Aldora Divers trip report

[Peter Guy]

Pilot -- just for the record, I really do think even a cursory reading of the Original Post would have cleared up some of your mistaken identies. For example:

My husband and I...got the North Suite, which is a two bedroom apartment with a large living room and full kitchen. Bob and Cheng had one of the courtyard rooms....

We don't have our pictures from the trip (LOTS of them!) processed yet, but Bob's got some of his up in a slideshow.

And for "bonus points" had you clicked on the slideshow link, you would have learned that Bob, Grateful Diver, thanked his "stars" -- Bob, Cheng, Peter, Lynne and Kevin -- exactly the people the OP identified in her post.

Isn't it wonderful what can be gained from careful review?

 

[pilot fish]

For the record, this is not a big deal and only serves to distract from a good Trip report by the OP. "If" I had clicked on the link, which I did not. I was also not reading it with careful review. Again, I do not assume things that are hinted at in posts since it leads to more assumptions. Peter, let it alone because it is not important.

Pilot -- just for the record, I really do think even a cursory reading of the Original Post would have cleared up some of your mistaken identies. For example:
And for "bonus points" had you clicked on the slideshow link, you would have learned that Bob, Grateful Diver, thanked his "stars" -- Bob, Cheng, Peter, Lynne and Kevin -- exactly the people the OP identified in her post.

Isn't it wonderful what can be gained from careful review?

 

[TSandM]

Didn't intend to start a dustup here.

The discussion of the trip just highlights what different expectations people have from their vacations. Two morning dives, perhaps a dip off the dock in the afternoon or a night dive is plenty for me, especially for nine days in a row.

The trip wasn't cheap, but we knew that in advance, and we didn't try to keep costs down. We dove Nitrox, for example, and took several day trips to the mainland.

And I did really enjoy the diving, especially the structure on the deeper reefs. It's just that my heart was completely stolen by the caves, and I really can't imagine being in that area and not doing my diving underground

I forgot to mention that one of the most peculiar things about the trip, and one for which I have no explanation whatsoever, is that, after the first day, we could not find Margarita mix ANYWHERE. Nor Cointreau. We were reduced to squeezing limes (a PITA) and drinking tequila and lime juice, which is an unfortunate shadow of a good Margarita. We could buy margaritas in all the restaurants; we just couldn't make them for ourselves!

 

[scubawife]

Didn't intend to start a dustup here.

The discussion of the trip just highlights what different expectations people have from their vacations. Two morning dives, perhaps a dip off the dock in the afternoon or a night dive is plenty for me, especially for nine days in a row.

The trip wasn't cheap, but we knew that in advance, and we didn't try to keep costs down. We dove Nitrox, for example, and took several day trips to the mainland.

And I did really enjoy the diving, especially the structure on the deeper reefs. It's just that my heart was completely stolen by the caves, and I really can't imagine being in that area and not doing my diving underground

I forgot to mention that one of the most peculiar things about the trip, and one for which I have no explanation whatsoever, is that, after the first day, we could not find Margarita mix ANYWHERE. Nor Cointreau. We were reduced to squeezing limes (a PITA) and drinking tequila and lime juice, which is an unfortunate shadow of a good Margarita. We could buy margaritas in all the restaurants; we just couldn't make them for ourselves!

I got some pretty crazy looks the first time I was in Mexico asking for margarita mix in the store. Only last year we saw it for the first time at a store in Akumal. The store is beyond overpriced and completely catering to the American tourists so they import some stuff. They had Jose Cuervo mix. I saw it in Chedraui in Cozumel in December too (in the liquor section).

To replace Cointreau or Triple Sec, there's a Mexican orange liquer called CONTROY. It's alot cheaper since it's mexican and it works great.

 

[Christi]

Didn't intend to start a dustup here.

The discussion of the trip just highlights what different expectations people have from their vacations. Two morning dives, perhaps a dip off the dock in the afternoon or a night dive is plenty for me, especially for nine days in a row.

The trip wasn't cheap, but we knew that in advance, and we didn't try to keep costs down. We dove Nitrox, for example, and took several day trips to the mainland.

And I did really enjoy the diving, especially the structure on the deeper reefs. It's just that my heart was completely stolen by the caves, and I really can't imagine being in that area and not doing my diving underground

I forgot to mention that one of the most peculiar things about the trip, and one for which I have no explanation whatsoever, is that, after the first day, we could not find Margarita mix ANYWHERE. Nor Cointreau. We were reduced to squeezing limes (a PITA) and drinking tequila and lime juice, which is an unfortunate shadow of a good Margarita. We could buy margaritas in all the restaurants; we just couldn't make them for ourselves!

I am glad you enjoyed your trip and didn't mean to imply anything else. I was just commenting on some of the things you mentioned as "lowlights" of the trip for lack of a better term...in case you change your mind and there is a next time

I realize everyone won't love Cozumel and that's ok...it's just sad to hear. So I hope that was clear

As for Margarita mix...well, they make "real" margaritas here an use fresh squeezed lime juice and a fresh homemade limonada mix vs a bottled mix. For them to use a bottled mix here for margaritas would be like going to Italy and opening a can of Hunts spaghetti sauce...haha! So that's why the mix is hard to find.

As far as cointreau and triple sec...did you go to an actual liquor store? They are definitely on the island, perhaps the place you went just didn't have it. Controy is another orange liquor that is virtually the same. There is another one as well, I just can't remember th name of it right now.

 

[halocline]

I can definitely say that none of the margaritas I've ever had in Cozumel (I've definitely had a few!) can compare to the ones at Liberty Bar here in San Antonio. I defy anyone to disagree!!

I would agree that the true value of Cozumel is the ability to reef dive and do cenote dives on the same trip. I discovered this unintentionally while waiting out last November's nasty norte. There are usually a few Europeans staying where I stay in Cozumel, and they make the trip (expensive for them) because they can do both on the same trip. Next trip to Coz I'm going to do the cavern cert course with Yucatech.

 

[djanni]

Very non-inspiring trip report Lynne.

Guess you liked Aldora ok but otherwise why bother posting such a ho-hum experience.

 

[MMM]

I'm a bit taken aback by a comment like this. I don't think trip reports need to be inspiring...simply truthful. So she'd rather do the caverns instead of Cozumel. No big deal. I don't think anywhere in her post does she intimate that it was a "ho-hum" experience. At least I didn't read that into her report.

Very non-inspiring trip report Lynne.

Guess you liked Aldora ok but otherwise why bother posting such a ho-hum experience.

 

[TSandM]

Well, I didn't say very much about the diving, but that was really because there are so many reports of what the diving in Cozumel is like, and I didn't have anything new to say. I did want to talk about where we stayed and who we dove with, because there are so many options there.

We did enjoy the diving, particularly the deep reefs with the canyons and swim throughs. I loved the fine, pristine white sand. And as I said, the night dives were spectacular.

But if you want passion in a report, go read the one about the cenotes . . .

 

[kentmorrdave]

For all you Aldora fans Luis Quintana is now at Deep Blue as a shop manager. I start diving with Aldora 4-9 and will report back.