Cozumel Gloves/Knife

[ggunn]

I've seen them most everywhere else. In Coz, with most ops, you come up in groups of 2-4 and the boat comes to you. Really no need for a line. Maybe some of the cattle boats use one, I dunno.

Who are you diving with?

James

Most/all of the 6 pack boats I have been out on at Cozumel have had a line tied to bow and stern and laid alongside the boat for divers to hold onto while removing BC, weights, etc. I never felt that I needed gloves to hang onto it, though.

Why are there no (or virtually no) barnacles around Cozumel? In the Gulf of Mexico, any object that has been in the water for any time at all is encrusted with them. I've been lacerated by them many times, and if Cozumel had them like that, there's no way I could dive there without gloves.

I'm not complaining, though...

 

[ScubaTexas]

Most/all of the 6 pack boats I have been out on at Cozumel have had a line tied to bow and stern and laid alongside the boat for divers to hold onto while removing BC, weights, etc. I never felt that I needed gloves to hang onto it, though.

I too have found tag lines on most 6 pack boats in Coz. Whether it was used by some or not is a different story. Usually when the wind was blowing or current going pretty good, those who did not use it the first dive (and managed to drift past the boat) were quick to grab it the second dive, if it was necessary.

 

[amadeus00]

I think this is a stupid idea to impose a no glove, no knife rule and then have the dive ops inforce them. What ever happened to personal responsibility? It's up to each individual to tell other divers what to do and not to do. To have a community responsibility to protect and preserve the corals. And for those that don't care or are careless about their hands and fins, I will point out to them on the boat about what they are doing. Some people really don't know. And if they do know but don't care, then that's what the knife if for. j/k.

 

[doole]

I must admit that there have been times when I miss my knife. If you've ever been attacked by the Mexican Piranha, more commonly known as the Bermuda Chubb, you'll appreciate what I am about to say. I used to dive in trunks and a T Shirt only. I still prefer it but now wear a lycra skin. Small air bubbles would get trapped in my hairy legs and the Chubb would sometimes try and eat them. One day, they bit me, Cesar and Ruben on the same dive. And I'm not talking about a little nibble. Bit a small hunk oughta my knee and bled quite a bit. It was VERY painful and to this day, I am wary of Chubbs. I DONT LIKE THEM!

Definitely a point. However, the damn things wouldn't be so obnoxious if people would stop feeding them tacos and whatnot.

Another 'but' is, how is a knife going to help? Ever tried to hit a fish? Doubtful that knifing one would be significantly easier.

 

[Dive-Ho]

Again, never seen one in Coz. Just not the way they do things.

James

I have been to Cozumel over a dozen times we have dove with at least 7 or 8 operators and I have seen tag lines used on almost every one at one time or another. :11:
Dive-Ho

 

[RonFrank]

I appreciate your response, but please be aware that each person has his/her tolerances for "cold". I personally am more comfortable on multi-tank dives wearing gloves. I don't think it is fair to say that just because I would like to wear gloves during my dives that I am touching the reef or need protection from the reef.

to imply that you choose to wear gloves only to touch the reef.

As to tolerances to cold, I certainly understand. However water temps are very nice, and most heat loss is from the head, not the hands.

Their rules are their rules, so get ready to dive without gloves when visiting Coz.

 

[HammerNoMore]

I have been to Cozumel over a dozen times we have dove with at least 7 or 8 operators and I have seen tag lines used on almost every one at one time or another. :11:
Dive-Ho

Well I've only been 3 times, 3 different ops, but never have I seen one used. If they were in the boat I didn't notice them.

James

 

[ggunn]

I think this is a stupid idea to impose a no glove, no knife rule and then have the dive ops inforce them. What ever happened to personal responsibility? It's up to each individual to tell other divers what to do and not to do.

Yeah, well, good luck with that. Vacation time is far too precious to me to spend it getting into beefs trying to police my fellow divers. Most of the folks I meet out on the boats are great people with nothing but the best of intentions, but then there's the obnoxious few...

Realistically, the dive ops are the only ones that could possibly enforce rules designed to protect the reefs. And confidentially (like no one else will read this, right?) if a dive op knows you and knows that you are competent and respectful of the reefs, they might not say a word about your knife or gloves as long as you are discreet about it and don't get them in trouble.

But the reefs are their livelihood; who better to be given the task of enforcing the rules that are designed to protect them? I don't have a problem with that at all.

 

[Coffeyman]

to imply that you choose to wear gloves only to touch the reef.

As to tolerances to cold, I certainly understand. However water temps are very nice, and most heat loss is from the head, not the hands.

Their rules are their rules, so get ready to dive without gloves when visiting Coz.

From the sounds of it their rules are not enforced anyways.

Very interesting debate on this though. I do not personally see the point of the no gloves/knife and agree with other posts concerning fins - but at the same time I respect and admire any effort (even if it seems trival to me) to protect the reef while still allowing everyone from the most novice diver to a master diver experience it.

I think I will carry my gloves - if I get chilled or need to grab a line at some point or another I will throw them on. 2mm gloves are easy to get on a and off even if wet so not a big deal. I will probably go without a knife - we are diving a very small group of 6 to 8 so I can't imagine being so far spread out or get so entagled that the DM could not help me out. May throw in some shears or something just to have it.

 

[geraldp]

Thanks for the heads up - guess I can return my new gloves and BC knife I got especially for this trip and do more research first.

Collecting gear is always fun - even if you don't get to use it on your Cozumel trip

As a few others have said the glove rule is not always enforced. Of the four dive-ops I've tried in the area only one of them asked me not to use gloves, and that was because I asked first. I guess ignorance is bliss - until that last trip I hadn't know about the rule so I just put the gloves on and nobody said anything. Since I normally dive in cold water I kind of feel naked without gloves - even in 80 degree water.

As for knives I never carried one until recently when I had to extricate my buddy out of some fishing line. Fortunately he carried a knife. So now I carry one. That was local diving, however... Since most of Cozumel is a marine park, I don't expect there's much monifiliment entanglement hazard. Shears aren't outlawed, however (as far as I know), so they would probably be a good substitute.

Jerry