Suffice it to say, you're going to fall in love with Cozumel. So many of us have and continue to year after year.
Just wait until you ask for restaurant advice.
Just wait until you ask for restaurant advice.
First diving trip to Cozumel - a few questions
- Thread starter riceowls
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deepsea21
Contributor
Get one of these... You won't regret it. When you get it take a nail and heat it up with a lighter till it's melting hot and then poke/melt a tiny hole in the top of the beanie to vent trapped air. The "top" will be the highest point of your head when you are in a horizontal dive profile looking slightly forward so it's actually not the top of your head when standing but a bit further back... more like the top back of your head.
Adding this alone is basically like adding 1MM to your entire suit. Remember, most body heat is lost under water through the head. Studies have gone on for years about whether or not the head loses 25%, 50% 75% body heat but they are all based on air exposure. The reality is UW an uncovered head does indeed lose a pile of heat. There's a reason when you cut your head you bleed like crazy... the scalp is loaded with blood vesicles to keep the brain warm as actual blood flow through the brain is quite small.
XS Scuba 2mm Tropic Beanie
Adding this alone is basically like adding 1MM to your entire suit. Remember, most body heat is lost under water through the head. Studies have gone on for years about whether or not the head loses 25%, 50% 75% body heat but they are all based on air exposure. The reality is UW an uncovered head does indeed lose a pile of heat. There's a reason when you cut your head you bleed like crazy... the scalp is loaded with blood vesicles to keep the brain warm as actual blood flow through the brain is quite small.
XS Scuba 2mm Tropic Beanie
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We’re all different. I used to know a gal who wore a dry suit diving Cozumel.
If I may, I'd also like to ask for a dive op recommendation.
I'm staying in Fiesta Americana and planning 3 diving days at the beginning of May.
Have been certified for 2 years now but am still rather a beginner with <20 dives and no gear, except a mask - so I'll need to rent.
My priorities seem to be: conveniance, so being picked up from the hotel pier, as small DM/divers ratio as possible and good-quality rental gear available. I've got to know that another factor worth considering is steel tanks used by some ops, but to be honest - I've never really paid attention to it.
I'm aware of the FA's house operation but haven't found much feedback on it. I've also done some research and Salty Endeavors seem to meet my criteria.
I'm staying in Fiesta Americana and planning 3 diving days at the beginning of May.
Have been certified for 2 years now but am still rather a beginner with <20 dives and no gear, except a mask - so I'll need to rent.
My priorities seem to be: conveniance, so being picked up from the hotel pier, as small DM/divers ratio as possible and good-quality rental gear available. I've got to know that another factor worth considering is steel tanks used by some ops, but to be honest - I've never really paid attention to it.
I'm aware of the FA's house operation but haven't found much feedback on it. I've also done some research and Salty Endeavors seem to meet my criteria.
there are plenty of good dive ops to choose from. everyone has their favorites. but they all get you wet. haha
i have used marine world, del mar, studio blue, dive paradise etc and know people who regularly use roberta's.
but i am with you. i would choose convenience and good quality / well maintained gear as top priorities.
myself personally i did not like using the ops that have to transport you to the marina and back. it was a pain in the ass and a waste of time.
one suggestion i would make is that you do a shore dive (if you can) once you get your gear so you can test everything in the water and get your weighting sorted out.
we try to do this when ever possible but this is especially important for newer divers.
- Messages
- 53,648
- Reaction score
- 7,826
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
Just checking, are you a member of DAN? That's really essential IMO. Surprises and accidents happen to anyone, and you want them if needed. Membership also includes emergency repatriation, and I am keeping my membership even when I get too old for this sport. It's also required to obtain their dive insurance which for most is also essential.
Marine park rules limit that to small groups, maximum of eight I think, but under the current pandemic limitations, you can expect smaller ratios with the smaller boats and the reduced boat loading. Hire a private DM for your first boat trip. Money well spent. S/he can help teach you with dealing with tricky currents, boat climbing, etc. Then tell him/her that you don't want to be babied but to learn from them.
DAN Europe is different from DAN North America, and I am not really familiar with what they provide, but I think they're pretty essential for diving too.
That's my favorite, but there are many great Ops on the island as it's a very competitive market. I have dived with many different ones over the last 20 years I've been visiting and liked many of those, but I've been really impressed with Henry's operation.
deepsea21
Contributor
While my preferred dive op is Tres Pelicanos, if you are staying at the Fiesta Americana which is south of the Puerta Maya Southern cruise terminal and since you don't own your own gear I'd go with Dive With Martin all the way. DWM is a top quality op and they provide FREE gear rental. Contact them through their website and ironically, "Paddie" will respond. They'll pick up and drop off at your dock. My dive op, 3P's, would do it to but they don't offer free gear rental.
FYI... I've been diving Coz for almost 20 years and my friend has been diving Coz for I'd guess 30 years... He stays at the southern AI's and DWM is his preferred dive op these days. I'd dive with DWM but we stay in town and they don't come further north than that southern pier so they don't work for us but they are a top quality op.
There are many top quality dive ops on the island so picking the right one for you is a personal thing but given your circumstances and where you are staying I think DWM is the best fit for what you are looking for.
Apparently they provide it for free excluding wet suits which are 10$/day.
Don't rent a wetsuit. There's pee in it.
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