Dive Op that picks up from Coz Palace for 6-8 divers?

[Mossman]

Aldora Divers

Do they handle wetsuits?

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Mossman,

Because you are the head cheerleader for a one boat/DM operator who happens to take care of wetsuits, for divers of highly various skills I feel compelled to answer your very pointed comments.

You are absolutely right, Aldora Divers does not care for the wet suits of our divers. And your favorite op does.

The very real reason is that we have multiple boats (now 9) and do a very good job of separating dive groups according to skill level. In the morning rush it is very easy to mix up wet suits (they all look the same) that once on board can have serious implications when people get ready to dive. Who else besides Aldora limits their boats to 6 drivers or less, and makes sure that all on board have similar dive skills and interests?

Then, when your favorite DM is not working who is guiding your trip?

You are right, A few dive ops do take care of wet suits, do you really suggest that is the most important factor in selecting a dive op? Sure seems like it, good job of cheerleading.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[DandyDon]

Ha! If an Op rinses & stores wet suits, the pee-soup will just be shared. I wouldn't want to hand wash your underwear! If you can't wait for yours to stop dripping, then stuff it in a waterproof bag until you get to your room, then rinse & dry it yourself. I take a small bottle of pet urine remover on trips to add.

For dive Op choice, if you all want to stay together and do the dives suitable for the least experienced, charter a boat big enough for however many you expect - but that can get complicated as people flake out, skip days, etc. If you charter two boats for more experienced and less experienced, then some will still want to switch boats on you to buddy with particular divers. Lots of headaches, no good deed goes unpunished. If you're not up to the challenge of making everyone happy, then book your own with whomever and let them do the same.

 

[Skittl1321]

The wetsuit thing seems over-rated. Despite the very quick ride (and I was on one of the fastest, if not the fastest) back to the hotel pier, I was never dripping when I got back. The sun and wind dries it. I don't think carrying/wearing your wetsuit back to the hotel is going to cause the instant death of all guests who may walk behind you.

 

[cvchief]

(and I was on one of the fastest, if not the fastest) .

Fastest, actually....

 

[MMM]

Fastest, actually....

. Jeremy's new twin 150s are supposed to arrive this month...

 

[Sue Sue]

Blue XT Sea Diving is my recommendation. Experienced Divemaster and Captain. Contact Christi Courtney, owner, to inquire about your number of divers. And as far as the wetsuit issue, my goodness, enough of it already. Some ops rinse off wetsuits , some don't. Blue XT Sea Diving does not nor would I expect them to. Frankly, by the time your second dive ends to the time the boat reaches the dock my wetsuits, including the Lavacore which does hold water is no longer dripping. Also, Honestly, if you happen to have a wetsuit that is still saturated upon your arrival to the dock, put it in a plastic bag.

 

[cvchief]

. Jeremy's new twin 150s are supposed to arrive this month...

Well, that is 75% of what the Max has. Lemme know if he wants to try for that case of Sol I have pending for all-comers.

Of course I am little worried the Navy might hear about the challenge:

 

[sharky60]

Including wetsuits?


Do they handle wetsuits?

can't rinse your own wetsuit?

I don't mind someone handling my gear, if they want. I actually prefer to take care of my stuff myself, I like hanging out around the shop & rinse tanks to talk with folks as they come in from their dives, but if I was with a dive op that had valet, I'd probably use the service most days, unless an afternoon shore dive was planned.

Regardless, I think I'd still handle my own suit, so I could put it on to my waist before I get on the boat. Getting dressed on the boat it a pain.

Most dive ops will pick up at the Palace, I believe. It is south of town and most dive ops pick up at most hotels south of town. Check with who you are thinking about using to be sure.

2 more votes for Aldora & BlueXTSea.

 

[Mossman]

You are absolutely right, Aldora Divers does not care for the wet suits of our divers.

You are right, A few dive ops do take care of wet suits, do you really suggest that is the most important factor in selecting a dive op?

Funny, I never mentioned a dive shop by name in this thread. Yet I'm head cheerleader?

The OP merely wanted names of dive shops that store dive gear. Clearly the wetsuit is part of "dive gear". After all, I only use it when diving and for no other purpose while I'm on the island. I don't go out to dinner in it. I don't sit at the bar in it. It's gear.

Since your shop's name was suggested by several "cheerleaders" to use your term, I merely corrected them so that the OP would not be misled into using a dive shop that did not store all his dive gear. Just like when some posters suggested committing insurance fraud in another thread, I corrected them as well. Does that make me a "cheerleader" for DAN Mexico? I think not.

No, it's not the most important overall factor to me, but it is the most important reason why I will not dive your dive shop or any other dive shop that does not store wetsuits. Because I have found another dive op that covers all the "important factors" and also stores wetsuits, I use that dive op instead.

As for my comments being "pointed", I'm sure no comments would have been directed toward your dive shop had your shop not been erroneously mentioned in the first place.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ----------

If you can't wait for yours to stop dripping, then stuff it in a waterproof bag until you get to your room, then rinse & dry it yourself. I take a small bottle of pet urine remover on trips to add.

I'm already lugging a very heavy camera setup. Why should I want to lug a heavy waterproof bag as well? Your statement could apply to all dive gear. Why let the boat store any of it, just lug it all back to the hotel room in a huge waterproof bag, rinse and dry it yourself somehow, and find somewhere to store it until the next day when you lug it all back. Why not? Because I'm on vacation and if the dive op can store all my dive gear, that's a big plus for me.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ----------

The wetsuit thing seems over-rated. Despite the very quick ride (and I was on one of the fastest, if not the fastest) back to the hotel pier, I was never dripping when I got back. The sun and wind dries it. I don't think carrying/wearing your wetsuit back to the hotel is going to cause the instant death of all guests who may walk behind you.

I take my suit off immediately after the dive. Unless it's tied up to flap in the wind, there's no way it's gonna be dry by the time I get back to the hotel. And clearly you haven't stayed at the Cozumel Palace where the marble floors, if wet, can indeed cause the instant death of some or all guests who may walk behind you. Last thing I need when I'm on vacation is to get sued by some litigation-happy American for making them fall and break their neck because of my dripping wetsuit.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ----------

can't rinse your own wetsuit?

I don't mind someone handling my gear, if they want. I actually prefer to take care of my stuff myself, I like hanging out around the shop & rinse tanks to talk with folks as they come in from their dives, but if I was with a dive op that had valet, I'd probably use the service most days, unless an afternoon shore dive was planned.

Regardless, I think I'd still handle my own suit, so I could put it on to my waist before I get on the boat. Getting dressed on the boat it a pain.

Can't get dressed on the boat? When my nice dry wetsuit is waiting for me on the spacious boat, it takes less than 10 seconds for me to don the lower half.

I talk plenty with folks on the boat after the dives. When I'm done diving, I want a ride right back to my hotel dock so I can start drinking. I definitely do not prefer to handle my own gear because it's a real pain. Of course I can rinse my own wetsuit and all the rest of the dive gear. There's just nowhere in my hotel room to wash and dry it, especially on my last trip when I didn't even have a bathtub, and it's heavy to lug back and forth in addition to the camera I'm carrying. I also like when the maid cleans my room and makes my bed and the restaurants cook and serve the food to me. Why? Because I'm on vacation. If I wanted to cook and clean and deal with my own dive gear after a dive, I'd simply save the money and stay at home.

---------- Post added February 4th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ----------

I am wary of diving with Aqua Safari given some reviews online...seems like the type of boat I am trying to avoid. From what I have read and heard, it seems like Tres Pelicanos and Aldora are great ops which may pick up at Coz Palace and store gear. Anyone been with both and can compare? Any other recs? We will pretty much be all experienced divers except for one new diver.

Maybe we should ask the OP what he meant by "store gear". Are you going to bring waterproof bags to lug your dripping wetsuits back and forth over the pristine marble floors of the Palace or did you mean a dive op that stores all dive gear, including wetsuits?