Shore diving - is it available?

[Christi]

Pershaps... I was told "Hi use Mau at scubamau.com and he will let you do shore dives for free."
So, I went to the website and found FAQ here: FAQ - Scuba Mau Cozumel

Hmm - interesting - thanks! The entire page is distinctly familiar!

 

[DandyDon]

Hmm - interesting - thanks! The entire page is distinctly familiar!

Overwhelming similarities, but he does suggest tipping of $10 to $20 per tank per diver.

 

[Mossman]

I stayed at Fiesta Inn (now Hotel Cozumel) and dove with Dive Paradise on a group trip a while back. I recall that shore diving was included, one free tank. That was from their "beach" opposite the hotel. Perhaps they'd rent one to you?

 

[PeterNBiddle]

Hmm - interesting - thanks! The entire page is distinctly familiar!

Christi I can't believe you invented a time machine without telling us!

 

[Mossman]

I did offer an opinion on where it was safe or not, but it's not particularly risky alone in daytime at least.

Solo diving bears plenty of risks no matter how "safe" the site may be. Certainly more risks than the risk of CO poisoning.

 

[DandyDon]

Solo diving bears plenty of risks no matter how "safe" the site may be. Certainly more risks than the risk of CO poisoning.

I left the word "not" out but you got my drift. I don't solo shore dive. If I screw up, have a wreck, get swept away, whatever - I want a boat looking for my ass at least, or a buddy. There are real risks to both, but you're not open to the latter so skip that.

 

[Mossman]

I left the word "not" out but you got my drift. I don't solo shore dive. If I screw up, have a wreck, get swept away, whatever - I want a boat looking for my ass at least, or a buddy. There are real risks to both, but you're not open to the latter so skip that.

I've done plenty of solo shore dives in Bonaire, all of them relatively shallow dives off the hotel dock except for one at Karpata after J broke her mask and couldn't join me. But Bonaire has very little current. Most of my solo stuff there was practicing shooting tiny things with my 105mm macro lens and if I did have an OOA, the surface was very close and the hotel dock a very short swim. I should also note that I did my Solo Diver certification in Bonaire with Walt.

So how dangerous could shore diving be? Then I went to Wakatobi. They were totally OK with solo diving as long as one had a solo cert (check) or instructor cert (check) and they gave me a pony for the duration of the trip. Totally cool during the boat dives as I had the flexibility to do my own photo thing without being nagged to keep up with the group. And I did an awesome shore dive one day. Then came the shore dive from hell. I first made the mistake of forgetting to put my name on the board, so no one knew I was out there. And it was a night dive since the dusk faded before I could get in the water. Fine at first, but then the currents picked up in a major way. I knew I was being pulled toward the end of the house reef where it was anyone's guess what happened after that. At night. In Indonesia off a very remote island.

I kicked and kicked as hard as I could trying to figure out where I could exit. They had two defined exit points, only one of which was useable at low tide and the tide was very low. I couldn't find it. I surfaced. The dock with the divers having happy hour seemed so close, but they couldn't hear my yelling. No one was on the beach to hear me. My computer had somehow gotten itself into gauge mode. I was carrying 40 lbs of camera gear. I was fighting for my life. Eventually I did the only thing I could think of, crawl myself up and over the pristine coral reef and safely to shore. Sorry hard corals. Long walk back to the dive shop to dump my gear and camera. Boy did that first drink taste good.

 

[cvchief]

Hmm - interesting - thanks! The entire page is distinctly familiar!

Odd. Looks like he pasted your writing over top of his......

 

[MMM]

I am trying to imagine when I would feel the need to leave a $40 tip for a 2 tank dive that costs $85 (with the guy I dive with). It HAS to be a typo. He must have meant $10/$20 per 2 tank trip and just got things turned around in the cut and paste from Christi's site.

Overwhelming similarities, but he does suggest tipping of $10 to $20 per tank per diver.

 

[DandyDon]

I am trying to imagine when I would feel the need to leave a $40 tip for a 2 tank dive that costs $85 (with the guy I dive with). It HAS to be a typo. He must have meant $10/$20 per 2 tank trip and just got things turned around in the cut and paste from Christi's site.

As much as he copied word for word, how could that be a mistake? Hell, it might even work now and then.