bclem
Guest
I went to Cancun in late February 2002 to go scuba diving. Being single at the moment, that was the only reason I went(except for having use or lose vacation time I had to use up), and did it alone. Hopefully I'll have a scuba buddy next time.
I signed up for a Suntrips package, $1250 or so for a four star hotel (the Continental Plaza) with the all inclusive package (including plane fare, hotel for 7 days, and all I could eat and drink).
Cancun is a tourist town, depending on the tourist trade for it's existence. Everybody wanted a tip for everything (hey, what's a few peso's when you had already spent the big bucks to get down there). Every deal you make has a catch, and will cost you a few more bucks than you expect. It takes a while to lean the scams, but just do all your deals in Pesos and you will make out OK. There is a bus every 30 seconds which for 5 Pesos (50 cents) will take you as far a s you want to go along the Hotel zone or into the city of Cancun (I found a Walmart, McDonalds, and Office Depot). I love the way the Mexicans like to have a huge Mexican flag flying over town that you can see for miles. (Mexico City had one also in the main square).
It had been windy and off and on rainy for the previous week. I guess that is typical for February. It was generally sunny in the morning, and the clouds gathered about noon, then it rained. I dove in the mornings, and hoped to get some sun in the afternoon, but the only tan I got was on the last day when I didn't dive (flight home, you know).
Upon arriving I walked across the street and signed up for a two tank dive with Punta Este Divers.
The next day I showed up and was the only diver on the boat! It was a big boat (probably could have held 15 divers or so), and as we headed out of the harbor, the boat turned back, and Gabrielle (the dive master who was about 25 years old and very cute) told me the harbor was closed by the harbormaster, and that because of rain showers out by Isla Muheres the dive sites couldn't be identified by landmarks(GPS? Que GPS?). I noticed two smaller dive boats passing us on the way out. I asked the boat captain why we were going back, and the little boats were going out, and his macho took over. He turned the boat around and passed the smaller boats, and we were under water before the others got out there. The visibility was about 50 feet, but it was a good dive!
I got by quite nicely with just the farmer john top and booties, which is all I wore for all of my dives during the trip. The wind and waves were increasing. By the time we got up from the second dive, the other boats had headed back. The waves were about 8 to 10 feet, and the captain was trying to help me on board as I held onto the ladder when he let go. I thought he had fallen in, but he was throwing the life ring to Gaby, who had drifted about 30 feet away. I was worried I might have had to rescue them both!
I had in the meantime signed up with Dive Cancun, and the next day went out with them. The conditions were the same, but there were some other divers on their boat. The dive master was really a twit about keeping his "tourists" close to him, so I couldn't really explore. The dive masters down there must really be into risk management, or else they have a poor opinion of the capabilities of U.S. divers, because they all seemed to want to mother you. (Unlike one boat I have been on in Monterey where they said, "Hey, you are all certified, let us know if you feel uncomfortable and we'll stick with you.)" 35 minutes per dive? I never has less than 1000 lbs in my tanks after the dives. There is something really wrong with our certification programs if a person isn't really considered competent even with an advanced certificate.
The next day was Cozumel. The trip from Cancun was long (an hour on the road, and an hour on the ferry), but the diving was worth it. Dive Cancun had subcontracted the boat and dive guide out to another company who didn't treat you as much like a baby. Drift Diving is great! Santa Rosa Wall first, then another reef. The visibility was only 60 feet (not like the 100 feet I had heard about, but hey, it was February), but it was a really good experience.
The next day was diving in Los Osos cavern. The whole Yucatan peninsula seems to be limestone, and the caverns are submerged in fresh water with visibility about 250 feet, further than my flashlight would reach. Stalagmites sticking up, and stalactites hanging down. Just like in a limestone cave in the USA, but flying through the cave instead of walking. WOW!! Some of the best dives I've ever had! A dive guide with an extra tank and reg's, and four people max tagging along. Cavern Diving is different than cave diving, as you have to be with the Dive guide, and within about 175 feet of a hole up to fresh air at all times. Don't go there without trying this, it is really beautiful, the clear water with the sunshine rays streaming through the holes, the neat cavern formations etc.
Another day diving off of Cancun, and it was time to head home. Headwinds, and having to make an unplanned stop for fuel got me home very late (2am, 4am Cancun time), with military duty three hours later. Would I go back? Certainly, but maybe another time of year.
Bill
I signed up for a Suntrips package, $1250 or so for a four star hotel (the Continental Plaza) with the all inclusive package (including plane fare, hotel for 7 days, and all I could eat and drink).
Cancun is a tourist town, depending on the tourist trade for it's existence. Everybody wanted a tip for everything (hey, what's a few peso's when you had already spent the big bucks to get down there). Every deal you make has a catch, and will cost you a few more bucks than you expect. It takes a while to lean the scams, but just do all your deals in Pesos and you will make out OK. There is a bus every 30 seconds which for 5 Pesos (50 cents) will take you as far a s you want to go along the Hotel zone or into the city of Cancun (I found a Walmart, McDonalds, and Office Depot). I love the way the Mexicans like to have a huge Mexican flag flying over town that you can see for miles. (Mexico City had one also in the main square).
It had been windy and off and on rainy for the previous week. I guess that is typical for February. It was generally sunny in the morning, and the clouds gathered about noon, then it rained. I dove in the mornings, and hoped to get some sun in the afternoon, but the only tan I got was on the last day when I didn't dive (flight home, you know).
Upon arriving I walked across the street and signed up for a two tank dive with Punta Este Divers.
The next day I showed up and was the only diver on the boat! It was a big boat (probably could have held 15 divers or so), and as we headed out of the harbor, the boat turned back, and Gabrielle (the dive master who was about 25 years old and very cute) told me the harbor was closed by the harbormaster, and that because of rain showers out by Isla Muheres the dive sites couldn't be identified by landmarks(GPS? Que GPS?). I noticed two smaller dive boats passing us on the way out. I asked the boat captain why we were going back, and the little boats were going out, and his macho took over. He turned the boat around and passed the smaller boats, and we were under water before the others got out there. The visibility was about 50 feet, but it was a good dive!
I got by quite nicely with just the farmer john top and booties, which is all I wore for all of my dives during the trip. The wind and waves were increasing. By the time we got up from the second dive, the other boats had headed back. The waves were about 8 to 10 feet, and the captain was trying to help me on board as I held onto the ladder when he let go. I thought he had fallen in, but he was throwing the life ring to Gaby, who had drifted about 30 feet away. I was worried I might have had to rescue them both!
I had in the meantime signed up with Dive Cancun, and the next day went out with them. The conditions were the same, but there were some other divers on their boat. The dive master was really a twit about keeping his "tourists" close to him, so I couldn't really explore. The dive masters down there must really be into risk management, or else they have a poor opinion of the capabilities of U.S. divers, because they all seemed to want to mother you. (Unlike one boat I have been on in Monterey where they said, "Hey, you are all certified, let us know if you feel uncomfortable and we'll stick with you.)" 35 minutes per dive? I never has less than 1000 lbs in my tanks after the dives. There is something really wrong with our certification programs if a person isn't really considered competent even with an advanced certificate.
The next day was Cozumel. The trip from Cancun was long (an hour on the road, and an hour on the ferry), but the diving was worth it. Dive Cancun had subcontracted the boat and dive guide out to another company who didn't treat you as much like a baby. Drift Diving is great! Santa Rosa Wall first, then another reef. The visibility was only 60 feet (not like the 100 feet I had heard about, but hey, it was February), but it was a really good experience.
The next day was diving in Los Osos cavern. The whole Yucatan peninsula seems to be limestone, and the caverns are submerged in fresh water with visibility about 250 feet, further than my flashlight would reach. Stalagmites sticking up, and stalactites hanging down. Just like in a limestone cave in the USA, but flying through the cave instead of walking. WOW!! Some of the best dives I've ever had! A dive guide with an extra tank and reg's, and four people max tagging along. Cavern Diving is different than cave diving, as you have to be with the Dive guide, and within about 175 feet of a hole up to fresh air at all times. Don't go there without trying this, it is really beautiful, the clear water with the sunshine rays streaming through the holes, the neat cavern formations etc.
Another day diving off of Cancun, and it was time to head home. Headwinds, and having to make an unplanned stop for fuel got me home very late (2am, 4am Cancun time), with military duty three hours later. Would I go back? Certainly, but maybe another time of year.
Bill
