Cavern Diving in Mexico's Cenotes

[TSandM]

Well, if it were me, I'd focus on refining your skills in the equipment you already have, rather than switching. Nitrox, Essentials (a good class!) and some cavern diving would be great for this. But there is nothing wrong with playing with a different configuration, while you're there!

 

[rongoodman]

Sounds like if you take them up on their offer you'll be all set to for a cave class on your next trip down, at least through Intro. Essentials is Essentials, as far as I know--there is no difference between cave and tech at that level. With 4-5 days of that kind of training, I think you'll be impressed as to how much your skills improve. You should definitely come out with good trim and a solid back kick, and you'll have a blast too.

I'll be getting into Playa on Tuesday afternoon and will stay until the following Wednesday, so maybe we'll cross paths. Nando is going to be seriously messing with me in my advanced sidemount class.

 

[adimi24]

Ron, you're going to protec this upcoming tuesday?

Just waiting on the info from Kim and if I can change my flight. It does sound great, but I might have to wait for a future trip. I guess that wouldn't be all that bad anyway. I would do nitrox and rescue diver in ny somewhere hopefully and then continue with sidemount or whatever stuff I want on a trip to MX, especially because flights to MX are under $500..

 

[rongoodman]

I should be at Mom's(next door to Protec Playa) by 4 on Tuesday.

 

[adimi24]

I'm guessing that's different than Mama's house ( think it's in tulum)?

Here was the offer:
"
We could combine:
- Open water sidemount (4 x dives)
- Cave essentials (2 days - 2 - 4 dives / sessions)
- Nitrox divers


We include ALL the equipment in the training


If you do the whole program as suggested I can offer you the Nitrox course FREE of charge and a 10% disscount on the Stealth 2.0 sidemount harness.


We will need 5 x days to complete the program. All dives will be conducted using Nitrox 32%


You will get your moneys worth and we will be spending 2 - 4 hours / day in the water diving practicing skills and diving.


So the total cost would be:
210 usd / day x 5 days = 1050 usd
certification fees x 2-3 = 80 - 120 usd
Stealth sidemount gear = 650 - 10% = 585 usd


Total = 1635 usd + 40 usd / cert"

Seems way too expensive. I don't know where the 210usd x 5 days came from. According to the document he sent me, basic sidemount is 230usd and cave essentials is 210usd so i don't know where the other half of that figure came from..

What do you guys think?

 

[TSandM]

If you look at the ProTec price list page, each class has a "per day" cost, followed by a number of days. So Basic Sidemount isn't $230, it's $230 x 4. This makes sense, given the prevailing prices in the area.