me Cavewoman....

[cavew0man]

Hello to the board! I'm an absent Canadian, living in Playa del Carmen, MX, with my two idiot 6 month old brother-and-sister Mexican Jungle Dog puppies. That's a breed, really. AKC recognition pending....

Anyhow, I've been diving about four years thanks to a trio of honorary sisters who were having so much fun in the water I was determined to overcome a (in hindsight) ridiculous water phobia.

So four years later, after many many guided cavern dives, I've moved to Mexico, just finished my cave cert (about 6 weeks ago), am absolutely fanatic about the cave systems of the Yucatan, and once in a while can be found in the ocean too.

Looking forward to swapping ideas, and converting as many people as I can to the "dark" side.... well, at least get them on a cenote tour so they can make up their own minds.

So anyhow, being a non-pro who has the good fortune of living in cave dive paradise (and the ocean's not too bad either), I would love to chat about sites, techniques, gear, training, training stories (why are you laughing... you're dead!) and the WSOGMM. Especially if you know what that acronym stands for.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, you incredibly lucky woman! Where are you living? I came close to buying a condo in PA this summer, but it just wouldn't pencil out.

I, too, am a complete and utter cave junkie, counting the days until my trip back down there in November. Glad to hear you adopted a couple of the cenote dogs; most of them look as though they could use adopting!

 

[cavew0man]

Living in Playacar I, but seriously contemplating the move south to Tulum. Probably a wiser investment decision over the 5 years, assuming the airport rumours come to fruition. And Playa is growing so incredibly fast... the traffic is unbelievable some days.
Which caves have you done down here? Do you go guided or just on your own?

 

[TSandM]

I've done most of the "major" caves on the mainline (I'm only Cave 1). My favorites are Dos Palmas, upstream and downstream, and somewhere I'm not supposed to have been, which is the Southwest Sac Bey line in Naharon. (We didn't jump, we ran line from OW to the jump line!) The only place I've done a guided dive is Angelita on Cozumel; otherwise, I've been fortunate enough either to go with friends who've already been there, or with a good dive briefing.

We usually stay in Puerto Aventuras, because it's so convenient to the fill station. That's where I was looking for condos. We stayed in Playacar (at the Wyndham Maya) on our first mainland trip. I didn't like the AI resort AT ALL! But Playa sure has some good restaurants, which is more than you can say about PA. Tulum has some good ones, though.

I'm going to be back in November. Can't wait!

 

[Captain Walt]

Welcome Diver.....

 

[floridanewbe]

welcome aboard

 

[RV]

Welcome...
I'd like to see a picture of a Mexican Jungle Dog 'cause I googled "Mexican Jungle Dog" and found one entry.. this thread..

 

[cavew0man]

If you ask a dog owner for pictures....
A Mexican Jungle Dog is a noble beast, very similar to a Mexican Street Dog. Except born in the jungle. So they are not nearly as urbane as your typical Mexican Street Dog. Also possibly not as smart.
Their primary talents are sleeping and eating stuff you don't want them to.

 

[TSandM]

It's a strange phenomenon, but every cenote has its dog or dogs. Even the ones where there aren't any buildings or permanent installations of any kind (like Taj Maha used to be). I think the dogs have figured out that anywhere there's a parking area, there's eventually going to be some kind of food . . .

 

[cavew0man]

Oh by the way TSandM - FYI there is a fill station right in Playa, (Aire Puro) one block off of Juarez just over the highway, and you can also get fills in Tulum at Xbalba (sp?) dive center, on the main highway, right near the Coba turnoff.
PA is pretty handy, and I'm with you on the AI's... not my thing at all!
The jungle dogs are from Chac Mool. Random (in reference to her genetics) is the white-gloved princess, who I've had since she was 8 weeks old, and Gollum her brother was a rescue project about 4 weeks ago. Gollum - great big eyes and a little bony body, he's almost doubled his weight in the four weeks he's been here. He's a happy boy.