general question for scuba trip with relatively new divers

[stevenschwartz]

Hi Folks,

We are planning a trip next winter. My wife and I have been diving for many years, but our kids just got certified (by next year one 14 one 18 and if a summer trip to pennekamp comes off they will have a dozen or so dives each.)

We were thinking Cozumel (my wife and I have been there for a dive trip and twice on cruises when we dove) but were wondering what people thought about such a trip for novices. We were looking at Scuba Club Cozumel, but worried that large boats with many experience levels might not be right for beginners on drift dives. What do you think? Is there a smaller provider who might be a better choice?

We were also thinking Bonaire. The diving can't get much easier than this (we were there for a dive vacation almost 20 years ago) but bonaire can also present problems - we stayed at Carib inn - really liked Bruce Bowker and his Dalmatians, but he had a divemaster who was one of the biggest jerks I have ever met. Treated each dive like it was a mission in Vietnam where the enemy (who knows who he thought that was on the dive boat) had to be destroyed. As an avid motorcyclist, I can tell you those are the kinds of people that hurt themselves and hurt those around them.

So anyway, what is your general advice for 2 moderately experienced divers and 2 novices.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Doc]

What an interesting recollection of a 20 year old incident. Have no fear, this DM has moved on, unfortunately he may have been replaced by an equal whack-job. To base your choice on this occurrance of 20 years ago is silly.

I think either destination would likely be fine. It is up to you to advise and confide in the dive master as to your abilities and concerns. He will take better care of your needs if you tell him in advance versus his having to sort out your issues on the first dive.

We were also thinking Bonaire. The diving can't get much easier than this

Really?

All destinations, including Bonaire and Cozumel... all of them have their challenges. In Cozumel, quite often there are currents, which although manageable- they can throw newbies a curve ball. On that same vein, remember those shore dive entries in Bonaire? That can be a real learning experience.

Each destination that one selects likely will (and thankfully does) have new and additional aspects of SCUBA to learn.

Sometimes new divemasters can be a little over excited in regards to informing guest divers as to the inherent challenges of a dive... sometimes newer divers might be a little overly sensitive (or even oblivious) to such warnings. No matter what your reaction to the DM, just go with it until you have the opportunity to change- be it that afternoon or for the next trip. He will learn with his tip jar.

There's a lot of places that would suit your needs, Cozumel and Bonaire are surely on the list.

 

[robint]

Go to Bonaire........ stay at any one of many other dive resorts if you want. Do some boat dives and some shore dives. The diving there is amazing and great for new divers in particular.
We stayed at Buddy's and loved it. We did one boat dive each morning, then another shore dive there right off the pier and 1-2 more shore dives somewhere else. It was fabulous.

having been to Cozumel 5 times, I can say I think the diving there isn't the best training for newer divers. You do nothing but drift there being picked up by a boat so you just follow the leader for every dive. In Bonaire, the boat dives are DM lead our and back to boat (learn some nav skills) but the shore dives are planning dive depths and at your own pace, and nav skills are learned. There is little to no currrent so you can stop and look at things and really enjoy the dives MORE than Cozumel.

robin

 

[Doc Intrepid]

So anyway, what is your general advice for 2 moderately experienced divers and 2 novices.

If I were in your position, with two kids who are new divers, I would try to ensure their first dives as a family were not impacted by others - including whack-jobs.

Its pretty easy to find 6-packs (small boats that generally do not take more than 6 divers) where you can rent the entire boat for the 4 of you. Spend at least day 1 with the kids on a boat for just the family. Teach them 'getting in', 'getting out', protocols, etc.

Then on subsequent days they won't be finding themselves intimidated by procedures or processes that may be foreign to them.

(Eventually they're going to need to deal with other people, but taking the first day and ensuring it is un-marred by any ugly incidents might do well for your long-term happiness as a scuba diving family...)

Just MHO...

Best,

Doc

 

[battles2a5]

That's good advice from Doc Intrepid. I absolutely LOVE Bonaire. I have been there with many inexperienced divers and the access to shore dives and unlimited tanks really helps people develop their skills. Plus you have so many options to choose from in terms of topography, the shallow, sloping reefs in the mid-south. The deeper, more challenging double reef further south, more challenging currents on the far south. There a few really nice wrecks as well. The wall dives towards the north, and for the more adventurous folks there are some places to shore dive on the wild side (would not recommend this for the new divers). So you can rack up some dives, get comfortable, and then introduce them to boat diving with a good dive op.

 

[JCT_UCB]

What an interesting recollection of a 20 year old incident. Have no fear, this DM has moved on, unfortunately he may have been replaced by an equal whack-job. To base your choice on this occurrance of 20 years ago is silly.

I'm the OP's wife and I am still chuckling over his description of this DM -- he actually was a rather, shall we say, memorable guy -- spent most of the rides to the sites vividly recalling his Vietnam exploits - some of them illustrated on his body with tattoos. Kind of amusing in a way... but I'm a Californian and my husband is a New Yorker, so our recollections are a bit uh, colored by geography.

I just wanted to thank you guys for the input. My husband and I love Mexico and Cozumel was one of our favorite dive destinations B.K. (before kids...). We actually just returned from a cruise where we spent a day diving there while our kiddos completed their OW dives (at the same place we did our OW dives 20 years ago-- kind of neat).

We were all set to book a winter trip there when I sort of played the wet blanket card. With the benefit of time since my last serious dive trip (and OK, some aging, I'll just admit to it) -- I had noticed that I found the Cozumel "approach" -- e.g. quick entry + relatively quick descent to keep the group together was simply less easygoing than our other dives. Don't get me wrong, I love Cozumel diving and I'm not risk-averse, but it just seemed to me that maybe a more personalized approach (very similar to what Doc & battle2a5 suggested) would make more sense at first --- and I also remembered Bonaire as being (in general) easier diving.

I think RoatanMan is correct, either would work -- can't complain about having to make such nice decisions I suppose.

Thanks again,

JT

 

[song]

I'm very leery of cattleboats--too many wingnuts (staff and passengers). Protecting yourself from other humans shouldn't be a factor on a dive.

On my 2 trips to Coz we were spoiled by the attention (both safety and enjoyment) and service of our DMs and boat captain with our private 6-pack. Would be perfect for a mix of experienced divers. Contact Ventura & Heidi at Buena Ventura Diving Cozumel

The private villa we rented made the trip all the better!

 

[diver 85]

I would consider boat diving with no currents......Roatan, Belize, even the Caymans.....