Blue Angel - highly recommended

[mase]

I love Blue Angel, that's why I use them for my Cozumel excursions. But since they changed ownership they have a very strict :45 rule.
.

I just did 15 dives with BA and everyone was about 60 minutes. I never heard anything about a 45 minute rule. I dove with Jorge, possibly other DM's have different practices.

 

[dcubedsw]

I was hoping that blue angel would let you dive your air/computer and not set a time, (45').
Did you always come up as a group? How many in your group, like 1 DM to 4-6 divers?

We were told both days that there was a 45 minute rule. Perhaps this is new.

There were separate groups on the boat. First day we were a group of 4 plus one DM, there were two other groups of ~5-6 and each had a DM, and Blue Angel had a DM go in the water as the "Master Dive Master." Each group came up separately.

Second day, there was one Blue Angel DM for a group of six, and a DM (from another outfit) accompanying one guy but effectively looking out for all. We pretty much all came up as a group that day, too.

 

[mase]

The group, usually 4 to 8 divers, I dove with from August 19 -27, dove our computers and ascended with your buddy, not as a group. The only time we had to surface as a group was when we did the North End because of ripping currents and we were advised of this before the dive.

 

[blue steal]

I am hoping we can dive our air/computers and ascend with our buddies.
sounds like a group can have anywhere from 4-8 divers to one DM.
How many divers are on one boat? Is it like 5-6 groups? That sounds a bit crowded to me?
thanks Mase for the info. I like 60 minutes...................with an AL80 and ~500psi at the end, that would be good gas management....................:vintagediver:

 

[blue steal]

I am hoping we can dive our air/computers and ascend with our buddies.
sounds like a group can have anywhere from 4-8 divers to one DM.
How many divers are on one boat? Is it like 5-6 groups? That sounds a bit crowded to me?
thanks Mase for the info. I like 60 minutes...................with an AL80 and ~500psi at the end, that would be good gas management....................:vintagediver:

 

[dcubedsw]

The one day we had the three groups and around 18 people on the boat it was...intimate, but not badly crowded. I wouldn't have wanted more people, though.

With respect to group ascent, we did have big currents one day, necessitating the cruise-ship-avoidance manoeuvre. Second day, I don't think we were compelled to come up in a group, we just ended up doing that as we all got to the 45 minute mark. I hope you get your 60 minutes Blue Steal, that's pretty impressive gas management.

I'm wondering if the 45 minute "rule" that we encountered is because we were day-trippers? If Mase didn't have that just a couple of weeks ago, then...? Best to contact Blue Angel I guess.

 

[mase]

BA has several boats. At least 2 of them are smaller boats having a capacity of either 8 or 10 divers. I saw one larger boat that takes out multiple groups. Possibly different regulations are in force on the different boats. Also they may take into consideration the experience of the divers. The group on the boat I was diving with were told to ascend to the safety stop at 700 psi. This is a well run operation. I had a great time diving with them and I believe everyone on our boat would agree with that assessment.

 

[yitbos1987]

"Blue Angel has a dive cut-off "rule" of 45 minutes"


I don't mean to be rude, but this isn't correct for the 8am or 1pm trips. After 80+ dives at Blue Angel in the past year, I can assure everyone that you will be able to dive your computer and profile.

We just got back this past Wednesday (19 dives over 5 days) and the place looks better than ever. Dinner in the restaurant is very good, as well.

And the diving.... Well, the diving is always good and diving with Jorge is a dream. We did Barracuda twice on this trip and it is always beautiful.

A word of caution regarding Barracuca. Don't even think of going unless you have 100+ quality dives. It is not for beginners or people with lots of quarry/lake dives.

 

[mase]

A word of caution regarding Barracuca. Don't even think of going unless you have 100+ quality dives. It is not for beginners or people with lots of quarry/lake dives.

We did Barracuda with BA and Jorge. The current was ripping. What a ride!

 

[blue steal]

Thanks yitbos1987 for the info. Question. Is there more than one boat that goes out at BA at 0800 and is there an 0830 boat? And do they generally group divers to their ability/skill level?