Question December Port Closures & Dive Op

[NDL_Diver]

I tried out a new op on my last trip a couple weeks ago and even with experience going back to 2-3 trips a year to Cozumel since 09, my buddy since 02, AOW, nitrox and hundreds of dives collectively we were placed with new divers and a 60 foot floor.
I have never ran into it before in Cozumel. Lesson learned for us, will be sticking with known ops moving forward.

Yea, after doing 90'+ then moving to 60' floor maybe tough.
I have never dove with Dive House, but seen there cattle boats. I think they have several groups on boat. I don't know if they break up group based upon max depth, but probably group to air consumption.

bdslm, If you can, please review of whatever dive op you use and your comparison between Dive House. Maybe just pros and cons?

 

[DandyDon]

The surf instructor said I should do San Gervaiso in the morning because of the heat,

The hottest forecast in the next ten days is 87F.

in order to do some of the more advanced diving like the Aldora adventures trip.

I am under 100 dives. Currently 55

Maybe you're pushing it. There are more trips to be had.

 

[NDL_Diver]

...
I did find the spreadsheet that Christi was tracking the blown days on but it looks like she stopped tracking in 2018. Either way it gave me an idea that January seems to be the higher month but even still, on average we are talking 3-5 days a month and not 15-20 which is kind of what I was trying to figure out. ie did I make a bad choice deciding to go in December?

Christi sold her boats after and moved on to new career.

December is great time. The water start to cool and the eagle rays start showing up in force. Daytime temps are in the low 80's and you can really enjoy outdoors without getting overheated. The boat ride back to port gets a bit chilly in a fast boat until you dry off. That is when it is nice to have a windbreaker
Water temp should be 79 to 81 in Dec. February it usually hits 77 - 79.

 

[Rob9876]

I tried out a new op on my last trip a couple weeks ago and even with experience going back to 2-3 trips a year to Cozumel since 09, my buddy since 02, AOW, nitrox and hundreds of dives collectively we were placed with new divers and a 60 foot floor.
I have never ran into it before in Cozumel. Lesson learned for us, will be sticking with known ops moving forward.

What dive op was it that was limiting you to 60 feet?

 

[brsnow]

What dive op was it that was limiting you to 60 feet?

We stayed at Blue Angel and used their shop. Overall enjoyable time, just not my preference for dive style. Enjoyed the resort and restaurant, staff was great. Would stay there again just use a different op which they allow.

 

[DandyDon]

We stayed at Blue Angel and used their shop.

That's surprising. Did you speak with Eva?

 

[brsnow]

That's surprising. Did you speak with Eva?

Nope, overall it was a nice stay, I will take responsibility for not being more clear on diving expectations.

 

[ChuckP]

I can still remember being hell bent on diving anywhere, who cares how deep etc etc... back in the begining..... I'd guess a few others here were like that also - some of us haven't changed...

Come dive, have fun. Maybe rachet down the expectations a touch so as to have a good time. Make sure you get on that plane going home wanting to come back, that is what we want.

This is merely an educated observation and I'm 100% positive you'll be fine but:

55 dives with 3 weeks straight at Bonaire (how you could work that hard for 3 weeks straight baffles me LOL) is going to get you better diving - it almost has to - repetitive diving helps everyone. We all have seen divers on day 1 and day 5, those that struggle on the first day generally are better by day 5. It's the volume of dive experience that allows you to take 6 months or a year off and fall back in the water at 98% good - patience - it'll come.

Drift diving can be different. It will effect a new divers bouyancy and probably air consumption. Some days, some places, mucho current - this morning I was swimming at Bricks with no current and flyin at the end of Tunich...... Newer divers tend to fight the current, kick too much and burn air - it's human nature, not bad diving..... Being comfortable has a bunch to do with consumption also and that just comes with time.....

Relax, have fun. Dive where they drop you, watch, learn, practice but most of all, just enjoy - oh yeah, San Gervasio, best in the morning, ok in the afternoon but they close at 4 or 5 and you can be there at least 3 hours, the biggest can of bug spray that you can find also - more than likely, there will be some local there willing to give you a private tour or sell you bug spray!!

 

[ggunn]

We stayed at Blue Angel and used their shop. Overall enjoyable time, just not my preference for dive style. Enjoyed the resort and restaurant, staff was great. Would stay there again just use a different op which they allow.

I have stayed many times at Blue Angel and I always use their dive op. I can tell you from my experience that the BA dive op limiting the whole group to 60' on a first dive is extremely unusual for them. I can't remember it ever happening to me. Were you maybe out on the No Problem (their large boat) with a big group of novices?

 

[brsnow]

I have stayed many times at Blue Angel and I always use their dive op. I can tell you from my experience that the BA dive op limiting the whole group to 60' on a first dive is extremely unusual for them. I can't remember it ever happening to me. Were you maybe out on the No Problem (their large boat) with a big group of novices?

Yes, I requested a small boat a couple times via email, but when we got there we were on the No problem. First dive cedral pass, 2nd dive villa Blanca for example. Caught a bit off guard, but fun to dive No problem on my end, just won’t go that route again. Like I said overall nice stay.