Cozumel Advice For New Solo Diver

[Marybeth42]

Hello divers,

I just finished my open water certification and am planning a vacation with my family to Cozumel in a few months. Though nobody else dives, I plan on spending as much of my time as I can in the water.
Any suggestions for good places to dive with? I'm a little nervous diving with a group of strangers since I'm a beginner, don't have a buddy with me, and have no ocean diving experience. It seems like most people who dive travel with friends or partners so they automatically have a buddy and I'm feeling a little intimidated that this is not my situation.

Also, I know it's all about personal preference, but anyone dove with just a lavacore full body suit in February? Do you think that will be enough warmth?

Thanks ahead for any of your responses.

 

[Skittl1321]

I'm a little nervous diving with a group of strangers since I'm a beginner, don't have a buddy with me, and have no ocean diving experience. It seems like most people who dive travel with friends or partners so they automatically have a buddy and I'm feeling a little intimidated that this is not my situation.

I don't have personal experience in Cozumel yet, but every op I communicated with had the option of hiring a private DM just for you. It would probably be a really good option, especially for your first day, if you don't want to deal with "insta-buddy".

 

[Mossman]

I second Skittl1321's opinion, at least for the first day or two. Lots of experienced divers (though not all) would resent being buddied up with a newbie stranger because it takes away from their own dive, which they paid for like anyone else. So, instead of an experienced diver, you're more likely to end up with a buddy who's just an inexperienced as you. That can be a great learning experience, but in stronger currents and with "bottomless" walls in super clear visibility, it can also be problematic. Best to hire a buddy until you get your feet wet. You'll not only have an experienced buddy to keep you out of harm's way and show you interesting marine that you'd otherwise not notice, but he'll be a happy buddy because he's getting paid for it.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

All the above sounds like good advice but I will add this:

I dive the Lavacore all the time, they are great, but probably not enough in February. What I do is add a rental 3 mil shorty on top and that makes it nice and comfy.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

PS I the case of an odd number of divers after your first day with a private DM, the Guide/DM usually should buddy up with the newer diver.

 

[Mike]

Hello divers,

I just finished my open water certification and am planning a vacation with my family to Cozumel in a few months. Though nobody else dives, I plan on spending as much of my time as I can in the water.
Any suggestions for good places to dive with? I'm a little nervous diving with a group of strangers since I'm a beginner, don't have a buddy with me, and have no ocean diving experience. It seems like most people who dive travel with friends or partners so they automatically have a buddy and I'm feeling a little intimidated that this is not my situation.

Also, I know it's all about personal preference, but anyone dove with just a lavacore full body suit in February? Do you think that will be enough warmth?

Thanks ahead for any of your responses.

You've a few choices in order or preference -

- make friends quickly, finding another solo diver on your boat when you step on board (you've got yourself an instabuddy, how this turns out depends on how much you are willing to take charge and plan your dive and discuss signlsl for air, when to call the dive, problems, lost buddy procedure, how you will dive (next to each other or same ocean)) etc... you might find yourself with a good diver who you're on a safe buddy dive with, or you might find yourself underwater in disbelief how your buddy absolutely ignores anything you discussed on the boat as if you never had any discussions what so ever) It's really going to be pot luck and most divers are horrible instabuddies and the vast majority of the time, if you're waiting for them to bring up any dive planing and discussion of signals and such, you'll be waiting forever cause they don't even know enough to do so, but most if you bring it up will be receptive and glad you did.

- partner with the dive master (simple and easy, and pretty safe as long as you stick close to him/her, as the DM attention will be divided between a lot going on during the dive, if you stick close to him and something happens during the dive, he will almost assuredly switch to dive buddy mode and take care of your problem with you)

- solo dive with the proper redundant gear

- make friends quickly with another diving couple and become a 3rd with them

- say and do nothing and if the dive master doesn't take charge and buddy you up with another solo diver or tell you that you are buddies, then you end up diving with really no dive buddy, while falsly believing that the whole group is your buddy and will bail you out

The last 2 are the worst of the choices you could end up doing, the 3rd choice is probably not a choice, so I'd concentrate on 1 and 2. 2 is always an option.

There is also the option of hiring an insta buddy who would be an extra dive master with the company you are diving with. This would be a great choice if you can afford it.

 

[eab]

Marybeth, I am a frequent solo traveler to Cozumel. It's quite possible to do.

I agree with Dave's suggestion of hiring a private DM for at least the first day, or until your get your bearings. I normally dive with Aquatic Sports and Expeditions, Sergio Sr. (+011 52 1 987 872 0640) or Sergio Jr. (+011 52 1 987 111 1172), on one of their boats. If you make them aware of your concerns, they will take care of you. I have seen and experienced it first hand. You could also take a peek at the November and December threads, and see who from ScubaBoard is diving with whom, and perhaps sign up with one of those dive ops.

I was there last January, and wore a full 3 mil, and was toasty warm. Warm enough that I'm thinking of just a shortie for this trip, and maybe packing the lavacore just in case. Although unlike Dave, I don't love my lavacore.

Hope that helps.

Eileen

 

[tracydr]

I think hiring a DM is a great idea. As far as exposure protection, I'd use a 3 ml, or even 5 ml, along with a tropical hood. You'll find that your air consumption will be lower if you stay as warm as possible. Many guys,especially, seem to think its " cool" to wear as little exposure protection as they can stand. They fail to recognize that part of why they have crappy air consumption is because they are using energy to stay warm. Even if you don't "feel" cold your body expends energy to warm yourself. Also, if you are diving more than one hour a day you need to dress warmer.
I use 3 ml if above 80 degrees, only if diving one dive a day. 5 ml for repetitive dives and any dives between 75-80 degrees.
I almost always wear a hood, too,even if only a thin beanie. I find, even for my swimming workout that it makes so much difference in ear comfort.

 

[Christi]

AS a brand new diver, with no ocean experience and by yourself, any dive shop worth their salt will require you to dive with a private DM the first day at minimum. This is the best advice anyone can give you.

The water temperature in February is typically in the 78 - 80 degree range, so most need at least a full 3mm - of course everyone is different!

Congrats on your certification! Get ready for the addiction

 

[Ron Lee]

PS I the case of an odd number of divers after your first day with a private DM, the Guide/DM usually should buddy up with the newer diver.

1) What do divemasters do with ODD divers?

2) While the DM may well buddy up with the new diver, there is a lot to learn. A dedicated divemaster for at least your first day will allow one person to be attentive to helping you with buoyancy, drift diving techniques, perhaps learning how to follow bubbles if the group goes in a swim through area and you do not, open water safety stops, etc.

It may not be reasonable to expect the group DM to teach someone all this and still provide a service to all the other paying customers.

You are in for a thrill. The things I mention should be easy to pick up on and will make the rest of your dives more enjoyable because you will become more confident due to your increasing experience level.

 

[halocline]

One potential issue with a new diver buddying with the DM is that the new diver is likely to go through air quickly. What happens then? The DM can't surface with the new diver and continue to lead the other divers. It's really best to hire a private DM, and even carry your own SMB. Actually all divers in Coz should carry one; there's a lot of boat traffic, occasional changing currents, and it's not difficult to end up on the surface by yourself or far enough away from the other divers to warrant having a marker.

Another idea would be to do the AOW class during your first trip; that way you're diving with an instructor most of the week. The PADI AOW class was designed to immediately follow OW, even though many people are of the opinion that you benefit more by getting some experience between OW and AOW. I think it's dependent on the particular student and the teacher.