Jay, What makes Barracuda your new favorite dive? I have not done it yet. In October on my second to last day we dove Punta Sur on the 1st dive then we're going to dive Barracuda on the second dive but the captain decided it was too rough. We ended up diving San Juan. I really enjoyed that dive, it was very different compared to all the other sites I had dove in Cozumel. I thought the current was moderate to strong but the DM said it was very calm and we were lucky. I know it can vary but how does the current at Barracuda compare to that day we dove together last April?
Boat for four
- Thread starter guruboy
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Sorry for the brief hi-Jack.
We dove Baracuda in October. The currents were freakishly slow...which were still fast by South End Standards. I was looking forward to a really fast drift but it still was loads of fun. Barracuda was like the peaks of a mountain range so you were literally flying like superman above the peaks. We came to one point where it dropped straight down and I just blew out all my air and went head down..... now with my overactive imagination....the theme to Top Gun is blaring in my head.... I'm amazed I didn't suck in half the Caribbean around my reg from my ear to ear grin the entire dive.
Compared to "THE" dive in April, current was much much less volatile. No sandstorms, underwater tornadoes, or anything that you had to work through. Visability was great. Everything was predicatable and fun. I understand it is usually much faster.
(For those so bored to be reading this, Streydog and I met on a dive at Columbia Pinnacles and I got separated from the group (followed the wrong fins) on a swim through, I ascended above the reef to look for their bubbles and got caught in a current that blew me off the reef and away from the group. Everyone called the dive, I launched my SMB, and they were waiting for me when I finished my safety stop.)
All the other dives I have done in Coz either fall into shallow with lots of life (my second favorite) or deeper with cool structures or swim throughs. Barracuda was just different. Like the finger coral on San Juan...just something different you don't see on the South End. While most of the other dives range from John Denver to the Eagles.....Barracuda was more like Metallica...if that makes sense. It wasn't too deep so we had a typical Aldora 75-80 minute dive or so.
We caught an unexpected deal to Roatan in February, but I'm still trying to get back to Coz in April for my Bday. Maybe 14th to the 19th....ish. We will definately be there in October/November for Day of The Dead. It's going to be a tight year, youngest daughter turns 16 in 2 weeks, oldest daughter is getting married in October (I suggested eloping in Cozumel but it did not go over well) and Son is getting married in June. If we don't make it to Coz in April, we will definately be ther in October. Hope to see you there!
Glad you survived another Christmas! You've earned a dive trip!
Now back to the regular thread......
Happy New Year!
Jay
We dove Baracuda in October. The currents were freakishly slow...which were still fast by South End Standards. I was looking forward to a really fast drift but it still was loads of fun. Barracuda was like the peaks of a mountain range so you were literally flying like superman above the peaks. We came to one point where it dropped straight down and I just blew out all my air and went head down..... now with my overactive imagination....the theme to Top Gun is blaring in my head.... I'm amazed I didn't suck in half the Caribbean around my reg from my ear to ear grin the entire dive.
Compared to "THE" dive in April, current was much much less volatile. No sandstorms, underwater tornadoes, or anything that you had to work through. Visability was great. Everything was predicatable and fun. I understand it is usually much faster.
(For those so bored to be reading this, Streydog and I met on a dive at Columbia Pinnacles and I got separated from the group (followed the wrong fins) on a swim through, I ascended above the reef to look for their bubbles and got caught in a current that blew me off the reef and away from the group. Everyone called the dive, I launched my SMB, and they were waiting for me when I finished my safety stop.)
All the other dives I have done in Coz either fall into shallow with lots of life (my second favorite) or deeper with cool structures or swim throughs. Barracuda was just different. Like the finger coral on San Juan...just something different you don't see on the South End. While most of the other dives range from John Denver to the Eagles.....Barracuda was more like Metallica...if that makes sense. It wasn't too deep so we had a typical Aldora 75-80 minute dive or so.
We caught an unexpected deal to Roatan in February, but I'm still trying to get back to Coz in April for my Bday. Maybe 14th to the 19th....ish. We will definately be there in October/November for Day of The Dead. It's going to be a tight year, youngest daughter turns 16 in 2 weeks, oldest daughter is getting married in October (I suggested eloping in Cozumel but it did not go over well) and Son is getting married in June. If we don't make it to Coz in April, we will definately be ther in October. Hope to see you there!
Glad you survived another Christmas! You've earned a dive trip!
Now back to the regular thread......
Happy New Year!
Jay
OP
Is Barracuda the one on the north side?
Yes, Barracuda and San Juan are on the north side. There are some other sites further North as well, but I have never been there. I have only done Baracuda and San Juan once so I'm hardly the expert here. My guess is that there are some incredible sites tourists just don't get to. On our last trip, Aldora was taking a group of salty older divers lionfish hunting to some sites on the North end (if I remember correctly).
That may be another advantage of getting your own boat. If you can pay a fuel surcharge (if necessary) you may be able to tell the DM to go to his favorite spot...not the tourist spots...or at least time your dives either before or after the normal morning tourist 2 tank runs. Having the reef to yourselves would be nice.
Here is a reef map from the Blue XTSea website. I have seen some more detailed ones, but can't find them quickly. Aldora may sell one out of the their shop as well....maybe that's where I saw it.
Cozumel Reef Map - Blue Xt Sea Diving
Well, it's 2017... at least I'm thinking about Cozumel!
Jay
That may be another advantage of getting your own boat. If you can pay a fuel surcharge (if necessary) you may be able to tell the DM to go to his favorite spot...not the tourist spots...or at least time your dives either before or after the normal morning tourist 2 tank runs. Having the reef to yourselves would be nice.
Here is a reef map from the Blue XTSea website. I have seen some more detailed ones, but can't find them quickly. Aldora may sell one out of the their shop as well....maybe that's where I saw it.
Cozumel Reef Map - Blue Xt Sea Diving
Well, it's 2017... at least I'm thinking about Cozumel!
Jay
There are lots of reasons for wanting a private boat. We do a couple of times a year, on our daughter's birthday and on the anniversary of her death. It's just us, our divemaster and captain friend, sometimes some of their family or ours, or close friends. We do time it so we have the reef (usually Maracaibo and San Clemente, with a several-hour SI at our "secret" beach) to ourselves. That doesn't make us bad divers. Other times, we want to meet new people and are happy to dive the same couple of sites several days in a row. That doesn't make us good divers.
When we book the boat to ourselves, we expect to pay for it. That includes the fact that we have the boat and crew for long enough that it's the only outing for them that day (no afternoon dives, in any event). We also tip accordingly.
When we book the boat to ourselves, we expect to pay for it. That includes the fact that we have the boat and crew for long enough that it's the only outing for them that day (no afternoon dives, in any event). We also tip accordingly.
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What you are asking for is a private charter vs a standard charter. I'll include a few bits of info here so that you have some realistic expectations - regardless of who you book your private charter/boat with.
You are looking at booking during the very busiest week of the year aside from Christmas/New Years week - so I would not expect any price breaks. Spots on boats are in high demand and they will be filled if you don't take them. In fact within the next week or so, I expect to be turning people away as I'm already almost completely booked.
Private boat typically means you pay for all 6 spots since the operator cannot sell those spots. I cannot speak for other operators, but I have one price for a morning private charter, another for an afternoon private charter and another for an all-day charter or special hours which would cut into both morning and afternoon dives preventing us to have any other trips for the day for that boat and that crew - the latter obviously more expensive. A private charter includes the 6 spaces, marine park fees, DM, tanks, captain and all of the amenities of our regular charters.
High season is different for different operators - we actually stay very busy through June/July.
Regardless of who you'd like to dive with, I would absolutely make reservations ASAP - otherwise, you may find your options very limited.
With all of that said - Carnival is a great time to experience the island! Have fun and dive safe!
Happy New Year!
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blazey07
Registered
Highly recommend Jaime Banales. Call Chango Villa and ask for his information. Or I can try and contact him through Facebook. We always just have 3-4 people on our tours.
OP
