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Within two hours of arrival, I found myself around the east side of the island at 140' on El Islote, cruising those pristine coral fields that always make me feel like I'm the first diver to behold them. Oracio spotted a very rare harlequin pipefish, beautifully camouflaged & tucked away in a little crevice. How in the world do Coz DMs see these things?
The trip over to these sometimes rough east side waters was swift & smooth on a reconditioned boat previously owned by Aldora. Twin Yamaha 150s make short work of rides between even such distant sites as El Islote & Barracuda, and in fact we dove them both on the same day.
On Sat, with all necessary "honoraria" paid, the spanking new Pressed Steel LP 120s were finally released from customs (still to arrive are Pressed Steel LP 95s & AL 100s). To celebrate, they were immediately pumped up to ~2,800PSI (around 150CF of gas) and we dropped in at the far southern end of Palancar Reef, surfacing at the far northern end 2 1/2 hours later, having covered the Bricks, Caves, Horseshoe & Gardens. The entire structure. This was a dive whose recollection will bring me pleasure for many years to come. Oracio broke his previous record of 2 hs-38 min with a bottom time of 2 hrs-45 min, and even at that I suspect he may have had some air left.
As well as the aforementioned pipefish, life list additions included a couple of juvenile spotted puffers. Resembling small gumballs, their nearly invisible fins scoot them about like bumper cars. Talk about cute.
Also, must mention pods of playful dolphin on two days, one numbering at least 15 members. What a treat.
Memorable meals were the seafood combination fra diavolo over home-made linguini (it'sa speeecy meat boll) at Prima & all you can eat lobster the night Mercedes, the housekeeper at the Casa, obtained 19 small tails. My dive buddy Jonathan did a great job of cooking, and in the process learned that Mexican corn-on-the-cob is best left to the cattle & popcorn producers.
Water temps 81 plus/minus a degree, vis 80'-140', surface conditions calm (well, on el otro lado that's a relative term), warm & mostly sunny but not hot & humid.
In my book, Coz remains a superb dive venue, convenient & a good value despite hordes of lemming-like, cruise ship pod people.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
The trip over to these sometimes rough east side waters was swift & smooth on a reconditioned boat previously owned by Aldora. Twin Yamaha 150s make short work of rides between even such distant sites as El Islote & Barracuda, and in fact we dove them both on the same day.
On Sat, with all necessary "honoraria" paid, the spanking new Pressed Steel LP 120s were finally released from customs (still to arrive are Pressed Steel LP 95s & AL 100s). To celebrate, they were immediately pumped up to ~2,800PSI (around 150CF of gas) and we dropped in at the far southern end of Palancar Reef, surfacing at the far northern end 2 1/2 hours later, having covered the Bricks, Caves, Horseshoe & Gardens. The entire structure. This was a dive whose recollection will bring me pleasure for many years to come. Oracio broke his previous record of 2 hs-38 min with a bottom time of 2 hrs-45 min, and even at that I suspect he may have had some air left.
As well as the aforementioned pipefish, life list additions included a couple of juvenile spotted puffers. Resembling small gumballs, their nearly invisible fins scoot them about like bumper cars. Talk about cute.
Also, must mention pods of playful dolphin on two days, one numbering at least 15 members. What a treat.
Memorable meals were the seafood combination fra diavolo over home-made linguini (it'sa speeecy meat boll) at Prima & all you can eat lobster the night Mercedes, the housekeeper at the Casa, obtained 19 small tails. My dive buddy Jonathan did a great job of cooking, and in the process learned that Mexican corn-on-the-cob is best left to the cattle & popcorn producers.
Water temps 81 plus/minus a degree, vis 80'-140', surface conditions calm (well, on el otro lado that's a relative term), warm & mostly sunny but not hot & humid.
In my book, Coz remains a superb dive venue, convenient & a good value despite hordes of lemming-like, cruise ship pod people.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
