Caution about Cozumel

[ggunn]

The level of certification does not necessasarily prove experience. There are a lot of Instructors and Divemasters that I won't dive with due to how they got their certs. Carry your log book to show proof of experience not a C-card.

Usually, a Coz dive op who doesn't know you will want to dive with you for a day or two to assess your skills before they will take you to the more challenging sites, no matter what's on your C card or what's in your log.

 

[Wristshot]

RP Diver,

Not to join the masses that are "casting stones" but A few things struck me when I read your original post: (in your words)

1) When you got down there, you asked to get on the fast boats they told you no. At that point, were alarms in your head going off? Did you at that point try to take your business elsewhere?

2) If you couldn't take your business elsewhere because you had already paid for the diving, then that would beg the question as to why you would commit payment without getting assurances in the form of a reservation for the fast boats. Maybe you couldn't. Maybe you just didn't.

3) You didn't say that you made reservations for a fast boat in advance. You said that you asked when you were down there. You went to a very popular dive destination without adequate reservations for what you specifically wanted, and you are dismayed that they couldn't accomodate you? Hmm. . . .

4) If all they had left was a cattle boat, then that sounds like it was be your fault for not making the proper reservations or arrangements. If they lied about availability of fast boats, then that is a DP problem not a Cozumel problem.

4) How was DP selected? Were you not aware of their capabilities and their limitations? Wait, you knew to ask for a fast boat, so that sounds like you knew that they had both types. Maybe you didn't know until you got there. Maybe you didn't do your homework. That's a shame with this huge resource available right here on SB. Wait, you said this was a few years ago. Still, some people might think that you should bear the blame for not doing your homework. I don't blame, I just raise questions. **smiling**

5) Why was DP selected? Price? Need I say more? Like others before me, based on your comment about copying the LDS with the complaint makes me wonder if the LDS was the one that recommended DP. Why? Did they not tell you about DP? Did you make a "trust me" booking with a dive op? What do you teach people about "trust me dives"?

6) You and your wife have 25 years of diving experience and you didn't research the dive op? Color me shocked, possibly disappointed. You didn't make the proper reservations? Sounds to me like you went down there inadequately prepared. I don't mean to be flippant or insulting, (well maybe a little) but I hope as a DM and an Instructor that you two plan your dives better than you plan your vacations, especially if students are involved. If a dive had gone as badly awry as your vacation plans, would you have thumbed the dive?

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Hey, you are certainly entitled to your opinions. I think everyone that reads this thread now knows to make sure that they book the right kind of dives, especially with DP. In that respect, this thread has been useful for many people.

Also, many here will now know to ask for the EDP program if they chose to use DP. Again a positive thing.

I can definitely understand you wanting to dive other places now that you have been to Cozumel twice. It is nice to explore and to go new places. I just trust that you two have learned from this and that when you book future dive vacations, I pray that you do your homework, and that you book what you want.

Next time you have a dive vacation, I hope that you have a great time, and then you come share your experience, your knowledge and your photos with us.

I am still not sure why this was titled "Caution about Cozumel" when it really should have been "Caution about Dive Paradise". Some Cozumaholics will get real defenseive when they see that title.

In defense of DP, it does sound like they did make a significant effort to try to make it up to you.
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Remember the Cozumel Rule of Thumb: The dive ops with "blue" in the title are good. Just check the list on Post #3 to compare.


Wristshot

 

[scubajim]

Well stated, Wristshot

 

[Ron Brandt]

Well, he did book his diving with a dive op who is well known to be a budget, cattle-boat, high volume - lowest common denominator type of operation (not that there's anything at all wrong with that; they are perfectly suited to some divers), and apparently he was not unhappy enough at the time to take his business elsewhere. He certainly deserves some of the responsibility for what happened to him.

Personally, I think that DP showed a lot of class by comping him a week's diving on their fast boat as a remedy for a problem for which they were not entirely to blame.

I will second that.
Personally I dive the fast boats all the time and allways have.
I too am an instructor and been diving for 25 years.

I do however threaten to do a snorkel on one of the cattle boats as every time one goes by I seem to the the girl of my dreams.

The quote about Blue in the name is close to true, as I used to dive with Deep Blue...great times!

As for general Coz diving....you don't allways have to have an "advanced dive" to have fun.

Ron

 

[Dive-Ho]

The level of certification does not necessasarily prove experience. There are a lot of Instructors and Divemasters that I won't dive with due to how they got their certs. Carry your log book to show proof of experience not a C-card.

Log Book I ain't got no stinking log book

Personally I never did enjoy filling out a log book and quit keeping one after the first 200 dives.

Besides it would be easy for a diver to forge his log book :11:

Dive-Ho

 

[getwet2]

I have never understood why someone would want to prebook and pay for a dive package with a dive op they have never used before at a destination they have never been to. (Live aboards excluded) If you booked it through your LDS, you also have to wonder how much your LDS added on for making the arrangements for you, it's not rocket science, do it yourself.

With that said I have never prebooked a dive package before I arrive and probably never will, too much can happen in between the time you book and pay and the time you get to your destination. I also like to take a look at the shop in person before I give them my money, you can tell alot about the operation by looking at the shop, boats and equipment, plus it's not like there is ever a shortage of dive op's around, especially in Cozumel, there is always someone else willing to take you diving.

 

[divematt]

I've always wanted to pay as you go, but try walking into one or two decent dive shops and say that you want to dive tomorrow. The best ones are booked, and way in advance too! Sure, once in awhile someone cancels, or you'll find one with 5 boats that has room, but I truly believe that if I booked a Cozumel trip months in advance, bought a plane ticket months in advance, and then expected the 3 or 4 best dive operators to "just have room", I might find myself out of luck calling Dive Paradise or someone like that. I couldn't risk that!

Matt

 

[getwet2]

When I went to Cozumel last year, I booked the trip something like 3 weeks before leaving and I ended up using DWM because I thought that Dive House was out to lunch with their prices. Now not having been to Cozumel before and never having used any other DO in Cozumel I figured I'd try DWM and other than a couple of things that a certain DM did it was a good time.

I didn't find SB until after I returned or it might have influenced my choice of DO before I went but as things turned out I wouldn't hesitate to use DWM again. I would most surely like to try some other DO's that I've seen mentioned on this board just to see what they are like the next time I'm in Cozumel but if they are full I'd go to the next guy. It's not like they have there own little "secret" dive sites they go to, they all go to the same sites, you just have to make sure they are going to the sites you want to go to before you give them your money.

Even if a DO gets glowing reviews from other divers, they may not be the right DO for you. Everyone is different and you can't please everyone all the time, if you don't like the DO give the next guy a try, don't say that the whole destination is garbage because of one bad experience. I'm sure there are lots of people on this board who have been to Cozumel a number of times and have always used the same DO. Are they the best judge of who's the best DO to use? I personally don't think they are but I will listen to what they have to say about the DO and I will use it to help me make my choice.

Some people say if it's not broken don't fix it but you might not realize it is broken until you drive or dive something new. :06:

 

[pilot fish]

I have never understood why someone would want to prebook and pay for a dive package with a dive op they have never used before at a destination they have never been to. (Live aboards excluded) If you booked it through your LDS, you also have to wonder how much your LDS added on for making the arrangements for you, it's not rocket science, do it yourself.

With that said I have never prebooked a dive package before I arrive and probably never will, too much can happen in between the time you book and pay and the time you get to your destination. I also like to take a look at the shop in person before I give them my money, you can tell alot about the operation by looking at the shop, boats and equipment, plus it's not like there is ever a shortage of dive op's around, especially in Cozumel, there is always someone else willing to take you diving.

What? You book hotel and flight way in advance then "scout out" dive ops once you're there? You might have a nice vacation sitting by the pool while all your friends are off diving. You travel from Canada to Mex without a firm dive reservation? All the good dive ops are booked so you'd better content yourself with some shore diving.

 

[flatwood]

To each his/her own. I have been going to Cozumel since 1978, and while yes, absolutely, there have been some changes since then and not all of them have been for the better, Cozumel remains one of my favorite places on the planet. On every trip there, I start planning my next trip there before I leave.

I have only been out on a cattle boat for one dive, and that was enough; even as a beginner, the small boats (for me) were a better choice. I try to stay out of town in the middle of the day when there are a lot of cruise ships in port. I spend a lot of time over on the east side, which has stayed virtually unchanged in my nearly 30 years of going there (well, except for the devastation wrought by Hurricane Gilbert) . I stay in a small quiet hotel that was built in 1980 or 81 and is still as charming as it was then. I started diving there in 1994, and while I will grant that there has been a decline in some of the reef life in some locations, in my experience it has not been as extreme as some would let on; I still get amazing dives every time I go there.

I wish the cruise ship lines had never found Cozumel, but development is a fact of life. Sometimes it is up to the individual to figure out a way to turn chicken s**t into chicken salad. So far, I have been able to deny the march of development spoiling my experience on Cozumel.

As always, YMMV...

What hotel do you use? Is it in town? bob