Question Drop off dive at Cocoview Resort

[Allen-1]

@Cisco_Pug - you asked about walk out/in for shore dive. This is a pic I took Dec 2022.

Here's another shot taken from behind that tank bench:

 

[dflaher]

I think it's been mentioned but just to confirm, the drop off dives are not DM-guided, correct?

 

[Polarorbit]

I think it's been mentioned but just to confirm, the drop off dives are not DM-guided, correct?

Correct

 

[KevinG58]

I think it's been mentioned but just to confirm, the drop off dives are not DM-guided, correct?

As already answered, yes. You will do an orientation dive with a DM before going out for the first time, so you will see the marked paths that lead to the safety stop.
And tagging along with CCV-experienced divers is an option.

 

[Allen-1]

I think it's been mentioned but just to confirm, the drop off dives are not DM-guided, correct?

Pay attention when the dive master says "keep the wall on your right/left". Seriously. A couple from my boat missed the message and went the wrong way. They were experienced, had a SMB and got picked up by another boat. Could have been a lot worse.

 

[Rilelen]

I think it's been mentioned but just to confirm, the drop off dives are not DM-guided, correct?

Yep; they’re unguided. As others have mentioned, the orientation dive teaches you how to navigate the drop-off dive and return to the resort from the boat. If you're nervous, you can ask them to drop you on the wreck (instead of the wall), which is immediately in front of the resort. I've had DMs ask me before as well if I would be willing to keep a discreet eye on new divers, and let them follow me in. I've always agreed, and had a number of tag-alongs the first few days of the trip! Which is to say, if you're nervous about the drop off dives not being guided, just let the DMs know.

One of the nice things about the drop-off dives, imo, is that because they ARE unguided, you can take as much time as you want stopping to look at a pretty fish or coral head, and you really get to know the area, which builds confidence and skill levels.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Pay attention when the dive master says "keep the wall on your right/left". Seriously. A couple from my boat missed the message and went the wrong way. They were experienced, had a SMB and got picked up by another boat. Could have been a lot worse.

I admit that at the orientation I was a bit nervous about navigating from the drop-off point. But I realized there are only two possibilities, and it is dead simple: Swim along the wall until you reach the channel, and then follow the chain on in to the resort. Depending on where the boat drops me off, the wall stays to my left or the wall stays to my right. All I need to know is which side of the center channel in front of the resort I'm being dropped off on. To the left of the channel it's called CCV Wall, and to the right of the channel it's called Newman's Wall. Before the boat drops you off, they let you know (or take a poll) which of the two walls you're being dropped off at. If you're being dropped off at CCV Wall, you keep the wall to your left as you swim in, until you reach the sandy channel, and then follow the chain (and generally a stream of other divers) on in. If you're being dropped off at Newman's Wall, you keep the wall to your right as you swim in, until you reach the same sandy channel, and then follow the same chain on in. It seemed there was always a flurry of divers hanging around the channel or the wreck that's there, coming in or heading out, and there was really no way to miss it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

He didn't "get it" because he finds a dive dull and boring that you happen to enjoy. Well I'm with the other guy. With almost 700 dives all over the world I know what I like to see and the boring relentless barren drop-off dives at CocoView ain't it.

What I meant by to "get it" is to understand and appreciate what the point of that dive is--what CCV expects the diver to experience. To "get it" is not necessarily the same as to enjoy it.

It was my first visit to CCV, and what I can say is that I appreciated what that dive was about, which is taking your time and seeing the macro life and juvenile fish in all the little nooks and crannies as you slowly work your way back in to shore. The guy I mentioned was grumbling as though CCV did not afford their guests exactly the kind of dive they intended. I have done plenty of dives I did not especially enjoy, but if the dive op gave me what was intended, and it was all well publicized and not deceptive, then I certainly did not grumble about it. Countless discussions here on SB had made it clear to me that the drop-off dive experience is really about poking around in the crevices and coral heads for the small stuff. In that sense, I was not disappointed. Would I do this year after year, as some (I'm thinking our dearly departed Doc) do? Probably not. But I got what was intended out of those drop-off dives during my week there.

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

I got the impression that the "drop-off" diving was really more of a convenience for the resort: they get to advertise it as part of the dive package without actually having to organize some other offshore dive. Over the course of a week, that adds up to 5 dives (per boat) that don't happen on some other part of the coast, saving on fuel and staff fees, assuming they're paid per dive.

Those drop off points are close enough that a small skiff could ferry divers back and forth all day long with little added cost to the resort, leaving the dive boats free to access much better dive locations.

I got a little fed up with the drop-offs too.

 

[Rilelen]

Divemasters and captains at CocoView are primarily tipped employees; not paid per dive. Safety divers and other dive staff receive a monthly salary. General schedule for all dive staff (DMs, captains, etc) is six days on, maybe one day off per week (Saturdays, if their boat isn’t on luggage duty). Most usually (but not always) get Friday afternoons off as well.