Question Mayan Riviera CCR/OC cave diving questions

[OsirisPan]

Hello.

I am heading back down to Mexico for some more cave diving, I have done multiple cave diving trips but have always went with guides or a friend due to time constraints, my friend is not available for those dates.
This will be my first time going completely solo. I have done solo cave diving in Canada and want to get more experience with solo cave diving in areas with more complex navigation.
I intend to do my CCR MOD1 during this trip and will try and get enough experience on CCR to be comfortable taking it into the cave probably with a guide before I leave (50+hours)
My plan is to do some OC cave diving while down there also. I prefer solo cave diving but will happily dive with others and expect I will be doing some diving with others as I know a lot of caves don't allow solo diving. I will be based out of Playa but have a vehicle.

1. Which areas have cavern zones such as Angelita which would be suitable for CCR diving while still being similar to a cave environment?
2. Which caves allow solo diving on OC?
3. What areas (non-cave/cavern) allow solo diving on CCR without a guide? if taking a boat or involving someone else must a guide always be used?
4. Aside from FB/Scubaboard where are people meeting others non-guide cave divers to cave dive with in this area?

Thanks

 

[rjack321]

Cave diving in Canada is NOTHING like the Riveria Maya. This completely new CCR, completely new area, & solo, is a horrendous idea.

Just take your MOD1. BTW 50 outside of class CCR is hours going to take weeks.

 

[AeroSpartacus]

I'm not as familiar with all the limitations in MX (just used a guide myself), but I wouldn't plan to get certified on a CCR and get to a level of comfort with it for cave diving in the same trip. This is probably even more true in MX where the caves tend to be more fragile / decorated, so buoyancy issues could be more impactful.

On top of that, the MX caves tend to be more shallow which means managing buoyancy can be more tricky, and you don't really gain as much in the sense that you could easily do a 2+ hour dive on AL80s in some caves.

 

[Mr_C]

Canda diving in Canada is NOTHING like the Riveria Maya. This completely new CCR, completely new area, & solo, is a horrendous idea.

Just take your MOD1. BTW 50 outside of class CCR is hours going to take weeks.

+1000

Learn to dive CCR - get comfortable and then take the CCR cave cert class. Regardless of being in MX or not. Learning buoyancy on CCR (all over again) will take time. And learning cave on CCR with from an instructor that can reteach techniques to help not stir up silt or hit fragile stuff will be super important.

 

[evandroairton]

Start diving caves in CCR whas the greatest lesson of humility i've ever had, it was where i get the notion of how much i need to learn, and, how much i didn't know.
That's why today i've no shame, maybe i feel proud, to be able to say i'm a novice in cave CCR
Don't rush, appreciate the journey (as i've been learning), not the goal

 

[34109411]

Hello.

I am heading back down to Mexico for some more cave diving, I have done multiple cave diving trips but have always went with guides or a friend due to time constraints, my friend is not available for those dates.
This will be my first time going completely solo. I have done solo cave diving in Canada and want to get more experience with solo cave diving in areas with more complex navigation.
I intend to do my CCR MOD1 during this trip and will try and get enough experience on CCR to be comfortable taking it into the cave probably with a guide before I leave (50+hours)
My plan is to do some OC cave diving while down there also. I prefer solo cave diving but will happily dive with others and expect I will be doing some diving with others as I know a lot of caves don't allow solo diving. I will be based out of Playa but have a vehicle.

1. Which areas have cavern zones such as Angelita which would be suitable for CCR diving while still being similar to a cave environment?
2. Which caves allow solo diving on OC?
3. What areas (non-cave/cavern) allow solo diving on CCR without a guide? if taking a boat or involving someone else must a guide always be used?
4. Aside from FB/Scubaboard where are people meeting others non-guide cave divers to cave dive with in this area?

Thanks

May i ask the name of the cave system you dive in Canada ?

I don't suggest you go alone in any cave/cavern in mexico regardless of your training level.

 

[OsirisPan]

Cave diving in Canada is NOTHING like the Riveria Maya. This completely new CCR, completely new area, & solo, is a horrendous idea.

Just take your MOD1. BTW 50 outside of class CCR is hours going to take weeks.

Not intending on diving any caves with CCR until I am competent.
I have cave dived in Mexico many times on OC but have never organised a trip all myself.


I usually do a 1/2 stage dive in the morning and finish with a 3 tank dive every day when im in Mexico. Total 4 hours a day usually so I expect 50 hours not to take that long. Honestly dont expect to reach competency prior to leaving.

 

[OsirisPan]

I'm not as familiar with all the limitations in MX (just used a guide myself), but I wouldn't plan to get certified on a CCR and get to a level of comfort with it for cave diving in the same trip. This is probably even more true in MX where the caves tend to be more fragile / decorated, so buoyancy issues could be more impactful.

On top of that, the MX caves tend to be more shallow which means managing buoyancy can be more tricky, and you don't really gain as much in the sense that you could easily do a 2+ hour dive on AL80s in some caves.

Yeah you are right it's probably fairly ambitious. Not expecting to be able to reach the competency to do cave CCR when im down, cave will all probably be OC.

 

[OsirisPan]

May i ask the name of the cave system you dive in Canada ?

I don't suggest you go alone in any cave/cavern in mexico regardless of your training level.

Wet dream, reappearing river, devils bath and some other vancouver island caves.
I haved dived in mexico solo many times on OC but have never organised a trip all myself.

 

[OsirisPan]

Start diving caves in CCR whas the greatest lesson of humility i've ever had, it was where i get the notion of how much i need to learn, and, how much i didn't know.
That's why today i've no shame, maybe i feel proud, to be able to say i'm a novice in cave CCR
Don't rush, appreciate the journey (as i've been learning), not the goal

I have no intention of diving caves on the CCR until im competent.