Search results

In that article it says Aerolito. Which has hardly any cavern zone. It is a bit more silty than most mainland cenotes, so I'm not surprised to hear that someone got into a siltout there. The article also mentions crocodiles, which can indeeed be found there, just not "a big population lurking in...

Xulo has one small restriction near the beginning, but I wouldn't worry too much about that. Then the main line goes for quite a bit before it gets narrow and deeper again. Those restrictions are quite long, but fun (in sidemount). I haven't been to Vaca Ha in a while, but for a single 2-tank...

I love jailhouse, too. But there is a T three minutes or so in, just after the viz clears up. That means it's not suitable for intro. If you go right at the T the line goes for a while, so good for C1. On the left, you'll hit another T very soon.

The Parker line is somewhat similar to the main line. Very white cave, large spaces, decorated, it perhaps not quite as spectacular. It eventually comes back to the main line, shortly before an (unnamed?) cenote. Running the primary reel to Parker is usually only done at the intro level, almost...

One more thing to consider is whether you're diving with a guide or go independently. A couple of cenotes require a guide and will not let you dive without one. Most cenotes in the Dos Ojos area (Dos Ojos, The Pit, Pet Cemetery, Dreamgate) have that problem. And some others are inconsistent...

I agree that SW Sacbe (Cristal, to the 4-way T) is one of the most beautiful dives in the area. But the traverse to Mayan Blue will likely require a stage in addition to three jumps and a T, and thus be beyond C1 limits. Even more so the Dos Palmas to Pit (or wouldn't you go the other way...

In that range, as far as "typical" goes, it's single tank (often larger steel) plus pony, with cold water regs. The gas is usually Nitrox, either 32% for the shallower side of your range, or 28% "Lakes Mix" that allows you to go to 130. And a dry suit, of course.

When it's a relatively minor obligation that you accidentally blew off, you're still in the water, have no symptoms, plenty of gas, a buddy, and the conditions are otherwise safe, going back down for a short while might be your best option. Otherwise, O2 on the boat.

How about we simply do only safe dives, with no accidents? Then DandyDon has nothing to post about any more, and everyone can catch up?

Actually, under the law in most European countries you have a legal obligation to render aid in an emergency. How much depends on the situation and the relationship between the individuals. For an unrelated bystander in a traffic accident it would probably only extend to calling for help, but in...

Aerolito is certainly quite unique and impressive. But if I recall correctly, it is also rather silty near the entrance, so I'm not sure this would be a good location to get some cavern diving experience. I think the guided cenote dives are safer and would be more beneficial than this.

Angelita and Zapote doesn't sound like a likely combo. They are very far apart, with Zapote being near Puerto Morelos and Angelita south of Tulum. It would be about a two hour drive to get from one to the other. Having said that, I second the suggestion to just call up Nico from CenoteXperience...

What? Adding a cappuccino maker to a regulator wouldn't help the dive? Just imagine, if you could simply hit the brew button way back in that cave, before you start the long swim home. Or, when you're getting cold and tired on that deco hang...

Markmud, I'm not a dive professional, but a diver who hires a professional on occasion, and my experience has been different. For instance, I recently hired an experienced instructor for a day to work on skills. In this case, I wanted to do a lost line drill (which I hadn't done since full...

I don't think such a clear-cut distinction between a formal class with set standards and a for-hire buddy can be made in all cases, nor should it. Sure, there are the obvious ends of the spectrum, but in practice there is a lot in between. When someone hires an instructor to take him on his...

They are afraid you might find Jimmy Hoffa down there.

I believe the Halcyon Contour has provisions to mount it across the wing, like a canister light.

Would you consider taking up cave diving? You have some of the world's best caves right at your doorstep. And you can simply go anytime you feel like it, no need to make a reservation on a boat etc. Some cenotes are even on public land, no fee charged, you can just drive up for a pleasant dive...

Since some of the comments here mention guides pushing the limits, I have my own story to tell. On Cozumel, the guide asked me before the dive how I had set my Shearwater. I told him 40/80, something I feel comfortable with in warm water. He asked me to set it to 99/99 - he didn't want to risk...

I guess it depends on what "planned" means here. If these dives were fully planned out, with contingencies like what you do when you have a free flow at depth and your guide or buddy isn't paying attention, or whether you have enough gas to complete deco if you exceed your planned bottom time by...