Caribe Blu shore dive?

[firstdive2005]

Hi All! Just got back to Edmonton after 3 wonderful weeks on Cozumel Island. I dove strictly with Blue Angel. I did 28 boat dives, one night dive on boat, and 6 shore dives, 2 night dives on shore. All the dives where amazing, so many lessons to download. Truly my life in diving took a turn that is hard to put to words. NOW the reason I am writing. The shores dives are really neat if you have the heart of a diver in that all dives are new. There is tons of macro life. The boulders and broken concrete docks from Wilma have started to become home to lots of creatures. Actually, construction is going on there for a ray pen and the debris that is being hammerjacked from the floor is already becoming home to lots of life. Night dives there was just as impressive as the boat dives. The only thing here is the pen is going to take in the good part of the shore dive. That is sad. If you are going to be there in April they likely will be done encircling the area needed. You where wondering about staying behind to shoot, usually the current will be too strong to stay any length of time for lots of shots on one subject. You would need to anchor yourself, I trust you wont be doing that. Some of the shallow dives will give nice macro shots, Paradise reef was wonderful. But the current made for 15-30 second hang time without burning energy. have fun, kevin

 

[cxg31s]

Everyone, I greatly appreciate the honest feedback and sharing your experiences. I am taking everything into account so please don't think I don't want to hear it all.

I am greatly concerned about this "ray pen". Firstdive2005, or anyone else who is in the know, please provide details about this? I find the idea of a ray pen objectionable, if they are going to keep rays (eagle rays? stingrays?) captive in a pen just so snorkelers can gawk at them, that is not something I would support, as a diver and as a person who cares about preserving the natural underwater environment. Is this something Alejandra or the Cozumel government is doing? Where is it, exactly?

Thank you for any information!

 

[ggunn]

Everyone, I greatly appreciate the honest feedback and sharing your experiences. I am taking everything into account so please don't think I don't want to hear it all.

I am greatly concerned about this "ray pen". Firstdive2005, or anyone else who is in the know, please provide details about this? I find the idea of a ray pen objectionable, if they are going to keep rays (eagle rays? stingrays?) captive in a pen just so snorkelers can gawk at them, that is not something I would support, as a diver and as a person who cares about preserving the natural underwater environment. Is this something Alejandra or the Cozumel government is doing? Where is it, exactly?

Thank you for any information!

It's a stingray pen (they want it to be like "stingray city" in GC), but Ale and Blue Angel have nothing to do with it. I believe that it is attached to the new development across the street next to Javier and Emma's house.

 

[firstdive2005]

Everyone, I greatly appreciate the honest feedback and sharing your experiences. I am taking everything into account so please don't think I don't want to hear it all.

I am greatly concerned about this "ray pen". Firstdive2005, or anyone else who is in the know, please provide details about this? I find the idea of a ray pen objectionable, if they are going to keep rays (eagle rays? stingrays?) captive in a pen just so snorkelers can gawk at them, that is not something I would support, as a diver and as a person who cares about preserving the natural underwater environment. Is this something Alejandra or the Cozumel government is doing? Where is it, exactly?

Thank you for any information!

Hi Angie-The pen is private, not a Blue Angel project. It is similar to the dolghins pens, so sad. Maybe the weather will wreck it again. And yes all the divers I chated with as we watched the construction are appalled. kev

 

[jjwdiver]

From my visit there January...here is a panorama attempt, but it shows the pen being built next to blue angel/caribe blu

as for shore dives at Caribe Blu....days were drab, but the night dives were real fun for me to see new things.

John

 

[jeancmo]

Last November there was a green mesh fence around the stingray prison- I guess they determined it wasn't going to hold up in bad weather. So I wonder what kind of fence is going to be installed? I can't imagine this place is going to make $$$$!!! Although with them feeding the stingrays there were LOTS of fish around to see.

Jean

 

[cxg31s]

Thanks for all the info and the pictures! We are going to make the best of the situation, at least I know it's not a Caribe Blu thing, I would have canceled my reservation. Like Jeanie at CB told me, at least it will make finding the exit easier on a night dive!

 

[randapex]

I wanted to jump in here and say thanks as well to everyone who took the time to post replies.
Have to admit being a bit "anti-Coz" because of the currents and lack of shore diving that I've experienced there. Finding a place to shore dive was a big factor for me. And I don't need a lot to keep me interested. Sometimes spending a whole dive with one little blenny can be worth while. They are so comical and photogenic.
Thanks again.
Rand

 

[abcitydiver]

notes on shore diving CB: most days show lots of current, to preserve air and energy you might find it worth while to take your gear and tanks via auto down to papa hogs and ride the current back. right before leaving, i did the shore dive with their DM Tony, I was rather impressed with how hard he worked for me. He knows that house reef like the back of his hand. Octos, rays, puffer, cowfish, eels, watch out for the Sgt Majors, they are begging fools! Several sea cucumbers, some nice soft corals. Trumpet and pipe fish. One Baracuda. And that was a short dive, as I was fairly tired from the morning dives, and am still a baby air hog.

As for the rays, three cheers for them, all 16 have escaped and are making home a bit south of Cruise ship terminal. They are easy to identify as their tails have been mutilated in order to render them "harmless". This is such an amazing travesty and a larger outcry is certainly called for.
Anyhow, dont give up on the Shore dive from CB,

 

[1KWIK_69]

As for the rays, three cheers for them, all 16 have escaped and are making home a bit south of Cruise ship terminal. They are easy to identify as their tails have been mutilated in order to render them "harmless". This is such an amazing travesty and a larger outcry is certainly called for.
Anyhow, dont give up on the Shore dive from CB,

It's great that they escaped!

It just disgusts me that they would do something like this to them. Diving is
supposed to be an adventure where you never really know what to expect
each dive, or snorkeling for that matter. Penning up a bunch of wild sea life so
the cruise ship crowd on limited time can gawk at them takes away the
adventure. It reminds me of the sports show where they bring in a huge glass
tank full of fish in so little kids can have fun catching them. It's ok for kids I
guess but there's no sport in it.....