“Why would you shallow dive in Cozumel when you have places like Palancar, Columbia, and Santa Rosa”?
– Everyone
Phoenix Rising
When mentioning scuba diving on the world’s second largest barrier reef, eyes fill with excitement. But mention muck diving in the same area and eye rolling usually follows. What could you possibly see, besides rubble? Much of the shallows in Cozumel is filled with broken coral, rubble and sand. The coastline has taken a beating with hurricane damage, erosion and the pressure of industry.
Despite the vast overall landscape of white, the shallows offer a tiny window to watch nature proving its resilience with both beauty and grace. Colors exist on a macro level among columns, rocks, concrete and more. Nudibranchs, juvenile fish, worms, eels and algae dot the landscape like a treasure map. There is indeed another world among the rubble, a phoenix rising above the wreckage of the reef of yesteryear.
Muck Diving
Among the broken coral reef, there is quite a buffet of sights, sounds, textures and patterns. The nooks and crannies of the shoreline provide homes to many living creatures great and small. Juvenile species tend to find shelter among the rubble, small algal plants and corals. Larger species from Eagle Rays to Southern Stingrays hunt day and night looking for an easy snack. Once a diver gets engrossed in the macro world, it seems an hour of tank time has passed without notice. When night comes, and the diving adventure begins all over again.
“Why would you shallow dive in Cozumel”?
Because there is so much to see… and your tank lasts twice as long.
