COZUMEL Island Part 3: CENTRAL

Continued from COZUMEL Island Part 2: SOUTH End

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HOTEL COZUMEL

1 hour fast boat to the southern reef dive sites, short walk to San Miguel

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Are you interested in learning MORE ? 
... if so, click on any of the highlighted text backlinks for more detailed information.

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Diving With DIVE PARADISE

Fastboat Johnny (Clockwise Bottom Left): Andy, Dann, Mark, Fred

Dive Masters - Jose, Sergio, Anna, Giovanni 

Captains - Smiley, Julio

Fast Boats - Caskabel, Johnny, Sonador

The harbour master will close the port to small craft in the event of a Nor-ester, particularly if the winds reach 17 mph or more.  We had some poor weather during our stay here ... one day all dive sites south from Santa Rosa reef were closed due to high winds and extremely choppy surface conditions. Another morning we were only able to get as far south as San Francisco reef before surface conditions become too rough and windy conditions affected underwater visibility. Periodically, even though permission is given for morning dives, weather conditions may degrade quickly enough that the second dive is not allowed and dive boats are required to return. Boat captains are in contact with the port authority during these situations and always act with caution.

Clockwise Bottom Left: Mark, Andy, Janet, Fred, Cathy, Helen, Dann

CANUSUKair  2020

Shore Crew - Janet, Cathy, Helen
Divers - Mark, Andy, Fred, Dann

Dive Sites

Note - (New * this period. Dove all others also with SCUBA Tony during COZUMEL Island Part 2: SOUTH End). Once again, our group was not carrying cameras. The stock photos that I have included here are a good representation of the reefs we dove and the wildlife we saw there.

Sites ... Palancar Horseshoe, El Cedral, Santa Rosa Wall, Palancar Bricks, Paradise Reef *, La Francesca, Cedral Pass, San Francisco*, San Clemente*

Paradise Reef

San Francisco

San Clemente

Noteable Wildlife Encountered (only new listed below)

Saw many of the same animals in previous dives in February, with SCUBA Tony at the south end of Isla de Cozumel. Descriptions of those will not be repeated here.

Barred Hamlet Fish, Blennie, Sabellida Worm, Spotted Moray, Lionfish, Trumpetfish

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PADI Specialty Certification: CORAL REEF CONSERVATION

Note: Much of the information in this section is taken from supplied course documentation.

I have wanted to enroll in this course for quite sometime now. All divers from our group had returned home and I still had a few days before we return. This is 2 day hands-on course that includes classroom and lab work. Also 4 shore dives at Playa Blanca reef to a max depth of 30 feet. On completion of the course, participants earn the PADI specialty certification and a diploma that allows them to also work as volunteers in support of the program.

The Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program was founded in 2013 by Dr. German Mendez and other biologists. The program has a commitment to education that promotes the conservation of coral reefs and the restoration of reefs affected by human activities and storms.

The purpose of the program, is to establish a reef area in Cozumel that is outside of the marine park. Corals are initially grown in cups, in a controlled laboratory environment under the care of volunteers.

Divers clean concrete slabs and petrified coral in preparation for planting. Once mature enough, divers transfer corals from the lab and plant them at the Playa Blanca reef. The area is also used to promote studies on the research and conservation of coral reefs, including reproduction, contamination, diseases and propagation.

Coral planting sites are protected with screening to lessen damage from careless divers/snorkelers/snuba 

First Time Dive Encounter: Chain Moray

Playa Blanca is one of the most affected reefs of Cozumel due to storms, over development, cruise ship traffic and diver/snorkeler/snuba overload.

This is Playa Blanca "above water" ... often several cruise ships, a dozen snorkel boats, several snuba tours

3 snuba rafts means 18 snuba participants and 3 divers

Boats from Marina Hescate, adjacent to Playa Blanca and responsible for patrolling Cozumel's National Marine Park, often sit idle?

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IF YOU GO
For anyone contemplating a dive trip to Isla de Cozumel, I thought this was a pretty amusing article ... Don't Dive In Cozumel. 

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LONG TERM STAY
If you've been following our earlier posts for this trip (South End, North End) you'd know we've been investigating different parts of the island this year, to see if we would be able to enjoy 'living here' for several months each year. Well we've decided we can, BUT ... we would 'only' locate in the central area. The north and south ends of the island have their appeal but the advantage goes to the central area due to it's close proximity to San Miguel and easier access to dive operators.

San Miguel Scenes

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Somewhere in NL CANADA

We're KANOE Tripping 

... follow along, if you like.

Our latest route is included on TRAVELMAP 2020.   

For all posts from this latest adventure click Trip 150. 

All photography is by LOAFin Around, unless otherwise noted. 

And finally, here's a link to our complete Trip 150 Cozumel MEXICO photo gallery. 

Wry and Crusty ... 

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