Cozumel to reduce diver numbers?

[Christi]

I am trying to imagine the cruise boats telling their passengers that they have to use Pesos only shopping?

And where did you get that idea?

 

[DandyDon]

And where did you get that idea?

As if maybe we couldn't use USDs anymore, which I doubt will happen. Cancun was created by the government specifically to attract USDs.

Wells Fargo charges a 3% conversion fee when taking Pesos from an ATM by the way. Not much, but not free. I see the Peso dropped with crude oil this week: 1 U.S. dollar = 12.56 on google.

 

[caseybird]

But the bottom line is that the majority of the 4,000 permits are actually being "unused" by owners of decrepit or unused boats, who are trying to sell them to legitimate dive ops who need them to expand to meet market demand. I for one would prefer that those unused permits be confiscated by the government and then sold to those that need them to take care of their divers...even at a market price.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

If the Park threatens to confiscate all the unused permits by a certain date, it's guaranteed that they will be sold at a market rate one night before. If that gets new boats into operation, go for it.
The original article doesn't make any sense:What artificial reefs?
4000 divers a day seems like an awful lot. Even for Coz.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

My guess is that only about half of the 4000 ever get used, and as others have alluded to, many of those are snorkelers from the cruise ships and crowd the big catamarans.

PS An easy way for the National Park/Taxing Authority to figure out who is using the permits would be to compare permits to bracelet purchases!


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers



Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[deeper thoughts]

Where did you get the idea that there will be no ATM's?

If you mean that no ATM's will be dispensing USD, that is also false. There are several that do - still. AS far as the exchange rate, that will only apply if pulling out pesos, which is better here anyway if using for local purchases - and your bank is the one to determine what exchange rate they will give you.

I had a brain freeze. Thnx

 

[DandyDon]

My guess is that only about half of the 4000 ever get used, and as others have alluded to, many of those are snorkelers from the cruise ships and crowd the big catamarans.

PS An easy way for the National Park/Taxing Authority to figure out who is using the permits would be to compare permits to bracelet purchases!


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers



Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

At $2/day, they must have a pretty good budget, but greed is greed. Maybe they really want the unused permits to be transferred to operators who will use them more, regardless of claims to limit. I have a difficult time trying to imagine the government saying no to money.

 

[promocop]

Like they needed another reason for anyone not to travel to Mexico these days.!

 

[maryruth1035]

Hi,

I am wondering if we ought to start a new thread about this. My boyfriend, who is a DM on the island was just telling me about this. He wasn't sure when this was going to go into effect, but he was under the impression that they were not even going to be able to deposit american money into their bank accounts anymore. He has heard that companys/corporations will be able to, but not personal accounts. This article says that they can, but all of the divemasters are pretty worried because so most of their tips are in american dollars and they are used to being able to spend them (as are the rest of us). He thinks we are all going to have to switch over to pesos for our tips and that the local places will stop accepting dollars because they won't be able to deposit them. Maybe someone who lives there now can shed some light? I think right now, there are lots of rumors and I'm not sure what the facts are. He mentioned that he also thought the ATM's were only going to be giving pesos now and not USD. I go in two weeks and would like to know if I need to plan on having plenty of pesos for tipping with. I hate to see this change, but if/when it does I want to be ready.

why not change your dollars into pesos here B4 you go? We realize we'll need about $40 a day US for tips--so I'll exchange at least $400 US into pesos plus additional B4 we head down next week. Its cheaper to exchange in the states--especially if you bank with a large bank (Even here in Colorado Springs I can go down to Wells Fargo to do it!

 

[maryruth1035]

Can you clear up whether you think crews/divemasters would rather get pesos or dollars for tips? And, please excise my confusion, but if I do 2 tank dive, do I tip BOTH the divemaster AND the captain 10+% of the cost of the trip each (requiring me to add 25-30% to my budget for diving ? Please advise?

 

[DandyDon]

why not change your dollars into pesos here B4 you go? We realize we'll need about $40 a day US for tips--so I'll exchange at least $400 US into pesos plus additional B4 we head down next week. Its cheaper to exchange in the states--especially if you bank with a large bank (Even here in Colorado Springs I can go down to Wells Fargo to do it!

WF told me it was 3% to convert regardless plus ATM fees, but that info may have come from a phone agent who might not have all the info. Did you get a better rate, or a special perhaps? I think the ATM fees in Coz are negligible, like 50c maybe, but she cautioned me that going to a bank there could be expensive - the amount slipping my memory.

Can you clear up whether you think crews/divemasters would rather get pesos or dollars for tips? And, please excise my confusion, but if I do 2 tank dive, do I tip BOTH the divemaster AND the captain 10+% of the cost of the trip each (requiring me to add 25-30% to my budget for diving ? Please advise?

10%? You can give the tip to either, I usually pass it to the DM, as they'll share it - how they share it being their business. I kind of plan on $5/tank ($10/trip) minimum as I've never met a crew who didn't do a reasonable job but often more like $15/trip. I like to tip on each trip in case I don't get the same crew each time, and I bet that they like it that way - but I doubt that they care whether it's US dollar or MXN pesos. CND dollars could be a problem, European money worse. :laughing:

Special note: no torn bills, as their banks won't take them, so no one will. In fact, it's nice to offer to trade out any they may have if you don't mind the risk of coming home with funny money. :shocked2: