Aldora Eastside Diving this week

[Dave Dillehay]

Current conditions are allowing us to dive the fabled east side this week. Out there today, its perfect over there.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[DjDiverDan]

What constitutes "perfect" conditions on East Side Dive Sites? Current, visability, surge, etc. ? And what is there on the East Side that you cannot see or experience on the West Side Reefs ? I have always been given to understand that all of the East Side Dive Sites were only for advanced divers - deep dives, high currents, lower visability, and not nearly as much in the way of coral life, but more to see in terms of bigger fish & some pelagics. I'm an advanced diver, with numerous logged dives, but somewhat out of shape & I'll suck air if I have to really exert myself (not that I can't, I just prefer not to). I don't mind deep dives, but I'm more comfortable when current isn't running really fast, and I'd much rather dive a "beginner's" dive site where there is a lot to see in terms of coral formations and sea life. So is the East Side something I should look to explore?

 

[DandyDon]

Lots of info on their site: Windward Adventures

 

[annlaur]

Dove the East side once two years ago, and I'm not the most advanced diver out there. Then again, we went to shallow sites (Ha'nan and Canones) and water was flat as a mirror on the East side that day. Other sites and different sea conditions would have other requirements.
"Perfect" conditions occur when a Norte blows. The East side then becomes protected from the wind (whereas the seas get choppy on the continent side, sometimes incurring port closures) and there is barely any surge.
However, because of the shallow bottom where we dove (55 ft max, with lots of time spent between 40' - 25'), there was a lot of tidal movement, that took a bit of getting used to for me. Water was also cooler than on the West side, really odd.
The diving itself was also very different from what you are used to seing in Cozumel. No spectacular reef like Palancar or Columbia, but smaller, mushroom shaped structures, purple fans everywhere and lots of color. Since those sites are seldom dived, they are pristine and beautiful in their own way. Not better or worse than those on the other coast, just different.
I didn't really notice a difference in visibility between the two coasts, but in my memory the water seems a bit greener, like the Red Sea (nothing scientic about that, just a feeling).
Also got to see cannonballs from a Spanish gallion that sank there and some coral encrusted structures that I think were parts of the wreck (although not sure, I was more paying attention to the critters). Regarding pelagic, other divers that day saw nurse sharks and barracudas, I managed not to.
As far as logistics go, it was a fun field trip too. The shop had arranged a van taxi to drive the divers to Chen Rio, we watched the crew pushing and rolling the boats in the water, rode the boat up the coast past deserted beaches and stretches of jungle (sights only fishermen get to see, I guess), ate sandwiches bought by Memo from El Camaron Dorado on shore away from civilization during surface interval…

If you have the chance to dive there, do it. Especially since trips to the East side are usually offered only when port is closed on the West coast because of a Norte.

 

[Mike]

What constitutes "perfect" conditions on East Side Dive Sites? Current, visability, surge, etc. ? And what is there on the East Side that you cannot see or experience on the West Side Reefs ? I have always been given to understand that all of the East Side Dive Sites were only for advanced divers - deep dives, high currents, lower visability, and not nearly as much in the way of coral life, but more to see in terms of bigger fish & some pelagics. I'm an advanced diver, with numerous logged dives, but somewhat out of shape & I'll suck air if I have to really exert myself (not that I can't, I just prefer not to). I don't mind deep dives, but I'm more comfortable when current isn't running really fast, and I'd much rather dive a "beginner's" dive site where there is a lot to see in terms of coral formations and sea life. So is the East Side something I should look to explore?

Check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdx0u-APVQI

(east side diving starts about 2 minutes in)

 

[DjDiverDan]

Nice video - Thanks Mike. Surge really doesn't bother me - I got used to surge pretty quickly diving off Moorea, and the Black Tip Reef Sharks were a pretty constant presence there, so they don't scare me either. I remember the Black Tips as curious, but fairly standoffish - they wouldn't come within 30-40 feet of a diver unless lured in with food. I'd like to try the East Side sometime, for a change of pace, and though I love looking at the wildlife, it would be very exciting looking at the cannon from a Spanish ship that sank 500 years ago.

 

[Pelagicsal]

Cannons, dj. A dozen or so.
Anchors, cannon balls, random small metal debris.
Beautiful stands of stag horn and elkhorn corals. Scoured swimthroughs. Massive turtles. Vivid color...
Highly recommend it.