Absolutely Insane Dive Video - Cozumel

[uncfnp]

There is one huge difference between south Florida and Cozumel that has not been mentioned. In south Florida, all the drift diving is done in small groups with each group holding a long line attached to a float and flag. The float and flag allows their boat to follow them with absolute accuracy, and it keeps other boats away. You can do that in south Florida because the reefs are flat, and their edges are only a few feet above the flat sand floor. In Cozumel many of the coral formation tower hundreds of feet from the bottom. They are complex structures, sometimes with maze-like characteristics. Divers routinely go through coral tunnels. It is thus not possible to hold a line attached to a float and flag. The dive boat tries to follow the group's bubbles as they move along, and the dive master tries to keep the whole group together. Occasionally a diver may ascend alone for unplanned reasons. Hopefully the boat will see them and pick them up. Other times they don't see them, and that results in a search. Sometimes the search is not successful. More than a few such divers have disappeared for good after an individual ascent.

While its probably true that the majority of divers play follow the leader and just ascend along the float line, that is not always the case. When we hunt, this is definitely not true. Hard to tow a float and hunt. The boat I dive on may drop one or two groups with a guide towing a float on the reef but will also often drop hunters in groups of one or more that shoot a bag for pick up. So the Captain may have one to two groups on the reef following a dive float, then multiple other divers off the reef or on another spot to keep track of as well, and these are NOT towing a flag. I'm not aware of anyone lost yet. Though I have had to wait my turn more than a few times...

Its true thought that this would be difficult with a boat load of tourist or unfamiliar divers.

 

[The Chairman]

Its true thought that this would be difficult with a boat load of tourist or unfamiliar divers.

The problem is with the swim throughs on Coz. Hard to pull a float through one of those.

 

[uncfnp]

The problem is with the swim throughs on Coz. Hard to pull a float through one of those.

I don't know...could make another interesting video

 

[boulderjohn]

While its probably true that the majority of divers play follow the leader and just ascend along the float line, that is not always the case. When we hunt, this is definitely not true. Hard to tow a float and hunt. The boat I dive on may drop one or two groups with a guide towing a float on the reef but will also often drop hunters in groups of one or more that shoot a bag for pick up. So the Captain may have one to two groups on the reef following a dive float, then multiple other divers off the reef or on another spot to keep track of as well, and these are NOT towing a flag. I'm not aware of anyone lost yet. Though I have had to wait my turn more than a few times...

Its true thought that this would be difficult with a boat load of tourist or unfamiliar divers.

I have done a lot of south Florida drift dives, and when I see them, there is rarely another dive boat in the vicinity. Picking up divers who are a bit scattered is not hard. Cozumel is a different scene altogether. On some of the more popular sites, your dive group may encounter 2-3 other dive groups on the same section of reef while you are diving. There are many boats in a given area. Divers popping up all over the place would be a nightmare for retrieval.

 

[Dan G]

I have been out with Aldora and have had excellent experiences. I am also quite comfortable, though, with the procedure other ops have of the DM shooting a bag for the first buddy pair and as buddy pairs need to ascend, they follow the line up- or stay under the marker- and do a 3 minute stop. Pick up is easy because the boat captain sees the DSMB and knows divers are coming up soon. For me a key is that people ascend in buddy pairs. If your buddy is an air hog or has an issue and needs to thumb the dive, well too bad you go up with them.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

The divers in the video are typical tourist divers. They have no desire to master some skills mostly because they were never introduced to those skills. I don't blame the divers, I blame their instructor. Hopefully, they will find SB and start to learn that they need to improve. It's a Mexican law that all these tourists have to have a guide. A local guide. It helps the local economy, but they do a few things that I would not/do not do.

So glad that you do not condone this action. I have to, having been certified by PADI, SSI, SDI. IANTD, TDI, NSSCDS and NACD that I do not blame the diver's instructors because this action is not learned in any class I have seen. It is more of a learned way of extrending bottom time and the teachers are guides and/or DM in Cozomel. Others my just turn a blind eye to it and say it is due to tourist money or even the local way. As for me, I am not a bitter man and I do not condone it nor will I ever be a part of it. If you like the idea ot take part in it, then good on you and please have fun.

 

[Garth]

So glad that you do not condone this action. I have to, having been certified by PADI, SSI, SDI. IANTD, TDI, NSSCDS and NACD that I do not blame the diver's instructors because this action is not learned in any class I have seen. It is more of a learned way of extrending bottom time and the teachers are guides and/or DM in Cozomel. Others my just turn a blind eye to it and say it is due to tourist money or even the local way. As for me, I am not a bitter man and I do not condone it nor will I ever be a part of it. If you like the idea ot take part in it, then good on you and please have fun.

Well said Tony.


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[Skittl1321]

The free-flow happened because the diver inhaled from his reg, then removed it with the mouthpiece facing up- the inhalation which opened the valve, and then the orientation of the reg caused the free flow which was corrected by inverting the reg and maybe putting a finger over the mouthpiece. THis allowed enough pressure to build in the second stage to close the valve. This is perfectly normal and will happen to any 'properly' tuned reg.

Thanks for this comment. I always inhale before taking my reg out of my mouth... haven't really thought about it causing this to happen.

---------- Post added April 11th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ----------

Like most places, Cozumel DMs are usually fanatic about checking gas pressures of the divers in their groups. This is a tad off topic, but I hope it will be tolerated for its supposed level of amusement.

That was a great story. My first day diving in Cozumel (and I noticed for others who were with her for their first day; so it wasn't just me) the DM swam next to me and checked my gauges for me!

She wasn't the 'share air' type- we ascended as needed in buddy pairs- but absolutely fanatic about checking air.

---------- Post added April 11th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ----------

Is there something particular or unique about Cozumel diving that makes the dive ops require their divers descend and ascend together? Do all Cozumel boats follow this procedure?

Not all boats follow this practice. Some send divers up as they finish their air/reach NDL.

What is unique about Cozumel is if you are in a marine park, you have to be accompanied by a Cozumel DM. At least for our group (maybe others are different), once the first person or pair went up, the rest of the dive stayed shallow 45ft or so, presumably so the DM could watch the safety stop and those below her at the same time. We couldn't have someone ascend from 100 ft while the rest stayed down there. (Of course, my dives didn't go below 75, so I don't think the group was much below 85 the few times I was above them.)

But since all the dives are drift dives, some operations prefer to go up together so the boat only has one pick up. That is why some ops air share, because from my experience the DMs don't use hardly any air at all, and they share when the air hog still has plenty of air left (NOT out of air!) so that the whole group doesn't get screwed on dive time.

 

[scubadada]

There is one huge difference between south Florida and Cozumel that has not been mentioned. In south Florida, all the drift diving is done in small groups with each group holding a long line attached to a float and flag. The float and flag allows their boat to follow them with absolute accuracy, and it keeps other boats away. You can do that in south Florida because the reefs are flat, and their edges are only a few feet above the flat sand floor. In Cozumel many of the coral formation tower hundreds of feet from the bottom. They are complex structures, sometimes with maze-like characteristics. Divers routinely go through coral tunnels. It is thus not possible to hold a line attached to a float and flag. The dive boat tries to follow the group's bubbles as they move along, and the dive master tries to keep the whole group together. Occasionally a diver may ascend alone for unplanned reasons. Hopefully the boat will see them and pick them up. Other times they don't see them, and that results in a search. Sometimes the search is not successful. More than a few such divers have disappeared for good after an individual ascent.

While its probably true that the majority of divers play follow the leader and just ascend along the float line, that is not always the case. When we hunt, this is definitely not true. Hard to tow a float and hunt. The boat I dive on may drop one or two groups with a guide towing a float on the reef but will also often drop hunters in groups of one or more that shoot a bag for pick up. So the Captain may have one to two groups on the reef following a dive float, then multiple other divers off the reef or on another spot to keep track of as well, and these are NOT towing a flag. I'm not aware of anyone lost yet. Though I have had to wait my turn more than a few times...

Its true thought that this would be difficult with a boat load of tourist or unfamiliar divers.

Hi uncfnp,

Actually, in Florida, divers must make "reasonable" efforts to stay within 300 ft of a divers-down flag on open waters. Vessel operators must make reasonable efforts to maintain a distance of at least 300 ft from divers-down flags on open waters and when approaching flags closer than 300 feet, must slow to idle speed.

Pretty tough to satisfy the above if you or your group is not carrying a flag but relying on shooting a SMB at the end of the dive instead. It's my impression that all solo divers and groups are to employ a divers-down flag, including hunters.

Of course, I also carry a SMB and a reel in case I get separated from my group. I was hit by a boat off Delray last August after surfacing in a squall while holding onto my flag. Believe me, I take this seriously.

Good diving, Craig

 

[uncfnp]

Hi uncfnp,

Actually, in Florida, divers must make "reasonable" efforts to stay within 300 ft of a divers-down flag on open waters. Vessel operators must make reasonable efforts to maintain a distance of at least 300 ft from divers-down flags on open waters and when approaching flags closer than 300 feet, must slow to idle speed.

Pretty tough to satisfy the above if you or your group is not carrying a flag but relying on shooting a SMB at the end of the dive instead. It's my impression that all solo divers and groups are to employ a divers-down flag, including hunters.

Of course, I also carry a SMB and a reel in case I get separated from my group. I was hit by a boat off Delray last August after surfacing in a squall while holding onto my flag. Believe me, I take this seriously.

Good diving, Craig

Hi scubadada!

You are absolutely right that all the drops, although not technically together, do have to be within a certain confined area and as a rule, do drift along in the same general pattern.

Sorry to hear of your injury and I agree that all free ascents in active boat areas should be taken VERY seriously with extra caution along with a marker. As you obviously know, a boat and flag are no guarantee of safety. I have been fortunate with no close calls but was on a boat headed past BHB when another boat decided to take a short cut under the bridge and almost into a group of divers, despite multiple dive flags and channel markers! But as you say, one can't have a true appreciation of any risk until they have experienced it personally.