Request tips from coz veterans

[pops]

I'll be in Coz in a couple weeks (cruise ship day stop) and am going diving. I only have 9 fresh water dives in my log, but also grew up on islands and have probably 1000 hours of free diving spearfishing time under my belt. Never got many fish, but got confident in the ocean. Got a ton of lobsters.
I think I'll rent everything except personal gear - may bring a wetsuit - should I? Will it be cold?
I would really appreciate it if I could get some tips on what to expect, what dive shop to use (if the boat gives me a choice). I read over and over again that Coz is for experienced divers and while I AM diving regardless, I prefer to know in advance what is difficult.

 

[frogxman]

I am not a veteran but here is opinion.
The most challenging thing for you as a beginner can be a drift diving in a strong current. The current is always there stronger or weaker. Did you have a chance to dive from a boat at all?
I think you need to talk to your (can't advise you one, may be somebody else will) DiveMaster/scuba shop and tell them that you are a beginner. They will arrange group so you will dive with a more experienced person, and you will go to easier sites.
Regarding the suit - what kind of suit do you have? You will be fine with 3 mm steamer or may be shorty will also be good for you.
You can find out more about Cozumel and other locations from http://www.scubadiving.com or by searching this forum.

 

[seaangel]

First, relax and have a good time. Second, if you feel more comfortable with your own gear, and can, then bring it. You can rent gear, bc, regulator, and wetsuit if needed. But, personally I prefer myown so I bring them. They will include weights, weightbelt if needed and of course the tanks.

I was just in Coz in Feb. for one day off a cruise ship and did a two tank dive. Most of the sites that the dive ops with cruise ships go to are not of the difficult levels you may be hearing about. I too, had heard how fast the currents are and how difficult it was to get back on a boat, etc. But, I found it to be much easier than I feared.

As for cold, that too is relative to your comfort zone. My computer was reading 79/80 on the two dives. I wore a full 3mm wetsuit and was very comfortable. Most of the divers on our boat did wear anything from 1mm to 5mm. There were two that only wore a T-shirt and swim suit. So, you will have to decide what is comfortable for you.

Relax, and have fun, the water is beautiful and there are some awesome coral formations there.:rfish: :blfish: :saver:

 

[Fly N Dive]

great walls. got back from a trip there about 3 wks ago. we went with a dive shop in our area. did like 12 dives in 8 days including travel days. lots of fun. would like to go back. great fish-eagle rays, sea turtles, octopuss, tons of morays...:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Relax. . .you are gonna love it. Just make sure you communicate with the dive shop about your experience level. They will take it easy on you the first few dives to make sure you are comfortable. It is lazy man diving. Just sit right back and drift with the current!

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Bring the wet suit. Better to have it and not need it.

Drift diving... Just relax and go for the ride.

Have a good time. Listen carefully to the dive briefings.

TwoBit

 

[MaresMan1]

I agree with TwoBitTxn, bring a wetsuit. A 1 to 3 mil is fine. But besides the warmth (even in 80 deg water), you may need if for protection.

Coz waters are beautiful and there is a lot to see. But there are also little things that can go bump in the night, that might cause you some irritation. A dive skin or wetsuit will keep you safe as well as toasty.

As far as ease of diving, just tell your DM that you are new to diving and they will know where to take you. I did my first dives in Coz and I had a great time. No problems as I was taken to an area with no hard currents. Once I was ready to do some drift diving, I was taken to other dive locations. They were all loads of fun.

Just tell your DM what your level is, relax and enjoy.

Enjoy the ride.
:mean:

 

[pops]

That was an experience. How can water be that clear? Beautiful. So much for all the carefully taught PADI rules - LOL. I did take everybody's advice and wore a 2mm jacket. I noticed that the Divemasters all wore wetsuits and all the topless divers had their arms folded across their chests - classic freezing their butt body language. My computer said 84 degrees.
The dive operator hooked all my stuff up for me (and everybody else too), but only I brought my own hardware. Everybody else rented. I appeared to be the only guy in the boat that bothered to test my equipment. My first SW dive - I used my usual 8 lbs weight and just bobbed on the surface. The DM put a 2 lb chunk of lead in each of my BC poskets and sipped them up, down I went to a white crystal clear bottom about 85 feel deep (so much for the OW 60 foot max - must be USA only). There were divers everywhere - you could see them so far away. We swam through a bunch of tunnels in Plancar and stuff. My dive buddy had sharp eyes and pointed out all kinds of stuff - cool stuff. The DM just floated along, barely moving a muscle - doing only frog kicks.
My first dive ended kinda unexpectadly when the DM grabbed me to take up another guy who was low on air. His buddy (his wife I think) was pretty far away. I don't know why he picked me (the DM) maybe because I was the only person with a computer. Anyway the VYTEC was great - we went up too fast and the device flashed and beeped me so we slowed down. At 17 or 18 feet it told me to stop and we waited for the 3 minute countdown. The low air guy kept a firm grip one hand on my BC the other on my spare 2nd stage. He used up most of his air but never had to breath my air. Close. He WAS concerned. The second dive, I just left my snorkel in the boat and rolled into the water with my BC inflated and mask up on my forehead - my PADI guy said never do that but everybody - and I mean everybody did. Anyway of all the PADI rules, I personally don't see that one. I'll push my mask up on my forehead, it's so much more convenient. The DM entered the water with mask in hand. We sunk like rocks to 50 feet - and just drifted along - I think it was called Santa Rosa. There were sponges big enough to hide inside. Fish everywhere. I saw a ray - actually I didn't see it but I knew one was below me just under the sand. I have lots of experience with them from all my spearfishing free diving in Hawaii - I could see the little sand spouts from it's nose - or whatever. Left it alone, unlike many divers I don't consider them harmless and didn't want to spook it. Saw several bug-faced lobsters. ANyway it was fantastic. Forget the cruise ship - I'm going back there by plane this summer and spending a week just diving at day and drinking XX at night. That's just one NICE place to visit.

 

[Kat]

So glad you liked it. You will really have a great time when you go back. I will tell you the truth, a week never seems long enough. There are so many great dive site plus plenty to see & do topside. And that doesn't even cover taking the ferry over Playa del Carmen & diving the cenotes & checking out the ruins etc...

Ahhh...I love it there!

 

[Paco]

I hope I'm not repeating someone else's advice because I only skimmed the other replies, but I recommend making your first dive in Coz an afternoon one. You'll be shallower because the deeper dives are done in the morning and you can build a whole lot of confidence on the shallower dive.