Alot of firsts for Cozumel NooB

[UltimateAg]

First let me say hello all, this board is an amazing resource. I've been lurking for a couple days and have already learned a lot.

I just got my PADI OW certification in Kauai a couple of weeks ago. All my dives were shore dives, with minimal current at a depth of 35 ft. I'm going to Coz at the end of July for my brother's wedding and hope to do 2 tank dives on both Sat & Sun, and maybe a night dive. I'm staying at the El Cozumeleno because that's where the wedding and all my family will be (I've read plenty on how this isn't optimal since it's North but no choice really).

Here are my questions: It sounds like I will be doing MANY firsts this trip (1st boat dive, 1st dive to 60 ft, 1st drift dive, maybe 1st night dive) so I'm worried I may be swallowing more than I can chew and wondering if I should try to take another speciality dive before this trip and if so which one (night, bouyancy control, boat, deep, drift) to get more experience? My wife (non-diver) and I have our first child on the way so I don't think I can justify too much to her (both time and money) but I think I can maybe get her to agree to 1 class plus mask, fins, snokel, and hoping to get a BCD but doubt it (oh yeah, I don't have any gear either).

I breezed through the OW cert and feel reasonable confident in my bouyancy skills, but I know I'm still a beginner. My biggest worry I guess is getting down to 60 ft because I can't say for certain but I feel like I'm a slow descender. Any advice, help, or comments would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[Divedoggie]

1. Be honest with yourself. Tell the Dm if you have concerns.
2. Sign up for some afternoon dives first. They are usually shallower.
3. Some of the hotels have good shore dives. Do a couple of 25-35 foot shore dives.
4. Get a mask, snorkel, booties and fins, and maybe a wetsuit for yourself.
Rent everything else until you are diving more and you don't have to justify the time and money.
Check www.scubatoys.com for the above items. Also check www.sierratradingpost.com for an inexpensive wetsuit.
Have fun. Diving Coz is awesome!

 

[UltimateAg]

Thanks, that's sound advice divedoggie. I guess you wouldn't recommend a specialty class between now and then?

 

[jlyle]

Howdy, Aggie!

Take Advanced Open Water while you are there. Chances are you will be the only student - just like a private lesson at home and much cheaper. That way you will get your additional experiences under the watchful eyes of your dive instructor.

Gig 'em,
Jim (jlyle)
Class of '67

 

[Scubagal]

Howdy, Aggie!

Take Advanced Open Water while you are there. Chances are you will be the only student - just like a private lesson at home and much cheaper. That way you will get your additional experiences under the watchful eyes of your dive instructor.

Gig 'em,
Jim (jlyle)
Class of '67

Great advise! I did my AOW while in Cozumel, it was so much better than the muddy lake I did my OW courses in.

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.

Whatever you decide, buy your mask. Nothing messes up a good dive quicker than a poorly fitting mask, the rest of the equipment is nice to have. Given your choices I think I would opt for a buoyancy class and then get to a local dive spot and dive as much as you can, paying particular attention to free accents, decents and hovering in mid water. In Coz you must be able to do free accents and decents as well as hovering during your safety stop. There are no hang lines or anchor lines to hang on to, it's up to you to control your accent/decents. If you can handle the accents/decents the rest is easy.

 

[Damselfish]

If you can take a class, it sounds like doing AOW (either home or Coz) would be a good idea for you. I'd do that rather than taking a specialty.

 

[Cozoholic]

First let me say hello all, this board is an amazing resource. I've been lurking for a couple days and have already learned a lot.

I just got my PADI OW certification in Kauai a couple of weeks ago. All my dives were shore dives, with minimal current at a depth of 35 ft. I'm going to Coz at the end of July for my brother's wedding and hope to do 2 tank dives on both Sat & Sun, and maybe a night dive. I'm staying at the El Cozumeleno because that's where the wedding and all my family will be (I've read plenty on how this isn't optimal since it's North but no choice really).

Here are my questions: It sounds like I will be doing MANY firsts this trip (1st boat dive, 1st dive to 60 ft, 1st drift dive, maybe 1st night dive) so I'm worried I may be swallowing more than I can chew and wondering if I should try to take another speciality dive before this trip and if so which one (night, bouyancy control, boat, deep, drift) to get more experience? My wife (non-diver) and I have our first child on the way so I don't think I can justify too much to her (both time and money) but I think I can maybe get her to agree to 1 class plus mask, fins, snokel, and hoping to get a BCD but doubt it (oh yeah, I don't have any gear either).

I breezed through the OW cert and feel reasonable confident in my bouyancy skills, but I know I'm still a beginner. My biggest worry I guess is getting down to 60 ft because I can't say for certain but I feel like I'm a slow descender. Any advice, help, or comments would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I would suggest in investing in a dive mask ONLY - a lot of people will tell you to you feel more comfortable in your own gear - But IMHO you should rent first. We (me and my boyfriend) purchased all of our equiptment and - for instance - we bought two ~ $350 steel tanks..Well after our last trip to Coz helped me come to the conclusion that Im NEVER diving cold again - thus one $350 (top of the line) steel tank sits...We did actually sell one for $200...nice loss, for what? Because I was 'suckered' into buying my own equiptment - my fault i know...Blah, Blah, BLah...

I would suggest diving with BlueXT~Sea as a beginner...We are relatively new and I was scared. Javier with Blue XTSea was excellent calmed all my fears about diving in the ocean for the first time...He has ~8000 dives !! We did our Advanced Certs with them and were extremely pleased. Christi's (the owner) captain and dive masters are top notch, you cant go wrong....Would highly recommend doing advanced if your not so sure of your skills while away...I dont regret it for a second

Pm w/ questions

 

[Cozoholic]

(night, bouyancy control, boat, deep, drift) .

DEFINATLY PPB with Javier

 

[mstevens]

Hey, UltimateAg... Why not just head down to Offatt's Bayou in Galveston and save yourself all the bother of going to Cozumel? That's what I used to do when I lived there. Of course now that I live in New Hampshire and it's really expensive to get to Cozumel, I'm going in July.

Gig 'em. Mark, '84.