Cozumel Trip Report 2025

Bluewater Trip Report 

Cozumel, May 10-17, 2025 

Iberostar Resort/Dressel Divers 

The 2025 iteration of Bluewater Travel’s Cozumel Photo Workshop was held, as in previous years, at the Iberostar Resort. The resort features a sizable dive operation managed by Dressel Divers. Being all-inclusive, the resort offers an effortless stay—no need to fumble with cash or credit cards when transitioning between meals and dives. Even the room key isn’t a hassle, as it’s replaced by a saltwater-safe wristband provided upon check-in. 

The weather was very favorable this year, with light breezes and days ranging from partly sunny to full sun. No dives were canceled, and returning dive boats were always able to tie up at the resort’s docks safely. 

A surprise this year was the complete rebuild of the Dressel Divers dock. Since the dock is located in the protected Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, the reconstruction required extensive permits and certifications, resulting in a years-long approval process. The result is a wider, higher, and more robust dock equipped with safety rails—a major improvement! 

Our group of twenty-two met on arrival day in the resort’s lobby bar to put faces to names, introduce ourselves, complete any outstanding paperwork, and enjoy cocktails. Plans for the next day were discussed to ensure an efficient start to the diving week. 

Our first day of diving was fantastic. After a final paperwork check at the dive shop and procuring any rental gear, we were assigned dive guides and a dedicated boat that we would use for the entire week. The day included two morning dives, lunch, one afternoon dive, and a group dinner. We visited San Clemente, La Francesa, and Paso del Cedral—sites selected to minimize the impact of any currents. The water was warm (84°F), the currents mild, and the marine life impressive. Sightings included the endemic splendid toadfish, spotted eagle rays, barracuda, queen, French, and grey angelfish, oceanic and queen triggerfish, seahorses, moray eels, blennies, parrotfish, cuttlefish, scrawled and orange-spotted filefish, and pufferfish. Subsequent days added loggerhead turtles, along with reef and nurse sharks, to the list of large marine creatures encountered. 

The following days were just as successful, now enhanced by the photo workshop. As the daily routine became familiar, the schedule tightened to allow time for the workshop between lunch and the afternoon dive. The workshop included photo reviews from participants, with everyone offering constructive comments and encouragement. Topics throughout the week included the fundamentals of underwater photography, wide-angle photography, and several sessions focused on Lightroom Classic. 

Some members of the group opted for a night dive, skipping the afternoon dive to prepare. The dark hours rewarded them with the croaking mating calls of the splendid toadfish and sightings of many nocturnal creatures not typically seen during the day.

 We enjoyed superb tropical weather throughout the week, with sunny skies and light breezes providing ideal lighting for creating reef scenics and close-focus wide-angle images. In fact, we experienced only one cloudy day during the entire trip! Members of the group took advantage of the lush resort grounds, including the pool and beach, and some ventured off-property to tour the island on our one non-diving day built into the end of the trip. Everyone gathered on the final afternoon for an image slideshow featuring photographs created during the week. Afterwards, we shared a group dinner in the resort’s main restaurant to close out the trip. 

The group completed 15 total dives (16 for those who participated in the optional night dive). Dive sites visited during the week included: San Clemente, La Francesa, Paso del Cedral, Palancar Bricks, Santa Rosa Shallows, Santa Rosa Wall, Palancar Cuevones, San Francisco Wall, Cedral Wall, Palancar Caves, Yucab, and Dalila. Thanks to our guides Nick, Martin, and Juan, Captain Harry, and boatman Cesar for a great week on the water!

Learn more about Cozumel and read our 2024 Trip Report.