Blue Angel - highly recommended

[yitbos1987]

Hi Blue Steal,

I can't give you an answer on the 8:30am boat, as I am never there at 8:30.

What I can tell you is this...

When you get on the boat, they will ask you about your experience. Please don't exaggerate. It is ok to be new or something less than expert, we were all there once upon a time. When people lie or exaggerate, it always shows up in their diving and depending on the dive it could be unsafe.

I recently heard someone discussing their diving experience and overstating a bit. When we got in the water, their experience was not as they had implied. It was something to watch. Ever heard the expression regarding two monkeys and a football?

 

[blue steal]

I just checked my scheduled dives at BA and it says 0800, that's fine with me as I'm an early bird, usually up before 5 am. I don't have a lot of experience in SCUBA, only 25 dives to date, the last 12 being in the cold waters of California out at Catalina Island by charter boat. Been going out every couple of weeks this summer. The first 13 dives were in the Philippines, warm water, pretty nice, most of the time just 2-4 of us and the DM. I have been freediving for many years and spend a lot of time in the ocean, (grew up and still live 5 minutes away from the beach) and feel very comfortable in the water.
Anyway thanks for the information, it's my first trip to COZ and I plan on making it a dive-dive-dive trip.

 

[geokr]

Scubawife, can we hire you to plan any and all of our next trips? I have a question on Australia dive operators and I need a scuba guru like you! ;-)

Where are you going to dive in Oz? If it's Cairns try Cairns Dive Center or if it's Port Douglas you will love Poseidon. There are no 6-8 diver boats there like in Coz - the reef is quite a ways out and you need a big, fast boat to get there. But if a "cattle boat" is frowned upon by some then, when it comes to Poseidon, I wanna be a cow forever. The boat is fast (31 kt. Catamaran), luxurious by any standard, usually not more than 12 divers but it can carry many more. The SIs are done in the salon in air conditioned comfort (Oz can be a bit warm at times), a buffet with fresh shrimp, sandwich meats, soups and salads, fresh fruit, etc. is included, 3 dives per trip, great DMs and Port Douglas is a great little getaway off the beaten path. Quicksilver is another good operator but they operate some very big boats (up to 450 tourists, snorkelers and divers) and that is a bit much for me. They also have a platform on Agincourt Reef that's pretty spectacular but too "touristy" for me as well. You will love the Great Barrier Reef no matter where you go!

 

[blue steal]

Perhaps the MODS could move this thread to the Cozumel forum.

 

[Spratman]

You can check with almightywife (on SB) regarding Oz. She's an Aussie and has a lot of experience. I'd love to make that trip sometime.

Dive safe!

 

[Firefyter]

But since they changed ownership they have a very strict :45 rule.

They may have this rule in place for other ops using their boats, but it's most definitely not true for their customers using their DMs. They would lose more than a few regular customers if this were a fact.

 

[Torontonian]

In 2006 I dove with Blue Angel and had a very good experience. Glad to see they are still doing good. We might be coming to Coz next March, and will certainly consider BA again for our diving/snorkeling.