Banco Chinchorro sometime July 9th-19th '09

[holyhumor]

Hey Southern Yucatan Divers,

I will be in the Tulum Area during this time and wanted to post early to try to get at least 3 more divers for a Banco Chinchorro trip. I have some flexibililty during these dates, so I can adjust accordingly for weather and diver availability. These trips are booked through XTC diving in Xcalak, a very good dive operation and I believe the only operator to have a permit to dive there. I did this dive in June of '07 and it still rates as one of the best dive experiences that I have had. It is a formidable boat trip to the banks, for my trip about an hour and a half up one 6 foot wave and down the other side, wet the whole way, so it is not for the faint of heart or the seasick prone. The diving is intermediate level, our deepest dive was 90ft. and we did 3 tanks, so it was a long day. It was simply the most untouched reef I have personally seen and the sea life was incredible.

I stayed at Casa Carolina on the last trip, but will be staying at Tierra Maya this time around, both are American run, very comfortable, and reasonably priced. Xcalak is a kind of "end of the world place" rutted roads, a go slow attitude and NO GAS STATION, so fill up at the PEMEX in Mahaual. Not much else to do other than ocean activities, but it is beautiful.

Post on this thread or email me at holyhumor@gmail.com with any questions or comments.

 

[Augustus]

you are picking a good time of year for the trip. Winds are often calm in July - August (assuming no storms out on the horizon)

 

[underachiever]

How are the conditions in November? We may try to go down to Xcalak for 2 or 3 days at the front end or tail end of a trip to Cozumel during thanksgiving. We will be flying into and out of Cancun.

 

[Gaviota]

Usually weather conditions in November are still reasonable for the aprox 35 mile trip to Chinchorro. The area does have a high average wind all year - which makes the area very good for wind power.

Link to the current weather conditions on the coast - can also check the history for last November:Weather Station History : Weather Underground

Costa Maya - which includes Xcalak and Mahahual, is about 4 and 1/2 hours drive from Cancun. And about 3 and 1/2 hours from PDC. Easy drive - route 307 south is in excellent condition( most of the construction is complete). Road is 4 lanes to Tulum. Most areas after Tulum are 2 lanes with a wide shoulder.

Chinchorro can be reached from either Xcalak or Mahahual. Both towns have dive operations with permits to dive Chinchorro. Checkout Dreamtimes, Blue Ocean Safari or Bucaneros for diving.

I do agree it is worth the trip. Most dive ops are currently charging about $160 for 2 or 3 tank dive.

Mahahual also has a great selection of good places to stay. Some even have their own dive ops on site for local diving. Check out places like Maya Luna, Balamku, Luna de Plata or Margarita del Sol.

Good luck on finding some other divers for July. I will be arriving in Mahahual on July 18.

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

hey holyhumor, i think i can help out there! i ve got a group of 4-6 but i llneed to confirm dates, that may take me a week or so but i ll get on it!

 

[holyhumor]

Ben,
Sounds great, I have some flexibility, so just let me know and I will contact Alex and set up the trip.
Steve

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

Hi Holyhumor,
Its Jorge on behalf of Ben, im Bens partner, we can take u to Chinchorro no problem, we have transport and all the set up, Tell us when u would like to go. What we have planned to do is this: Get there, and go to Chinchorro, camp, and do a night dive, prob 2 tanks, next day we do 3 tanks and get back to Majahual, next day we can come back to Cancun, or dive Mahajual for 2 tanks more. We are very flexible on what we can do there, so tell us what you would like so we can arrange it.

Jorge Tapia

 

[holyhumor]

Hola Jorge,
Thanks for the reply. My plan may be a bit different then what you had in mind. I had planned on diving with XTC divers out of Xcalak and staying at the Tierra Maya (I am acquainted with the proprietors). Since I will be traveling with my wife (a non-diver) I will want to have a place set up for her to be comfortable while I am off on diving adventures. I realize that a day trip to Banco Chinchorro is a long trip, but I probably wouldnÃÕ be interested in the camping out part, I am actually surprised that the Mexican Military allows camping on Banco Chinchorro. I have done the trip with XTC divers and am interested in using their services again since they have the permits in place and seemed very familiar with the various spots. The rangers did have us show our wrist bands when we got close to los bancos. Your plan sounds like a great adventure and were I in different circumstances I would perhaps consider joining in, but I am not certain that it will fit with what I had in mind.
Steve

 

[Augustus]

i am also curious about camping out on chincohoro. Years ago we could do it on Cayo Lobos but my understanding is this is not longer allowed. Do you have permits to use the fishermens camp on cayo centro???

 

[Doberman]

Hi Holyhumor, Its Jorge, we currently offer the camping to the Chinchorro Banks with a special permit that I had discussed with the fishermen coop, they even have offered us to stay in the 'floating' houses there. The trip we offer is thru Majahual and with all the park permits with them. I have never dove with XTC, but I hear good things from them!, how many days you plan to dive chinchorro?