BetterLateThannever
Contributor
I just recently returned from a 5 day cruise on the Carnival Celebration out of Galveston, TX. Spent all day Monday 10/15 in Coz and got in 2 dives with Papa Hog's.
Mike and Margaret were in Canada that day so I won't hold the experience against them. The dives were great for someone with my novice status. The first dive was the Paraiso Reef, the 2nd was Villa Blanca Wall.
On the first dive depth was 60fsw for 40min, 3 divemasters with 5 divers. As I was the odd man out I had a divemaster Tony assigned to me. I really enjoyed the dive once I got over the initial intimidation factor of diving in the ocean for the first time
. Saw lots of fish and reef.
On the second dive went to 72fsw for 30min, just myself and divemaster Tony. On this dive I saw a nurse shark, ray (don't know what kind; it was light brown in color with white spots), eel, and a little, black seahorse. Current seemed about 5knots which allowed me to experience true flight for the first time. My only complaint is that I felt I was diving solo. On this second dive, Tony was usually hanging behind me about 50 to 60ft. I kept turning and finning into the current to allow him to close the distance, but he inevitably drifted back way behind me. And no, I was not finning away from him. No need to use them with that current. He just seemed to have no interest in staying in close proximity. Also, he had no interest in a safety stop. He ascended to the surface and just waved at me to come on up. Of course, I refused until I had completed my 5 minutes at 12fsw.
I guess they dive so much they feel that a dive like that one doesn't require a safety stop, but why chance it?
All in all a great experience! Can't wait to get back.
Mike and Margaret were in Canada that day so I won't hold the experience against them. The dives were great for someone with my novice status. The first dive was the Paraiso Reef, the 2nd was Villa Blanca Wall.
On the first dive depth was 60fsw for 40min, 3 divemasters with 5 divers. As I was the odd man out I had a divemaster Tony assigned to me. I really enjoyed the dive once I got over the initial intimidation factor of diving in the ocean for the first time
. Saw lots of fish and reef.On the second dive went to 72fsw for 30min, just myself and divemaster Tony. On this dive I saw a nurse shark, ray (don't know what kind; it was light brown in color with white spots), eel, and a little, black seahorse. Current seemed about 5knots which allowed me to experience true flight for the first time. My only complaint is that I felt I was diving solo. On this second dive, Tony was usually hanging behind me about 50 to 60ft. I kept turning and finning into the current to allow him to close the distance, but he inevitably drifted back way behind me. And no, I was not finning away from him. No need to use them with that current. He just seemed to have no interest in staying in close proximity. Also, he had no interest in a safety stop. He ascended to the surface and just waved at me to come on up. Of course, I refused until I had completed my 5 minutes at 12fsw.
I guess they dive so much they feel that a dive like that one doesn't require a safety stop, but why chance it?
All in all a great experience! Can't wait to get back.
