Scuba Diving Cozumel Mexico
with ScubaTony

If you are considering scuba diving Cozumel Mexico, consider ScubaTony.

We recently had a chat with Tony Anschutz of ScubaTony Cozumel. He is the owner/operator of an operation that is making waves in Cozumel, Mexico. He was first impacted by the joys of scuba diving and has imparted his passion onto countless dive enthusiasts who seek adventure while scuba diving Cozumel Mexico.

1. I have read that you are a California native and re-located to Cozumel. You were once a cop and now you are running a successful scuba diving operation. What caused you to try out scuba diving and make such a life altering decision?

   Scuba diving was always on my list of things to do. As a Cali kid I was surfing and in the water all summer long. I spent a lot of my time at the bottom of swimming pools trying to see how long I could stay down there. It was at the age of 32 when I got to take a breath on a regulator I knew my life had changed. It was about 4 months from that first breath underwater to the time I started to change my life path into scuba diving.

2. What is it about Cozumel that made you stay, re-locate your life and literally setup shop?

   I had heard that scuba diving Cozumel Mexico was good and I was pretty sure I could find work here with American tourists. The people and lifestyle of the island were the reason I stayed. I had been in Los Angeles for 27 years and moving to a smaller town with no traffic and constant beauty was an amazing change for me. My plan was to travel around and work all over the world. The business (ScubaTony) just kind of happened later and it is the reason I stayed.

3. Thankfully you stayed in Cozumel because now I see that there is an outpouring of love for ScubaTony online. What do you think are some of the things that make ScubaTony such a memorable company?

   I think our best quality is that we really love what we do. It is like we get to share everyone's vacation with them while scuba diving Cozumel Mexico. So we tend to form really lasting friendships with a lot of our guests. I have some guests that I certified 8 years ago that still come back to the island a couple times a year to play. Also, being a small boat operator we get to know everyone and can cater to their needs better. Of course the scuba diving Cozumel Mexico never disappoints either.

4. You mentioned on your blog that you love cave diving, what is it about diving in caves around Cozumel that fascinates you?

   When I was a kid I was very claustrophobic. To get over my phobia I used to put myself into small dark spaces to get over my fears. Now, I can't get enough of it. Being on a 40 minutes swim into a dark water-filled cave is my favorite place to be. My mind is completely focused and there is nothing else to think about. It is just me and the cave.

5. Which Cozumel underwater cave keeps you intrigued? And why would you encourage divers to check them out?

   Areolito (Systema Paraiso) is surely my favorite. It is a coastal cave so there is a lot of variety and things to see. There are fossils, even a turtle skeleton and several different layers of limestone to penetrate. There are lots of stalactites and strange rock formations and a surprising amount of life inside. We have several indigenous species as well. There is also a section where the water flows strongly outward and it causes an inverted water fall as the fresh water flows down into the salt water halocline. I have even found walls of crystals in there.

6. What are the biggest changes in the Cozumel dive industry that you've personally seen since you first started diving there?

   There are more shops doing business over the internet now. The shops that still sit on the piers and try to get divers are almost gone. There also seems to be a leaning towards more personalized experiences. This is good for the environment as well because in smaller groups there is less chance of someone banging into the reef or molesting the animals.

7. From your 1st Open Water Certification to now, you have accomplished so much...Where do you see ScubaTony in 5 years from now?

   That really is not a question for me. I am a moment junkie, trying to make every moment count. 5 years from now is way too far away to think about seriously. On the agenda might be sailing around the seas with my wife, Encarna or riding around the world on a motorcycle a couple times. Hard to say really... Pretty sure one of those will happen. They're on my list.

8. What have been your most memorable dive sites while scuba diving Cozumel Mexico? Why?

   Maracaibo is one of my faves. The viz is always extra clear there and the corals are the richest and thickest. Eagle ray cove (in the winter) is wonderful. This year, we have seen up to 60 animals schooling off in the blue. Just in the past year we have had some fantastic dives at Cedral wall as well. Tons of sharks and turtles on every dive. There really are no bad dive sites when scuba diving Cozumel Mexico. I have super memorable dives just on the training reefs as well as the deeper stuff like Punta Sur.

9. What are the top 5 "must see" dive sites that divers should explore with ScubaTony?

   Santa Rosa, Palancar (any of them, there are 4) El Cedral, Delila, Punta Sur and Punta Tunich. Those are my hit list for people that are diving more than 2 days. OH! the wreck is a ton of fun too. Stupid diver tricks there. Very fun!

10. Do you have any advice for our readers?

    Follow your dreams and don't let fear slow you down. Don't stop living for the fear of failure. You only get one shot at life so make it count!

In the midst of getting a new boat into the water Tony was able to give us a wonderful interview on scuba diving Mexico Cozumel. We are very thankful for such an insightful interview.

If you are ever going scuba diving Cozumel Mexico, ScubaTony will ensure that you have a great experience from your first dive until it is time to head home.

Back To Caribbean Dive Travel Interviews

Back to Caribbean Scuba Diving Home Page from Scuba Diving Cozumel Mexico