Midweek report Aldora/Casa del Mar

[billindenver]

Ahh, the lunchtime rest break. Today was our 4th day of diving and another fantastic day on Felicity with Aldora. The halfway point of the trip is always a sad day...until I think about the other half still to come! My new dive buddy soared through his open water certifications on day one and two and dove straight into AOW which I'm taking with him. His progress is fun to watch, and he has progressed far quicker than I thought he would...much thanks go out to Mateo of Aldora for doing such a wonderful job of not just telling him how, but explaining why as well as the history etc to fill it in. I've learned quite a bit too. Memo (sp?) in the office has been great as always and the boat is always filled with a fun and interesting mix of people. I fell in love again today...but that is another story. :love3:

Thus far the trip has been all that I wanted it to be, with much rest and relaxation...coupled with plenty of chicken taco's, a bit of tequilla and a relative lack of drama. My dive buddy's non-diving wife has come with us on this trip, and she was less than pleased with Casa del Mar. Having stayed at Hotel Cozumel, Vista del Mar, and Iberostar....I have to admit this place pales in comparison even to that list but it's a dive trip and I couldn't care less provided the AC works. I expected very little and was delivered exactly that...but Hotel Coz is significantly nicer if that gives any indication. Still, I couldn't be happier. The buddy is off on a consoling shopping spree while I get to relax and check email. Poor guy. Hmmm...will it be chicken tacos or fajitas today...let me ask...oh, hehe...nobody. I do so love solo vacations on occasion.

Strange thing today...my ears hurt. Did a bit of a sawtooth (maybe 15 feet) towards the end of dive one and on the re-descent I cleared my ears with a quick blow and both of them gave a twinge of complaint (pain). Odd, as I never have ear problems...but on the second dive they were both sore...requiring equalization much more often than normal and not liking ascent much at all. The surge from lying at safety stop was unpleasant so I did the three minutes and left the group down there while I ever so slowly inched to the surface. Typically I hate to get out of the water, but that dive I was first on the boat. I really hope that is a one day thing brought on by a not so gentle equalization during a sawtooth that I knew was ill advised, even as I exhaled to do it. A temptation that I was not capable of resisting at the time...something pretty that I wanted to see I'm sure. That may have cured my occasional sawtooth indiscretion. Or maybe I'll just be more gentle on my ears in the future when we've gone deep on the dive. Do I just leave the ears alone for the night or will some sort of drops be beneficial? I've never experienced any sort of ear difficulty so this is new ground for me. I suppose I've had to learn one more lesson this week....can't take my ears for granted as I'm used to doing.

The week thusfar has produced a deep dive (138 today), the wreck I've been trying to get to since the first cozumel trip and more than a little more knowledge packed into my head. I can't think of how this trip could go much better....well maybe a Cenote trip...which will likely be Saturday! Might skip it this trip though, as my dive buddy is looking for a way out....his wife is getting irritated with being left alone and the cenote trip would be all day. I guess that would leave something for next trip...or I may just go solo...

I'll sign off for now and update another day...those chicken taco's are calling my name. Now will it be parilla mission or los otates....lemme ask...hehe, nevermind!

Calm seas and warm water....

 

[Centexbear]

I'm sorry things are so difficult for you and you aren't haven't a good time.



kidding....thx for the trip report and keep em coming for those of us unfortunate to be at work, dreaming of the tacos, tequila and blue water.

 

[DocIndyDiver]

I highly recommend ear drops for periods of repetitive diving. If I forget to use a product such a swimmer's ear, by mid-week I'm experiencing your pain. I usually apply at the end of diving for the day so they can dry overnight. Home brew recipes are available online give it a search. I hope you're not coming down with something else...

 

[cavew0man]

Hey, you can get drops for swimmer's ear over at the Mega pharmacy. I also get a different kind of ear pain occasionally down here after a few days of diving, it's not like swimmer's ear, it's more of a pain in the outer part, sort of where it attaches to your head (obviously I'm not a doctor). Anyhow, if it's something more like that, I use drops called Synalar-O, contains lidocaine (lidocaina en español), also from the Mega pharmacy.

Glad you're having a great time!

 

[geokr]

You might try this "Jungle Juice" I've used with good results and it's easy to get anywhere. Go to the pharmacist or drug store and get a small, 2 oz. bulb syringe. Then buy some vinegar, plain old white will do. Mix 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 luke warm water in a glass, fill the syringe and flush each ear 6-8 times. Best if you do this in the shower. It will wash out any built up ear wax that may be keeping your ear canals wet and providing a nice home for bacteria and creates a hostile environment (pH) the bugs in your ear can't live in. Really works.

 

[TSandM]

Glad you are having a good time! I agree, sometimes a solo vacation is awfully nice. And Mateo is wonderful -- please say hello to him for Lynne and Peter and Kevin.

But I can't believe you are even contemplating skipping the cenotes

 

[jhayes75]

My dive buddy's non-diving wife has come with us on this trip, and she was less than pleased with Casa del Mar. Having stayed at Hotel Cozumel, Vista del Mar, and Iberostar....I have to admit this place pales in comparison even to that list but it's a dive trip and I couldn't care less provided the AC works. I expected very little and was delivered exactly that...but Hotel Coz is significantly nicer if that gives any indication. Still, I couldn't be happier. ....

I would not stay anywhere else but Casa Del Mar. I know its not the fancy of all but it is nice and the people are awesome.

 

[billindenver]

Ok, beginning to think I've caught the dreaded Mary curse. I decided to go on a walk into town. Pull out the Iphone and ear buds and take a stroll. I'm walking down the seaward side and this couple are walking their dog. It looked like that blonde lady in the Scuba Mau truck that we saw struggling with tanks while we had lunch the other day at papa hogs. Anyway, I smiled and walked on by when I felt this hard clamp and tug on my wrist. Their dog attacked me! Maybe it was the Blue October playing in my ears or the blissful smile on my face but the little nipper (knee high or so) tried to remove my hand. As it turns out, the vast majority of his bite landed on my watch! So, I had a few of those purple impression marks and one puncture wound on my wrist and a bunch of doggy slobber on my watch. She's looking at me like her world just ended but I gave her a smile and wave and walked away. Didn't even remove the ear buds. Another hand saved by Breitling! And to think I nearly left it home. I knew there was a reason I love that watch. Not so fond of that dog now though. I think I have some neosporin in the dive bag...

So I had an 8 mile or so stroll into through and back from town. In so doing, I've discovered the secret to the cozumel stroll....earbuds! The store guys don't even bother, they just give you a smile as you and eminem diddy bop through the streets of cozumel. What a wonderful way to spend a cozumel night.

Hopefully the hours of walking has purged me of the Mary curse...I could have had a trip to her favorite hospital today. If you mention her name, do you get a discount?

Well, off to use those drops (got some at Mega, but its in spanish...sure hope its not cialis or some such thing) and grab my favorite book. Bolitho is about to blow some french frigate out of the water as I recall, and I sure would hate to miss it.

More diving tomorrow! Oh, and the fajitas at the fajita factory today were excellent.

I would not stay anywhere else but Casa Del Mar. I know its not the fancy of all but it is nice and the people are awesome.

Excellent. There is nothing like staying with friends. But, having spent time in a couple other similarly priced places here in coz...I can tell you there are nicer out there for the same money. I'm not the loyal to one place type so I like to look around out there and while I am enjoying myself here, I won't be back to Casa del Mar. For the same price I can have more room, showers that get hot, a bathroom that doesn't have an permanently open window on the hallway outside the room, a balcony to dry my scuba gear, bigger pool, better food etc down at Hotel Cozumel and be closer to town. Still...a mediocre room in coz is better than a great work week at home so my opinion is for comparison purposes only.

 

[billindenver]

Oh yeah, almost forgot...we saw a lionfish today. My brand new to the ocean dive buddy spotted it. Mateo put forth a valiant effort to bag the little assassin, but it was determined to hide in the corral and not come back out. I sure am missing my dive camera this week. Lots and lots of cool stuff....and not a single picture.

 

[farsidefan1]

Not to rain on your parade but a puncture wound with dog saliva? Rabies would be my first worry! The shots are not as bad as they used to be. If you see that beast again get him/her tested! And see a doctor either way.