Should I check out other dive ops?

[ggunn]

Likewise, the only true "point" of a giant stride is that it keeps you from hitting the boat with your body or gear. Keeping your head above water is optional. You can use it as part of a negative entry if that's what the dive plan calls for.

From most of the boats I dive from a giant stride is not possible. Something I learned from painful experience is to kick my lower legs out as I go over the side. Getting hit in the back of my knees by the gunwale as I tumble backwards can hurt for days.

But stride or backroll you should always be breathing from your reg when you hit the water.

 

[Racer_X]

I prefer understanding and then making an informed decision to rigid adherence to rules.

Snorkels come with tradeoffs. Whether you have one on your mask, rolled up in a pocket, or left behind should be a matter of personal preference and the particulars of a dive.

Likewise, the only true "point" of a giant stride is that it keeps you from hitting the boat with your body or gear. Keeping your head above water is optional. You can use it as part of a negative entry if that's what the dive plan calls for.

Suggest you evolve your understanding (or rather regress) to the training materials from the late 1900s that do state the intent of giant stride is to not go under to continue to observe surface conditions at all times as part of a safe entry. If you prefer understanding, perhaps that's a good starting point.

Also note the part of my post you didn't quote, where I stated that others don't use snorkels, but I use one for specific behaviors and advantages. Again, perhaps more understanding and evaluation before making a decision to post would help you as that demonstrates those values you prize - informed decisions.

Further, enlightenment can be achieved by looking at the definition of "ingrained" and also "cost/benefit analysis" when it comes to changing behavior.

 

[ggunn]

Again, perhaps more understanding and evaluation before making a decision to post would help you as that demonstrates those values you prize - informed decisions.

We all post what and when we want, and that is as it should be. We sometimes, maybe often, disagree, but that's OK, too.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

We all post what and when we want, and that is as it should be. We sometimes, maybe often, disagree, but that's OK, too.

My 2cents is to just go with Scuba Du…that's exactly how I started in 1992! Excellent place to stay, great beach, careful operation and darned easy free beach dives (just stay close to the cove). Once you get used to Cozumel then venture out and find what Valet diving is all about. Thirty three years after I started it in Cozumel, there are others that can provide a high end experience, but none with the 7 boat fleet to provide it consistently with high capacity tanks.

PS skip the snorkel in Cozumel, as they just create problems

 

[USdiver1]

Cozumel is something special, and I mean that in a very positive light. You will be diving in a Marine Park, so that means hands off all things you may see. Boat diving [the vast majority of Cozumel's visitor based diving] will be under the watchful eye of a DM/guide. I have seen DMs guide individuals up to groups of six to eight divers. Except for a few shallow near shore dives, expect a current or two to move you along. All dive operations that I am familiar with now require that each diver have a personal dive computer and a SMB, but many divers just follow the DM, and maintain neutral buoyancy a bit above their DM. When a diver gets to the pre-determined PSI to signal the DM/guide their dive is over, the DM/guide shoots his/her DSMB, and the diver ascends to do a safety stop along the SMB line and then up to the surface to await pickup by the boat. Nitrox is used by the majority of divers now, so make sure your computer will allow for a variety of O2 configurations [all modern computers should have this function].

 

[Shawn C]

Nitrox is used by the majority of divers now

I beg to differ. Do you have a source for this statement?

 

[ggunn]

I beg to differ. Do you have a source for this statement?

In observing dives with a particular dive op on Cozumel when I was last there, I estimate that 75-80% of the tanks aboard were nitrox. Sometimes all of them were. Small sample size, yes.

 

[lowwall]

My 2cents is to just go with Scuba Du…that's exactly how I started in 1992! Excellent place to stay, great beach, careful operation and darned easy free beach dives (just stay close to the cove). Once you get used to Cozumel then venture out and find what Valet diving is all about. Thirty three years after I started it in Cozumel, there are others that can provide a high end experience, but none with the 7 boat fleet to provide it consistently with high capacity tanks.

PS skip the snorkel in Cozumel, as they just create problems

To the OP,

@Dave Dillehay is the founder of Aldora Divers, which is the largest op serving only independent divers on the island (i.e. they aren't a house op or cruise ship op). He retired and sold it a few years ago, but is still one of the most knowledgeable people there is when it comes to diving in Coz.

 

[USdiver1]

I beg to differ. Do you have a source for this statement?

Just from my experience, I would say that 75% of the divers on the boats I was on during my last visit to Coz [2024] were using nitrox. Also with the centralized filling of tanks, nitrox seems to be easier to acquire for the dive operators.

 

[jonhall]

Wondering if there is any need to venture out any try other dive operators or should the hotel's dive shop cover all my needs? I purchased a package with the hotel, so most the diving is included, but if there is anything - must see - I might miss then let me know.

I'm all about convenience. In my mind you have the best option of Cozumel diving - a resort/hotel with an onsite dive op (as opposed to traveling to a pickup location or waiting for an op to pick you up.) Scuba Du, like many Coz ops, gets good reviews from divers who have used them. It appears, according to the dive schedule shown on their website (which is a pretty good list of sites), that they don't repeat a dive site through the course of a week - but don't be surprised if they do because of weather conditions or the makeup of divers on the boat. Even though Scuba Du has a schedule, there is some verbiage on their website that reads if you tell them a site you want to go to, they will try to get you there. Bottom line: dive ops go to the marine park and visit the same sites - you won't miss anything.

you may end up diving the same site twice if you use a second shop.

Great point. I dove with 3 different ops a couple of years ago and that happened. Also had a repeat with the same op because a new diver wound up on the boat. Paso del Cedral 3 out of 11 dives!

Nitrox is used by the majority of divers now, so make sure your computer will allow for a variety of O2 configurations [all modern computers should have this function].

Unless you have the Nitrox certification, I don't think it's necessary to use on your trip - but a great suggestion about the computer. I used Nitrox for the first time this past January even though I've been certified since 2017 only because it was free because I stayed at Villa Aldora and dove with Aldora Divers.

I might call the dive shop and give them a background on my experience at a minimum to see what they think. I have been reading up allot on the current, but there's only so much you can gauge from theory.

Just my opinion here, but if you are comfortable in the water, skip the private DM. If after your first dives you feel you need special attention, then check it out. The last 6 dive ops I've been with in Coz have not paired up dive buddies - if it's the case with Scuba Du, just stay close to the DM. You'll read a lot about currents in Coz - the first time I went to Coz (only did 4 dives due to tears in Achille's tendon), I was all psyched up about them and of course, they were very slight if any at all. Since then, I've been in a few that I'd call fast, but you just need to relax and enjoy the ride.

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