the day to make sure that you can find your way around after dark.
5. Be aware of boating traffic when diving around the International Pier. Many cruise ships come and go here, and they can cause turbulence that is dangerous for Cozumel scuba divers.
6. The pilings around International Pier host coral and a wealth of sea life. This is a great place to see moray eels, baracuda, octopus, sting rays and other tropical fish.
7. If you are traveling with people who do plan to join you in Cozumel scuba diving, check out Chankanaab Underwater Park. The beautiful white sand beach, and the dolphin and sea lion shows will keep them entertained during your scuba diving adventure.
8. If you are a beginning cave diver, you may be interested in checking out the one near Chankanaab Underwater Park. It's just to the south of the park, and is said to be a very easy cave for beginners.
9. When you are taking in some Cozumel scuba diving at The Amphitheatre, you can use the buoy that is 65 feet off shore as a navigation point. The buoy marks where a DC-3 airplane was once sunk for use in a movie.
10. Be sure you know how to get to the area's two hyperbaric chambers. If you have a decompression accident, knowing where to get treatment can save your life.