Question Drop off dive at Cocoview Resort

[dberry]

What you think of the swim back in on the front porch depends on what you're looking for... there are lots of smaller fish and critters inches from your nose, if you look. And here's a pic of an octopus that we found at the end of a night-dive - right under the second pier/platform. (Sorry for the poor quality - it's a screen grab from a video.)

 

[Lorenzoid]

What you think of the swim back in on the front porch depends on what you're looking for... there are lots of smaller fish and critters inches from your nose, if you look. And here's a pic of an octopus that we found at the end of a night-dive - right under the second pier/platform. (Sorry for the poor quality - it's a screen grab from a video.)

I mentioned in my trip report from earlier this year that I overheard some diver grumbling about the swim back from the drop-off dive (or the shore diving in general). He just didn't get it. The swim back through the front porch can be just as interesting as the walls if not more so.

 

[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.

 

[LI-er]

I mentioned in my trip report from earlier this year that I overheard some diver grumbling about the swim back from the drop-off dive (or the shore diving in general). He just didn't get it. The swim back through the front porch can be just as interesting as the walls if not more so.

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.