Weather/Tide/Climate

[Namastequila]

We just got back a couple of weeks ago. While we were there it was a bit breezy and the water was a little rough & murkier when snorkeling. We're planning next year's trip, and we want to be there when we can enjoy the smoothest, bluest waters. We would like to know:
What time of year is the calmest water? What determines water activity? (Wind, tides, moon cycles, etc?)
Thanks!
Ron & Kay

[Joana]

Originally Posted by Namastequila

We just got back a couple of weeks ago. While we were there it was a bit breezy and the water was a little rough & murkier when snorkeling. We're planning next year's trip, and we want to be there when we can enjoy the smoothest, bluest waters. We would like to know:
What time of year is the calmest water? What determines water activity? (Wind, tides, moon cycles, etc?)
Thanks!
Ron & Kay

I dare say noone can give you a satisfying answer to your question.
Imho wind, not the (only slight) tides is what determines how the water will be- and there is no real way of predicting when and how much wind there will be. I have seen windy/ stormy phases at different times of the year and would personally not be able to come up with a "guaranteed wind free"-phase of the year.

That said- IF you encounter the same problem on your next trip there are two things you can try if the ocean gets too murky:
- move to a location protected by a reef/ lagoon for snorkeling. Such as Yal Ku or others. Due to being protected by the reef there is not that much wateractivity and the vis might be better.
- use the choppy days for exploring the cenotes snorkel-wise. Given, fish are hard to come by in those (except a few) but the stalagtites and stalagmites are an awesome sight as well and the vis will be clear as ever.

Another suggestion could be to move over to the (wind protected) side of Cozumel on those days- although that would be a gamble of 50/50 I suppose.

[Yucatanned]

I have read as an "Average" May-June most calm months. Will be VERY warm EVERY day too!!!

[Rissask]

I think the summer months is when the ocean on that side is at it's glassiest, in general? Water temp would be the warmest then, too.

I have read that February is the windiest month...although that doesn't necessarily translate to the most surf or choppy/wavy water either.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by Namastequila

We just got back a couple of weeks ago. While we were there it was a bit breezy and the water was a little rough & murkier when snorkeling. We're planning next year's trip, and we want to be there when we can enjoy the smoothest, bluest waters. We would like to know:
What time of year is the calmest water? What determines water activity? (Wind, tides, moon cycles, etc?)
Thanks!
Ron & Kay

The direction the wind is coming from, mostly. Tide amplitude is negligible here, therefore I don't think that the Moon's effect on tidal movement plays that great a part.

Check out this link, it will give current wind direction and forecasts.

To interpret it bear in mind the wind direction and it's strength in knots.

You'll get the most surge (underwater back-and-fro movement) which makes the water murkier (the bottom gets stirred up) when you get a NNE or NEE wind being counteracted by the predominant SSE current (wind-over-current): as the wind-impelled waves pass the current manages to push forth for a moment until it gets stopped and reversed by the waves, and so on and so forth. Obviously, this is more noticeable in shallower depths such as on the reefs suitable for snorkellers.
However, sometimes the current is reversed even in the deeper reefs we use for scuba diving, such as Moche Profundo - near 30 metres deep when you stray not that far from the reef wall.

You'll get the calmer waters when the wind becomes N and the whole of the Yucatan Peninsula acts as a buffer leaving the sea as calm as it ever gets. This usually happens after it rains for a bit. When it's dead-calm in Playa it gets rough in Cozumel, and vice-versa.

Please note that I'm no expert on the subject, my comments come from scuba diving practically everyday and observing what goes on out at sea - allied to browsing sites such as the one I linked to and drawing my own layman's conclusions.

[Yucatanned]

Daddy B is the Man!!!

[eternalx]

Good Information Daddy B! Thanks!
Last time I was diving was in Cozumel near the end of October and the water everywhere we went was CRYSTAL clear. I had never been out on the ocean like that before and I was amazed at how clear the water was. You could easily see the bottom in many places where it was 100+ feet. Anything remotely close to that when I am in Playa and I will be a happy man!

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by eternalx

Good Information Daddy B! Thanks!
Last time I was diving was in Cozumel near the end of October and the water everywhere we went was CRYSTAL clear. I had never been out on the ocean like that before and I was amazed at how clear the water was. You could easily see the bottom in many places where it was 100+ feet. Anything remotely close to that when I am in Playa and I will be a happy man!

After the rough seas we had up to a week ago the visibility has improved enormously. I dived the Mama Viña on Saturday (the highest point of the wreck lies around the 15-16 metre mark) and we could see every detail from the dive boat.
Yesterday it was well over 25m, even at Moche and Jardines (around 14 and 11m at its deepest, respectively) and with the surge starting to be felt since the wind is now pushing back the current.