Question time

[ManitouDan]

Hi -- I'm staying a week at Casa Del Mar april 14-21 st and need some info . Here is my background and some details. I stayed a week at feista americana in 04 with my family of 4. We snorkeled for hours and hours each day. My Son loved the underwater sights so well he did the resort course and a short shore dive . The following year we both got certified back here in Ky. He is now 13 , i'm 39 . Not counting our pool/quarry dives whilr getting our cards we have done 4 dives in the florida keys and dove 1 day - 2 dives in punta cana. I'd classify us both as very comfortable in/under water but with 100% respect the water deserves. My son has talked extensively about his shore dive and wishes to do more shore diving. I like the thought as well , to be able to dive on our own schedule at our own pace. My 1st set of questions are this : # 1 I read where the airplane wreck in front of La Ceiba can still be done from shore --Can I get details about entry/exit points , currents in the area , any other concerns ? also how far is La Ceiba from CDM ? # 2 I saw somewhere about a barge wreck in front of the CDM -- don't recall the details but would like some info . # 3 as far as a wreck dive goes I'd like to see one -- NO I would not consider doing anything I'm not trained to do such as entering a wreck/cave/closed environment. Any suggestions for a wreck ? Is the Felipe X worth diving ? Is it OK for us at our level of experience ? Thanks to all on this board -- It's been a hoot reading the Coz is dead/ Coz is fine threads. I'll add that the shore diving we hope to do DOES NOT have to compare to what we saw in 04'. I know going in it's going to be different. What I mean is we don't have to have beauty as it was in 04 , just some marine life thrills us. Hunting for stuff is 1/2 the fun. any other shore dive suggestions would be appreciated . I'm stoked to be able to go to Coz again , The Stevenson Family ManitouDan Kim, Cameron and Katie .

 

[Paco]

IMHO, if you go to Cozumel, do the boat dives. Much like your son, I had my first ocean experience doing a resort dive (at Chankanaab park) in Cozumel and was super excited, but Cozumel is best from boats. Find an operator that will make your first dive to nice, easy sites like Paradise Reef, Chankanaab Shallows or Colombia Shallows. Usually if your first dive of the day is the afternoon dive, this is where they'll take you. A good DM can help you progress rapidly from novice sites to more advanced ones. Later, go to the C53 wreck and the other deeper reefs, like Colombia (one of my favorites). The wreck is a military ship sunk as an artificial reef. I think I read that originally it was a US minesweeper and the US sold it to Mexico that used it against drug trafficcing, among other things. It's pretty cool with the hull sitting in about 80' but if you stay at the deck it can be 60' or shallower. If you are into Caribbean wrecks, try Aruba. If you are interested in many historical wrecks, try the Great Lakes. If you want to do shore dives, try another dive destination like Bonaire. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ManitouDan]

Wanted to give my thread a bump --- I still need some anwser's ! also-- I'm not planning shore dives only-- only some shore diving to accent my boat dives, and on a day or 2 when I might not have a boat trip scheduled . Thanks ManitouDan

 

[humanphibian]

Here is a quote from another thread, as posted by Rooster1. He is referring to Casa Del Mar.

"You are in luck because that is where I stayed. The hotel is in great condition. Their new dive shop is almost built but they are still running right across the street from their new dive shop. you can get a tank either there next door at scuba shack. You will not see much near shore other then collapsed pillars and rubble. Casa del mars pier is also at the bottom now. However this can be a good dive. Head towards the international pier at about 30 feet of water in front of La Ceiba hotel where the edge of the restaurant is you will see whats left of the plane but what is new and exciting, keeping heading south another 50 yards towards the pier and there is a catamaran that sunk down there now. Also near shore maybe 50 yards off shore in front of the park Royal (the one being redone) there is a hole in the ground (small cavern opening). I didn't get a chance to go in because I didn't have my light on that dive and it was a little dark for my taste and besides the fish coming out were good size and I wasn't armed for battle. Dive master told me since the hurricane alot of new caverns and holes have opened up that are unexplored."

I am scheduled to be there April 7-10. Someone told me on a different thread that Roberta's Eco-Dive (aka Scuba Shack) is next door and rents shore tanks. I'm not sure if Del Mar is doing shore tanks yet or not.

hope this helps a little

 

[halocline]

If you shore dive from scubashack, next door to casa del Mar, you can head straight out; take a compass and follow 240o. You'll go past a couple of large ropes atached to buoys, and in a few minutes you'll make it to the northernmost tip of what used to be part of paradise reef. You'll see several large rocks with some coral growth and fish; it got pretty beat up in the hurricane. This is at a depth of around 30ft. Look to your right and you'll find the wing section from the airplane wreck that used to be closer to shore and further south almost in front of La Ceiba.

Entry and exit is right where the scubashack pier used to be; in calm seas you can do it but if it's rough you may want to postpone. I was there in January and did this dive a couple of times, once during the day and once at night.