cozumel

[firemedic296]

am going to cozumel for 1st time last week of feb. any sugg.

 

[Diver0001]

There's more to Cozumel than just the diving. Plan a day and rent a car, mortocycle, bicycle etc and get out of town.

It's been too long since I was there last to say anything meaningful about operators. I'll leave that to others. What I will say is that some operators run several boats and group their divers by experience level. To me this is something to look for. If you're experienced you won't have the newbies slowing things down and if you're a newbie you won't have the experienced divers breathing down your neck to hurry up. They'll also go to different locations depending on experience level so it's just more relaxed for everybody.

R..

 

[Moodiejeff]

am going to cozumel for 1st time last week of feb. any sugg.

Can you be any more non-specific?

A direct question would probably be of some help...

Where are you staying? Who's your Dive Op? Do you wanna know about Restaurants? Dive Sites? Non-diving related activities? etc.

 

[mjh]

As mentioned rent a car one day and go to the other side to relax and lay around on the beach. The best beach is about 1/2 way down the opposite side. Can recommend Blue XT Sea as a great dive operator fast boats, 6 divers per, and great guides. Due to all the great restaurants in Coz I would not recommend a AI package and would choose one of the many hotels in or walking distance to the downtown area.

 

[SoCalOffshore]

I have just booked the week of Feb 19 to 29, staying at the Caribe Blu and diving with Blue XT Sea. Tell me about non diving things to do and places to see. I was also thinking of taking the ferry over to PDC on our off diving day and checking it out. thanks.

 

[skeet]

Forget about all the shore stuff and dive,dive,dive. When you cant take it anymore go eat at Ponchos Backyard. Tell any non-diving members of your group to bring lots of books or good walking shoes. Have fun.

 

[Wristshot]

Suggestions? Well, here are my suggestions (but only because you asked):

1) Prepare to have a ton of fun.

2) Read through some of the thousands of previous posts in the Cozumel section. There are hundreds of threads on which dive ops to use and which restaurants to eat at. (be sure to try Guido's)

3) Read the thread on Drift Diving in Cozumel. http://www.scubaboard.com/t77908-.html

4) Plan to use bottled water for many things, just to be safe. Yeah, I know, most reputable restaurants and hotels blah blah blah.

5) Tip your Dive Guides. They take care of you, you should take care of them.

6) Take nothing but photos and memories, leave nothing but tips and bubbles. In fact, take LOTS of photos.

7) Even if you are staying at an AI resort, try some of the great restaurants on the island. Really. You have to. It isn't the LAW, but it should be.

8) If you are shopping, don't be in a hurry. Similar merchandise can be found at many places, and some are better priced than others. In general, the further away from downtown, the lower the prices. (Similar "rule of thumb" for smaller restaurants.)

9) Ask locals for advice on restaurants also. This includes the dive shop staff. Maybe they will send you to a relative's restaurant, but they want you to enjoy yourself so that you will tip them well! You did take care of them, right? The locals can't afford to eat at Primo's and La Mission all the time, so they often know the "econimicas", the reasonably priced, good quality places to get food (like Las Palmas).

10) Drink alcohol judiciously, drink bottled water generously. get enough sleep. Protect yourself from the Sun.

11) Dive smart, but dive, dive dive!

12) Remember that gloves and knives are not permitted in the Parque Nacional (sp?). The exception on the glove rule is at the wreck. Some dive ops are more lenient than others, but they really are not permitted.

13) Bring a dive light on all dives if you can, even daytime dives. The colors get muted at depth, a light will really bring out the colors.

14) You know the one guy on every dive boat that is a PITA? Don't be that guy. Don't be the last one ready to jump in the water. Don't rush, but don't hold up the group. Be helpful, or more correctly offer help if appropriate, but don't be arrogant. No one likes a "know it all". Be a good ambassador for your country, and respect theirs.

15) Follow the Dive Guide's directions. If you don't understand or you don't agree, ask for clarification if time permits (see #14). Don't blindly follow, don't do "trust me" dives, but don't ignore either. Some of them know quite a bit.

16) On drift dives, stay behind the guide. They often find great things and it is a pain to try to fin against the current to go see whatever they have found.

17) Relax and enjoy. Everyone else will enjoy you better and you air will last longer.

18) Be a good buddy to your buddy. 'nuf said.

19) Thumb any dive that is not right. Better to live to dive another day. Don't get pressured to go or do something you are not trained for or are not comfortable with.

20) Write and submit a trip report to ScubaBoard when you return.


Wristshot

 

[firemedic296]

wristshot, since you seem to be a "know it all", or at least enough to keep someone like me out of trouble in mexico, is the glove and knife restrictions due to poss. reef damage. and is that absolutly no gloves or knives and what about shears.

 

[Christi]

Suggestions? Well, here are my suggestions (but only because you asked):

1) Prepare to have a ton of fun.

2) Read through some of the thousands of previous posts in the Cozumel section. There are hundreds of threads on which dive ops to use and which restaurants to eat at. (be sure to try Guido's)

3) Read the thread on Drift Diving in Cozumel. http://www.scubaboard.com/t77908-.html

4) Plan to use bottled water for many things, just to be safe. Yeah, I know, most reputable restaurants and hotels blah blah blah.

5) Tip your Dive Guides. They take care of you, you should take care of them.

6) Take nothing but photos and memories, leave nothing but tips and bubbles. In fact, take LOTS of photos.

7) Even if you are staying at an AI resort, try some of the great restaurants on the island. Really. You have to. It isn't the LAW, but it should be.

8) If you are shopping, don't be in a hurry. Similar merchandise can be found at many places, and some are better priced than others. In general, the further away from downtown, the lower the prices. (Similar "rule of thumb" for smaller restaurants.)

9) Ask locals for advice on restaurants also. This includes the dive shop staff. Maybe they will send you to a relative's restaurant, but they want you to enjoy yourself so that you will tip them well! You did take care of them, right? The locals can't afford to eat at Primo's and La Mission all the time, so they often know the "econimicas", the reasonably priced, good quality places to get food (like Las Palmas).

10) Drink alcohol judiciously, drink bottled water generously. get enough sleep. Protect yourself from the Sun.

11) Dive smart, but dive, dive dive!

12) Remember that gloves and knives are not permitted in the Parque Nacional (sp?). The exception on the glove rule is at the wreck. Some dive ops are more lenient than others, but they really are not permitted.

13) Bring a dive light on all dives if you can, even daytime dives. The colors get muted at depth, a light will really bring out the colors.

14) You know the one guy on every dive boat that is a PITA? Don't be that guy. Don't be the last one ready to jump in the water. Don't rush, but don't hold up the group. Be helpful, or more correctly offer help if appropriate, but don't be arrogant. No one likes a "know it all". Be a good ambassador for your country, and respect theirs.

15) Follow the Dive Guide's directions. If you don't understand or you don't agree, ask for clarification if time permits (see #14). Don't blindly follow, don't do "trust me" dives, but don't ignore either. Some of them know quite a bit.

16) On drift dives, stay behind the guide. They often find great things and it is a pain to try to fin against the current to go see whatever they have found.

17) Relax and enjoy. Everyone else will enjoy you better and you air will last longer.

18) Be a good buddy to your buddy. 'nuf said.

19) Thumb any dive that is not right. Better to live to dive another day. Don't get pressured to go or do something you are not trained for or are not comfortable with.

20) Write and submit a trip report to ScubaBoard when you return.


Wristshot

Do you want a job? Haha...seriously though, list is an excellent list for newbies to Cozumel, or even returning guests that may not "know it all."

This one should be bookmarked!

Thanks Wristshot!

 

[ggunn]

am going to cozumel for 1st time last week of feb. any sugg.

Suggestions for what? Can ya narrow it down a bit? ;^)