First time to dive Mexico Caves

[tstormdiver]

In less than 2 weeks, I will be diving the Mexico caves for the first time. There are 10 of us going (5 divers). All but 2 of us have been there before, a couple of them (including my instructor) many times. We have guides reserved for the week. To say the least,.... I'm stoked! Is there anything I should consider as I am preparing & packing? Consider as I am making the dives? To be honest, I'm just looking forward to escaping the cold weather that has set in:cold:, even if just temporarily.

 

[rongoodman]

Who's going to be your guide? Will you be diving dry or wet? You'll have remember to adjust your buoyancy when you move through the haloclines into the salt water and back. I remember my Intro instructor commenting on one dive that I was skipping along the boundary like a stone because I wasn't getting negative enough. You'll also be surprised as to how bad the visibility gets when you're in the fresh/salt water mix. It should be dry now, with no mosquitos, which will be good. The little monsters ate me alive last October! Have fun--I'm just starting to plan a trip back in April or May.

 

[tstormdiver]

I was told who the guides would be, but don't recall right now. My instructor has used them before. I will be taking both a 5mm & 7mm wetsuits. Hope to be able to use the 5mm; I really hate 7mm's, but will use it if I must. Not sure of what weighting I will need. Although I have tried to dive a set of double AL 80's, things didn't work out, so I don't have a clue as to what weight I may or may not need. I typically dive double 108's & 130's. Yes, I've been briefed on how to move through Haloclines. I think it will be interesting, to say the least.

 

[BabyDuck]

this is my list for when we went in november. feel free to take all or none of these things!

mexico dive packing list

gps, cord
passport
thumb drive
shorts, shirts, undies, bra, pants, jammies
fins
non-ground adapter
logbook
power strip
kindle
towel
lighter, line, zipties
windbreaker
sunglasses
light, battery, charger
reel, spools
wetsuit
booties
nomad
phone, plug, car adapter
mask
beanie
bathing suits
dive juice
toiletries, meds
lights
helmet
stage kits
analyzer
hat
dive computer
regs. stage regs
sunscreen
wipes
tell the bank. fix the phone.
to buy there - tarp, cooler, water bottles, bug spray

 

[mselenaous]

Tammy,
I think the biggest difference I found, is that when diving FL caves we are uber careful about disturbing the bottom and a tad more forgiving if we get close to the top. In Mexico, there are stalagmites and stalagtites. These were dry caves at one time and the mineral deposits from dripping create the stalagtites over 10's of thousands of years, and now that they are underwater will never form again, ever. These are very fragile. Not only was I looking forward and down, but I felt like I needed eyes in the back of my head to see up too. You can actually see the halocline ripples through the water column, kinda cool.
Just relax and enjoy the spectacularly unique beauty around you.

 

[tstormdiver]

Marci,
Here's what I have now:
2pr fins
2 prim. masks
1 back- up masks
5 & 7 mm wetsuits, beanie hoods, pocket shorts & booties
BP& 2 W's
tool kit w/ reg. service kits
Camera- if we mess around in a cavern
2 prim. lights
4 back-up lights
Lots- o- Batteries
2 computers
2 sets doubles regulators (no stage regs, we won't be doing any stage diving)
Log book & c-cards
Clothes & skivvies for the week
Reels, cookies & line arrows
Charger cords for everything
Lap top (Condo has Wifi)
Ear Beer
Toiletries & meds
Of course all paperwork & all ready to go

 

[SandyRobinson]

Tammy, you will have a blast! Great advice above. Couple of things that stick out to me.
1. Take DIN/Yoke Adapters if needed. I would find out in advance what type tank valves are available. I would take the adapters (or yoke regs) if all of the shop's tanks are not DIN.
2. In Mx, I use a 7/5 WS which now is more like a 3/2 and it has been more than enough (especially with a hood) for 2 dives a day some up to 1:45. To compare to Florida - I occasionally use the 7/5 and am OK for 1:15 or so. I am considerably warmer in Mx. If you think you can get by with the 5mil, leave 7 at home. which will save you some space and hassle. Maybe some of your regular buddies an help you with this. FYI, last February, Nohoch and Taj Mahal were 77 degrees.
3. You mentioned some issues with double 80s. If using double 80s in Mx and you can practice your weighting with a set(and your wetsuit) in a pool before you go, I would recommend doing so. It will be that much less to worry about and to straighten out while in Mx. FWIW, I dive SM with a Nomad that has 2#s on each shoulder. In MX, I use the Nomad but I add a 3# weight to each tank for a total of 10#s. As a starting point, maybe you can subtract the weight of your BP from 10. One of my buddies used double 80s for a while and it seems like he used 5 pounds betweeen his tanks and BP. He also dove wet at the time. If you have any soft weights, maybe you could do the same.
4. I would consider a basic repair kit for the team - various o-rings, maybe four replacement hoses, basic tools, etc. Coordinate this with your 4 buddies. Last year, three of us made a couple of dives and we each had a PG o-ring/hose failure at the same time while gearing up. Chances of that are slim but fortunately, we had extra o-rings and a hose. With 5 divers, you may want to take one extra reg just in case(which would have extra hoses and PG).
5. A thorough inspection of all gear before going.
6. FWIW,I carry on my regs, lights/batteries, computers, and primary mask. These items I want to have in the event my checked luggage is delayed.

 

[tstormdiver]

Elana,
Don't think that will be much of a problem,... I'm kind of a bottom hugger anyway, even in FL. Can't wait to see those features & enjoy them!

 

[tstormdiver]

Hi Sandy,
- I've been told we will be using DIN cylinders
-Might consider leaving 7mm & take a core warmer instead
-Unfortunately I don't have access to a set of double AL's. I tried hard to find someone who had a set. I will be diving a SS BP with a 45# wing
- I have pretty much any tools needed to service a reg + a service it & O-rings of most any size, both rubber & Viton
- Will be putting my regs on the bench Mon.
- I pretty much carry on the same things, but will also have my BP, as my harness is fitted to me.

 

[TSandM]

Tammy, HERE is a long thread with a lot of information in it, even though some of it won't be relevant to you, if you are doing nothing but guided dives.

To my knowledge, Al80's are almost universal in MX. I find that hanging a 7 lb weight off the bottom bolt both weights me perfectly (in a dry suit) and balances the tanks just right.

Halocline, as already mentioned, takes some getting used to. The feeling of "bouncing" off the salt water is an odd one, as is the sensation of not being able to ascend on the way back. And team positioning is important -- if you all try to swim right on top of the line, no one but the guy in front will get to see very much. Staggering people with the first diver to the left, second to the right, and third in the middle preserves as much visibility as possible. And the third guy needs to be unashamed to okay the line, if necessary, and to relish the fact that he will be first on the way out, and everybody BEHIND him will suffer

Depending on where you are staying, there can be excellent ocean snorkeling for the lazy afternoons. There's some pretty good food here and there, too -- don't miss Turtle Bay in Akumal, and I love sitting on the patio at Casa Cenote. Limonadas at Don Cafeto's are incredible addictive, too.

Do make sure that you have some anti-diarrheal and some anti-nausea drugs among you. Some people's stomachs don't take Mexico well. (Peter often has a sick day during a trip.) Otherwise, I have eaten and drunk whatever I pleased there, including salads and iced drinks, without any issues.

Also take some rainwear. Squalls are not uncommon, and they're usually brief, but MAN can they drop water!

Have fun -- the caves are beautiful, and less work than you're used to