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Welcome to our Blog: Casa del Mar, Cozumel Hotel & Dive Resort

Welcome to our Blog: Casa del Mar, Cozumel Hotel and Dive Resort

Beyond a Warm Diving Experience in Paradise

From the time I fly over Cozumel and see the turquoise waters to the flight back home, my diving experiences in Cozumel leave me with memories that never fade.

My anxiety certainly builds as soon as I know that I am planning my next trip to the island paradise. Usually before my last dive, we have reserved our time for our next arrival.

Upon landing on the tarmac, my heart beats with the enthusiasm like that of your first race, your first prom dance, your first leap of faith. I know that within hours, I will be diving the depths of the Caribbean Sea from the beautiful island of Cozumel, Mexico located only several miles off the coast of Playa del Carmen.

I look forward to seeing marine life that I have not encountered on previous dives or those that I desire new pictures for. I set a wish list in my mind of particular creatures. My last list consisted of a seahorse and the indigenous splendid toadfish. Both encounters were successful thanks to the keen eye of the divemasters from Cozumel Marine World. The amazing part was that I never told them of my desires. It seemed as though they knew of my wish list before I dropped into the crystal clear waters that they call their office.

The dives sites off of Cozumel seem to be infinite.  It is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world. The crew from Cozumel Marine World could drop me on the same reef ten times and it would appear different to me every dive. The time of day plays a big factor there due to different marine life that emerge out of hiding at certain hours. The position of the sun casts rays into crevices, makes color pop more at certain times, allows for sun bursts in photos, and more. As some divers swim along the wall, I am often found swimming on top of the reefs for a different vantage point and to see the multitude of colors from the vast variety of fish.

The house dive site at Casa del Mar Cozumel offers the best shore diving in all of Cozumel. This is where I go when I want to search out macro shots; from flamingo tongues to a lucky find by my dive buddy, an immature candy cane lobster. The depths range from five feet to barely over 30 feet. The light of day provides spectacular visibility at those depths. At only two atmospheres, imagine the possible bottom time. Generally, the current in this area is minimal, but be prepared and plan your dive accordingly. I often make my way to the manmade beehive reefs or with extra planning, would make it to the far reef where the wall drops into the darkness. I am yet to accomplish that one. Oh boy, at night the life explodes off of the pier; basket starfish, morays, octopi and more pop out of every nook and cranny. At the end of my dive, I climb up the steps, wash my gear on the pier, rinse myself off and head to the swim up bar at Casa del Mar to rehydrate.

Many times, I am asked which reef is my favorite on the island. My answer to that is “Anywhere that I am dropped into the waters of Cozumel.” Each reef offers many tales to bring home. This one is known for sharks, this one for big schools of fish, another for swim throughs. In the end, it is not which is my favorite, but rather how many stories can I bring home today.

The water temps in Cozumel rarely differ more than 76°F to 85°F throughout the year. Several divers on my trips have donned only their swim trunks. In my dive logs, I enter 100’ for the visibility every time. It is often closer to 200’.  Why fret over an extra hundred feet when I am use to five feet visibility at home?

The warmth I experience in Cozumel does not stop once I exit the water. Yes, the pavement under my feet is quite warm and the hot sun dries everyone without the use of towels. The warmth goes beyond anything that nature can provide. It did not matter if it was my first time visiting or my tenth time, I realized that the fine folks there make sure every guest is treated kindly. From the Casa del Mar Cozumel lobby at check-in, to the restaurant and bar staff, to the bonitas in the office, to the crew at Cozumel Marine World, the warmth emanates as guests become family.

Beyond any creature that I encounter in the sea, the most enjoyable part I look forward to is the warm hospitality that these fine folks put forth. That is Cozumel. That is my paradise!

Bill Dutton

Mexicandiver Magazine

Casa del Mar Cozumel