I Got a Hall Pass!!!

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Reefhound,

In the occasion one diver wants to go up early in the dive because of distress, our DM ascends with them to make sure they are OK and get on the boat. (our captains are all CPR trained, have oxygen, radios and a means to recall the group) and usually there are other Aldora boats nearby to assist.

Then the DM returns to the group who have been briefed. If there is a serious problem the dive is cut short and I don't believe any reasonable person would begrudge such an event to save a life. We of course don't charge for the dive and do all we can to return the group to the water as soon as possible. Thankfully this is a very rare event.

Safety is always our first concern.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[Trailboss123]

Likewise CM has it's devout apostles but BA is directly on the water, has it's own dock and shore dive, also has a good restaurant for dinner as well as breakfast, good happy hour drinks and appetizers, close enough to town to walk but far enough to get away from the hustle and bustle.

What are the dive boats like at BA? Are they larger capacity, slower boats or do they have 6 packs? Website isn't clear- just mentions that the boats are combo of divers/snorkelers? Thanks

 

[ggunn]

What are the dive boats like at BA? Are they larger capacity, slower boats or do they have 6 packs? Website isn't clear- just mentions that the boats are combo of divers/snorkelers? Thanks

They have both. The Jibara and the Blue Angel II are 6-8 packs and the No Problem is larger. I've never seen them take a mixed group (divers and snorkelers) on either of the small boats.

 

[deepsea21]

Because we have so much more extra air (50% more per tank) we continuously find that even our average divers get over 1 hour 10 minutes per tank and many times much more. That includes deep dives as well as shallow dives.

Dave, could you for once just post a response to a diver's question here without promoting your dive op? Good Lord does your self-promotion get old. We all get it... Many here have been diving Coz for years. We all know you based your dive op and marketing on your high capacity tanks. 15+ years ago when I was visiting Coz for my first dedicated dive vaca your dive op (Aldora) was on my list to research and, guess what? I chose another dive op. I enjoyed many years diving with that op and then made a change about 6 years ago. Guess what? When it was time for that change I chose another op over Aldora again. You're never ending and repetitive self promotion is like listening to an old, worn out and scratched vinyl record played over and over.

As much as you love to crow about the extended bottom times your high capacity tanks can offer, there is no shortage of reviews here dating way back posted by DIVERS (not dive shop owners) who experienced no where near the bottom times you claim your patrons commonly enjoy.

Remember the debate you encountered here with that screwy practice of your DM's extending the group's bottom time by your DMs letting those who were low on air to suck from the DM's octo so the "group" could stay together and extend their bottom time? Recipe for friggin' disaster if you ask me.

 

[DjDiverDan]

Dave, could you for once just post a response to a diver's question here without promoting your dive op? Good Lord does your self-promotion get old. We all get it... Many here have been diving Coz for years. We all know you based your dive op and marketing on your high capacity tanks. 15+ years ago when I was visiting Coz for my first dedicated dive vaca your dive op (Aldora) was on my list to research and, guess what? I chose another dive op. I enjoyed many years diving with that op and then made a change about 6 years ago. Guess what? When it was time for that change I chose another op over Aldora again. You're never ending and repetitive self promotion is like listening to an old, worn out and scratched vinyl record played over and over.

As much as you love to crow about the extended bottom times your high capacity tanks can offer, there is no shortage of reviews here dating way back posted by DIVERS (not dive shop owners) who experienced no where near the bottom times you claim your patrons commonly enjoy.

Remember the debate you encountered here with that screwy practice of your DM's extending the group's bottom time by your DMs letting those who were low on air to suck from the DM's octo so the "group" could stay together and extend their bottom time? Recipe for friggin' disaster if you ask me.

Let’s see; there’s a post which annoys you. You don’t HAVE to read it, so you could ignore it. Or you could rant. You choose to rant. Personally, I might have gone the other way.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Dear Deep Sea,

I was specifically asked question about why we keep our dives groups together. I tried to reply in a comprehensive manner, which must include the reasoning behind it. I did.

Sorry you did not like it.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Diovwers

 

[nodakdive]

Gotcha... I far from an expert on Cozumel...

I booked my airfare and hotel on a whim (not the smartest thing I've ever done, but it appears like it'll be ok)...

I ended up going with Hotel Plaza Cozumel, and booked my dives with Blue XT...

It looks like the walk will be maybe 10 minutes to and from the Aldora Pier, and Blue XT is handling all my gear, so no schelpping of wet gear to and from the boat. The hotel should also be super convenient to all the downtown restaurants so I'm happy about that too.

All and all I'm sure the OP will find a great spot to stay, and shop to dive with...

The "action" at the Aldora pier in the morning is fun to watch. You'll have a nice little walk right on the water to and from the pier. Good meals will be a breeze. You'll have a great time and it'll absolutely be ok.

 

[GameChanger]

Hey Gordon-Do you know if BA has refrigerators in the rooms?
Dave, thanks for the info!

I think I should clarify what I am looking for in so far as a room & dive Op.
I am getting lazy (er) and while I really love 3P's, I would prefer to literally get up in the morning, have coffee and a light breakfast while waiting for the dive Op boat (not a cattle car) to arrive at the hotel pier and pick me up, and then at the end of the dive, drop me off at the hotel pier. I like valet diving too so that I don't have to mess with my gear. While I never had any real issues with the 3P's arranged hotel pickups and dropoffs, there were a few times that I was not really certain I had a return ride from the marina back to my hotel after my morning dives. I was never left behind, but on a couple of occasions I had to request a ride back, which were always cheerfully accommodated. No real gripe...yet I would rather just get picked up and dropped off at my hotel pier.
I hope this adds some clarity.

 

[Ray and Pam]

I've thought about diving with the 100's but my problem is my conservative Suunto computer. Some dives I am up in the water column to stay out of decompression diving.
Does BA have TV's for those that need it?

 

[Christi]

Hey Gordon-Do you know if BA has refrigerators in the rooms?
Dave, thanks for the info!

I think I should clarify what I am looking for in so far as a room & dive Op.
I am getting lazy (er) and while I really love 3P's, I would prefer to literally get up in the morning, have coffee and a light breakfast while waiting for the dive Op boat (not a cattle car) to arrive at the hotel pier and pick me up, and then at the end of the dive, drop me off at the hotel pier. I like valet diving too so that I don't have to mess with my gear. While I never had any real issues with the 3P's arranged hotel pickups and dropoffs, there were a few times that I was not really certain I had a return ride from the marina back to my hotel after my morning dives. I was never left behind, but on a couple of occasions I had to request a ride back, which were always cheerfully accommodated. No real gripe...yet I would rather just get picked up and dropped off at my hotel pier.
I hope this adds some clarity.

Just to clarify, Blue Angel is not an all inclusive, meaning that you can stay there and dive with any shop shop that will pick you up there. So, you can choose a valet op of your choice and stay at Blue Angel hotel which sounds like it is a good fit for you. The walk to town is exactly 1 mile.

Unless policies have changed recently, you have to wash your own gear if diving with Blu Angel. They have big rinse tubs and a storage area where you can put your wet gear in a plastic bin and it is locked up at night.

If you want to be in town to be near most restaurants and several “watering holes” - then I would recommend staying downtown and diving with one of the operators that departs from the Aldora or Aqua Safari pier.
The main shops that depart from downtown pier are:
Aldora (7:30 departure)
Blue XT Sea (8:00 departure)
Deep Blue (8:309:00 departure)

Have fun regardless of who you choose.