Here is the trip report from our trip to Coz on Feb. 5, 2005 to Feb. 12, 2005. My wife and daughter (non-divers), my son (Jared) and his friend (Ben) and I (divers) arrived at Detroit Metro 2 1/2 hrs. early. As we were checking Ben in we were told that the noterized letter that gave us permission to take Ben out of the country had to have a "raised seal" (ours had a rubber stamp). So we called Ben's parents and they had to fax another copy of the letter with their driver license to the Northwest office and they noterized it ($15) so we were good to go (no one else ever asked for the letter again). After we checked in we were getting ready to board the plane when an announcement came over the PA that the airport was shut down due to fog! After about an hour they started flying again so finally we were on our way : The pilot was able to make up all but 15 mins so we landed pretty close to being on time. We took a van (part of the trip package) to the El Cozumeleno which is on the north end of the island. It is a nice resort but the food (AI) did get a little old after a few days. They put us in room 215 the first night and it was terrible, no air conditioner, it had two walls that were windows, verry small and the room was HOT. They moved us to the north side the next day and I have to say the room was hugh! It had 2 Queen beds and two sofa sleepers too. The staff was friendly and they kept the rooms clean so ala in all it is a good place to stay. Later that evening we went into town ($5 cab) and met up with Michaela and Roberto at Liquid Blue. I signed the boys up for their advanced open water (better to do it down there where it is warm ) Sunday morning we got up and had a quick breakfast and then took a cab ($11) to the "Calletta" (marina) and met Roberto at the dock. There Randy joined us so we only had four divers (+ Roberto the DM) on the boat. Our first dive was at "Palancar Gardens" (89 ft. for 68 mins.). This was Ben's first ocean dive and he was just amazed at how clear and warm (100 ft and 79 degrees)the water was. We saw 3 spotted eagle rays that had 6-7 ft wingspans. These were the first eagle rays I had ever seen and the were only about 20 yds. away and I didn't bring my camera After a long surface interval (about 2 hrs) on shore at a nice beach we dove the C-53 (70 ft. for 67 mins.). Jared really loved this dive because he is a shipwreck fanatic. We swam through the entie ship which was very easy since they cut large holes in the hull and it lets lots of lihgt in. There were fish throughout the ship and a large barracuda just outside. After we explored the ship we swam over to "Chankanaab Reef" where we saw small crabs, shrimp, and lots of fish. Monday morning we dove between "Palancar Caves" and "Palancar Bricks" (88 ft. for 67 mins.). This was the first dive I used my Oly 5050 with pt-015 housing and no strobe. I got a picture of a stingray and a jack swimming together. This was the "boys" first "deep dive" and they had a blast.
Our second dive was at "Tormentos Reef" (58 ft. for 76 mins.). On this dive we saw a flamingo tounge and fingerprint together and a large sea horse. We also saw a 6 ft. green moray that had a 4 ft. black grouper as a buddy that swam with us for over 20 mins. Unfortunately my batteries died before I could get a picture of the sea horse.
Monday night we did a night dive "Paradise Reef" (47 ft. for 75 mins.). This was Jared's and Ben's first night dive (and my first saltwater night dive) and it was (as the boys say) "totally awsome". We saw lots of crabs and lobsters. the fish would stay pretty still so you could get real close. There were a few spotted morays and tons of other fish. We also saw 4 or 5 octopus which would change color to match the coral which was really vibrant because of our lights. At one point Roberto had us turn our flashlights off and we swished our hands through the water and the plankton lit up like little fireflies. There was also these long green worm like things all over. I have never seen anything like it and if you ever go to Coz you have to do a night dive. Tuesday morning we dove "Cedar Pass Wall" (74 ft. 67 mins). Here we saw 2 turtles and Roberto found a big crab. As he was showing it to the boys I looked under a ledge and saw 7 lobsters 
we also saw a honeycomb cowfish.
those pictures were taken in "my mode" from setting that I got from a link on scuba board. They came out much better than using "auto" because the flash didn't go off all the time in auto. On our second dive we dove "Yucab Reef" (54 ft. for 74 mins). The boys worked on navigation while I swam around and took pictures.We saw some barracuda and a couple of turtles. i got some shots of a splendid toadfish. Wednesday we took the day off to celebrate my 50th birthday :dazzler1: We went into town and had a lobster dinner at Primas It was pretty good but the kids didn't care for it (they would rather eat chicken strips Thursday morning we dove "Palancar Caves" (111 ft. for 63 mins.). This time another Randy and his brother Rusty joined us. While we were going through a swim through I stopped and took a picture of this little fish (he is just above center by the grenn stuff) and I am not sure what he is (I think he is a mutton hamlet) maybe someone out there knows?
I also got a shot of a hawksbill turtle. I also shot some "movie" with my camera and I was suprised that it turned out as good as it did. It isn't "video" quality but it is OK. On the second dive we dove "Las Palmas" (65 ft. for 74 mins) the current had picked up a bit (2 to 3 mph) so it was a little harder to take pictures but I did manage. I got a shot of a trumpetfish
and near the end of the dive I found a sharptail eel (no picture) and saw lots of starfish and one lone yellowmouth Grouper which was about 4 or 5 foot long. All in all it was a great trip. Diving with Liquid blue was great ( I really like the big tanks) the boat captain (Jorge?) was very helpful and Roberto was very good with the boys. I can't wait for my next trip back to Coz, I am already trying to figure a way to get back there (come on lotery ticket!!!). Jerry
Our second dive was at "Tormentos Reef" (58 ft. for 76 mins.). On this dive we saw a flamingo tounge and fingerprint together and a large sea horse. We also saw a 6 ft. green moray that had a 4 ft. black grouper as a buddy that swam with us for over 20 mins. Unfortunately my batteries died before I could get a picture of the sea horse. Monday night we did a night dive "Paradise Reef" (47 ft. for 75 mins.). This was Jared's and Ben's first night dive (and my first saltwater night dive) and it was (as the boys say) "totally awsome". We saw lots of crabs and lobsters. the fish would stay pretty still so you could get real close. There were a few spotted morays and tons of other fish. We also saw 4 or 5 octopus which would change color to match the coral which was really vibrant because of our lights. At one point Roberto had us turn our flashlights off and we swished our hands through the water and the plankton lit up like little fireflies. There was also these long green worm like things all over. I have never seen anything like it and if you ever go to Coz you have to do a night dive. Tuesday morning we dove "Cedar Pass Wall" (74 ft. 67 mins). Here we saw 2 turtles and Roberto found a big crab. As he was showing it to the boys I looked under a ledge and saw 7 lobsters we also saw a honeycomb cowfish. those pictures were taken in "my mode" from setting that I got from a link on scuba board. They came out much better than using "auto" because the flash didn't go off all the time in auto. On our second dive we dove "Yucab Reef" (54 ft. for 74 mins). The boys worked on navigation while I swam around and took pictures.We saw some barracuda and a couple of turtles. i got some shots of a splendid toadfish. Wednesday we took the day off to celebrate my 50th birthday :dazzler1: We went into town and had a lobster dinner at Primas It was pretty good but the kids didn't care for it (they would rather eat chicken strips Thursday morning we dove "Palancar Caves" (111 ft. for 63 mins.). This time another Randy and his brother Rusty joined us. While we were going through a swim through I stopped and took a picture of this little fish (he is just above center by the grenn stuff) and I am not sure what he is (I think he is a mutton hamlet) maybe someone out there knows? I also got a shot of a hawksbill turtle. I also shot some "movie" with my camera and I was suprised that it turned out as good as it did. It isn't "video" quality but it is OK. On the second dive we dove "Las Palmas" (65 ft. for 74 mins) the current had picked up a bit (2 to 3 mph) so it was a little harder to take pictures but I did manage. I got a shot of a trumpetfishand near the end of the dive I found a sharptail eel (no picture) and saw lots of starfish and one lone yellowmouth Grouper which was about 4 or 5 foot long. All in all it was a great trip. Diving with Liquid blue was great ( I really like the big tanks) the boat captain (Jorge?) was very helpful and Roberto was very good with the boys. I can't wait for my next trip back to Coz, I am already trying to figure a way to get back there (come on lotery ticket!!!). Jerry
