Cozemel or Hawaii

[LCF]

Again, it depends on what interests you. A lot of the species you will see in Hawaii are endemic (meaning unique to the islands). If you're the kind of person who keeps an Audubon Society type life list, this may be very important to you. If you're more like me, and enjoy knowing what the fish are but aren't excited for days by seeing something rare, it may not be such a motivator.

I like color and a lot of sessile invertebrate life, and the Maui reefs are not colorful -- they're hard corals, and mostly grey or grey-blue. You don't see the encrusting sponges or the gorgonians or the soft sponges there. You can see a very wide variety of reef fish, as well as sharks and turtles, and you can see them all shore diving. You see some nudibranchs and a few crustaceans as well. Maui has several species of moray. I've seen jeweled frogfish there (those are SPECTACULAR!) It's well worth diving.

Coz had more color -- more sponges, more sea fans (although a lot of that kind of stuff in the shallow areas went away with Wilma). We saw nurse sharks there, and toadfish (they're COOL). We saw a lot of the large angelfish species.

I'd say, if you like color and dramatic structure, go to Coz. If you want non-diving activities, or are seriously interested in seeing unusual species, go to Hawaii. If you don't like dealing with hawkers and a foreign language and money, go to Hawaii. If you have a very sensitive stomach, go to Hawaii.

[AdenRobin]

Find vacation rentals worldwide, including Florida vacation rentals, Hawaii vacation rentals and villa rentals in Europe.

[CompuDude]

I grew up in Hawaii. I learned to dive in Hawaii. I LOVE Hawaii.

But yeah, it's expensive. Tough to do as a minimal expensive dive bum trip. Shore dives can be great, but you'll be driving all over the island getting fills and going back and forth to the hotel. Boats are great, but pretty expensive, again. The water is warmer than SoCal, but it's still not exactly warm water diving, IMO... a 3mm full suit won't cut it (for most people) some times of the year, especially if you're diving lots. I miss Hawaii greatly... I haven't been back in ages.

I've never been to Cozumel, but I'm dying to go. Drift diving actually isn't my favorite form of diving, but the colors and sights of Coz are still wonderful. The cheap bastard in me LOVES that the bulk of my expense is done once I fly there, and then I can live large and not feeling like I'm hosing money away.

Airfare all depends on where you're coming from. For LCF, coming from the Seattle area, it's all the same. For those of us in SoCal, Hawaii is actually a shorter flight, and may often be cheaper. For people in Texas, Coz is pretty cheap and a short, easy flight.

So for me, I'd have to vote Coz, but only because I've never been there. I'll get back to Hawaii someday, though... I need me some poi!

[RyanHrap]

i will be heading down to Cozumel this summer. I cant wait to experience it

[hooligan]

I've been to Hawaii twice and Coz three times. The water in Coz is usually more clear than Hawaii. I've only been on Oahu. I would like to do the kona night dive on the big island. I've heard that is one of the best dives in world. All the little invertabrates are pretty cool in Hawaii. Also saw tons of sea turtles in hawaii. In Coz, i've only seen one turtle. The reef formations in Coz blow away the reefs in Hawaii. On Oahu, I would reccomend either Ocean Concepts or Breeze Scuba. Breeze caters a bit more towards the Japanese tourists, so there is a good possibility of a language barrier. Both ops have good boats. The Ocean Concepts guys give a military discount, so that's how I ended up with them on my last trip. Coz will be much cheaper for diving and about everything else. I think you'd be happy in either place, but if comes down to the $$, Coz is the way to go.

[bks]

We've done Maui, The Big Island, and Kaui in Hi and all are different. We've also done Coz. numerous times also. If you stay on Maui and do a condo you can do it very reasonably. Shore diving is excellent, and done at your own pace. Coz has excellent vis and more coral. Hi has hard coral and not very colorful. Fish life is also different. We tend to see bigger stuff in Hi.

[tone]

...having dived both on more than 1 occasion, i'd have to say cozumel due to all around bargain. less touristy and dive sites

[terfmop]

I haven't been many places salty (I'm from IN). But, I had the pleasure of spending a week in Cozumel last November. The diving was awesome. Vis was amazing. Did see a few larger critters (hammerhead, dolphin, turtles, and nurse sharks)Can't really say much bad about the place.

However, by the end of the week, I wouldn't really say I was sick, but I did feel a bit....queasy, or just-not-feeling-myself. I also had the feeling that I was still on the boat most of the time...even back on dry land. Our group stayed at Hotel Cozumel and a good time was had by all. Some of the divers in our group brought their non-diving spouses. Most of them, although having a good time, saw about everything there was to do on the island from a land-based view.

[Tully Mars]

Add my vote to the growing lists of Cozumel. I done Hawaii a six times and each time I was told "no, you're just going to the wrong island or spot." Each time I left glad to be leaving.

[Travelnsj]

I have been to Cozumel 3 times and Hawaii many times. Cozumel has hard and soft corals, nice colors. Some great drift diving and if that is not your thing you will find great swim throughs etc. Marine life is about as good as anywhere else I have been in the Caribbean. If fact if I were to go back to the Caribbean Coz...would probably be it.

I have dove Oahu once, Maui and the Big Island many times. The Big Island IMO by far has the best diving but unfortunately (as anywhere in Hawaii) you will see more fish at the local Sushi restuarant....LOL (well...kinda of kidding)...hard corals, lava swim throughs but not a lot of colors. If you go in August you will hit 81 to 82 degree temps (only time I go). The Big Island does have one of my favorite dives (in my top 5) in the world. That is the Manta dive.... It was a coin toss this summer to go back to Coz or try Kauai for the first time and go back over to the Big Island for the Manta dive....Hawaii won!...for close quick trips you cannot go wrong with either!