Im going to do this trip report as a series so no one has to read a book. We were in Playa Del Carmen April 5 - 11, 2010.
The Dive Op
We dove with Jason of Fantasea, website: Playa del Carmen Diving, Dive Packages and Fishing in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, Mexico - Fantasea Dive
Jason is ScubaBoard - View Profile: PlayaCountryBoy here.
Jason was delightful to meet in person! All of the folks at Fantasea are friendly, welcoming, proud of their home and ocean and show it off with genuine joy of sharing something they love. Jason also has an enchanting Alabama accent which was so easy on the ear, and ladies, hes easy on the eyes, too!
I have to admit to laughing as he spoke some German with that same lovely accent.
We also dove with Jasons buds Miguel and Antonio as Jason was nursing an injury. All of them showed an extreme courtesy and genuine care of their passengers. I felt bad because no matter how much I warned them that I spew even under heavy meds, they all felt bad for me. :shocked2: They were also so kind as to work with me, leaving me down at 10 until the boat was ready to load so I could get out of the water to spew.
The guys work their tails off, humping the gear the 100 or so out to the beach. There are no piers there, so be prepared to walk through the water and jump on. Juan-Carlos, our intrepid Capitan, took us to each place with speed and relatively little sway given the heaviness of the seas. There are never more than four clients.
We dove 10 dives with Fantasea. All of them were accompanied by a through brief, from the plan of the dive, to the possible hazards, expected issues, possible changes of plans if we encountered stronger currents, etc. I felt extremely well informed and each dive proved it out. All of them were extraordinarily thoughtful in finding and pointing out all of the usual and unusual flora and fauna.
For the Cenote Dive, Jason sent us to Luis of Playa Scuba, Playa Scuba - Centro de Buceo * Dive Center * Tauchbase - Playa del Carmen, Mxico. Like the others, Luis loves his job and his caves. He picked us up and we received a briefing during the hour-long drive to Dos Ojos Cenote. As with the others, by the time we hit the water, we knew exactly what to expect. Luis made sure we had sufficient control to go into the cavern, and watched carefully for any stress on our part.
These ops are small and personal in service, which is my personal preference. recommend them for people who are out for the diving experience and prefer to concentrate on just that. These folks have that special home-town touch and understanding of their environment, and you will never feel like just another diver on the boat.
Attachment is the water temps by dive site.
The Dive Op
We dove with Jason of Fantasea, website: Playa del Carmen Diving, Dive Packages and Fishing in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, Mexico - Fantasea Dive
Jason is ScubaBoard - View Profile: PlayaCountryBoy here.
Jason was delightful to meet in person! All of the folks at Fantasea are friendly, welcoming, proud of their home and ocean and show it off with genuine joy of sharing something they love. Jason also has an enchanting Alabama accent which was so easy on the ear, and ladies, hes easy on the eyes, too!
I have to admit to laughing as he spoke some German with that same lovely accent. We also dove with Jasons buds Miguel and Antonio as Jason was nursing an injury. All of them showed an extreme courtesy and genuine care of their passengers. I felt bad because no matter how much I warned them that I spew even under heavy meds, they all felt bad for me. :shocked2: They were also so kind as to work with me, leaving me down at 10 until the boat was ready to load so I could get out of the water to spew.
The guys work their tails off, humping the gear the 100 or so out to the beach. There are no piers there, so be prepared to walk through the water and jump on. Juan-Carlos, our intrepid Capitan, took us to each place with speed and relatively little sway given the heaviness of the seas. There are never more than four clients.
We dove 10 dives with Fantasea. All of them were accompanied by a through brief, from the plan of the dive, to the possible hazards, expected issues, possible changes of plans if we encountered stronger currents, etc. I felt extremely well informed and each dive proved it out. All of them were extraordinarily thoughtful in finding and pointing out all of the usual and unusual flora and fauna.
For the Cenote Dive, Jason sent us to Luis of Playa Scuba, Playa Scuba - Centro de Buceo * Dive Center * Tauchbase - Playa del Carmen, Mxico. Like the others, Luis loves his job and his caves. He picked us up and we received a briefing during the hour-long drive to Dos Ojos Cenote. As with the others, by the time we hit the water, we knew exactly what to expect. Luis made sure we had sufficient control to go into the cavern, and watched carefully for any stress on our part.
These ops are small and personal in service, which is my personal preference. recommend them for people who are out for the diving experience and prefer to concentrate on just that. These folks have that special home-town touch and understanding of their environment, and you will never feel like just another diver on the boat.
Attachment is the water temps by dive site.
