Torontonian
Contributor
Part 1, long review:
Our Carnival Miracle ship was supposed to be at Costa Maya on Fri. Sept. 1/06, 7am-4pm local time (8am-5pm ship time). But due to hurricane Ernesto, it was changed to Thr. Aug 31, 6am-2pm local time. I didnt like the time so early in the morning, and also it was shortened by 1 hour. But at least we still went to Costa Maya.
While searching for dive ops, I originally found Dream Time and Maya Palms. Dream Time then became Carnivals contractor and the price went up double:shakehead . Maya Palms would cost $75 (2-tank dive), but it was ½ hr and $20 by taxi each way. I then found a newly started up shop Blue Ocean Safari (or BOS). The web site was still being developed and at first the email didnt work. It took some patience and trials to get a hold of Phil Hetherington. After several email exchanges, I decided to give them a try. As the trip got closer, I emailed/phoned both Phil and Julie. Julie is the owner and was traveling between CM and Texas, whereas Phil was not as easy to reach in CM. Costa Maya doesnt have the stable telecom infrastructure and that added to the communication challenges.
Costa Maya is a new port that can handle 3 ships docking at an L shaped pier. Diving and most other activities are at the small fishing village of Mahahual, 10min taxi ride south of the port . Because of the ships change of itinerary, I had to email on the ship (expensive) to BOS. My wife and in-laws and friends (6 of them) were going to the Chacchoben ruins tour in the morning, and I had booked them to come to BOS right after for a lunch and snorkeling trip. But with the shortened time, I told BOS to forget about the lunch arrangements, and they will directly to the snorkeling after the ruins tour.
Earlier on the ship I met another diver Ken, who was interested in joining me to BOS. I emailed to BOS on the ship. Julie indicated thats fine and she would wait for us just outside the gates of the port area, as they cannot go in.
On Aug. 31 the ship was late getting into arrived Costa Maya. The day before we were in Cozumel, so there was plenty of time to travel the short distance. Dont know how they managed to steer the ship late. We waited at the gangway wanting to get off right away. It was frustrating that they finally let us off 45 min. late, at 6:45am local time. The pier has an L shape, and we were docked at the furthest location of the L. Furthermore, of the 3 gangway doors of the ship, they used the door furthest away. It makes you wonder what kind of planning the ship was doing. We had quite a long walk to get to the port area where there are lots of shops. We then found they made the walkway in an S shape forcing you to walk a long way around many shops, before getting to the taxi/bus/shuttle area.
My wifes group were to purchase a $3 ticket to catch a shuttle to Mahahual (to the Chacchoben ruin tour). Ken and I walked outside looking for Julies car, but didnt find it. Well, we were 1 hr from the time the ship was supposed to dock. We went back to ask, but did not find anything, then decided to walk further out. When we walked 2 blocks out to an intersection, thats where we caught a taxi. The taxi told us its $2/person. We then understand that the port was selling $3 tickets to get their cut of $1.
I showed the taxi driver the address, but when we got there, he didnt see any dive shop. I told him it is supposed to be south of the restaurant Pez Quadro (as Phil had told me), he then continued further a dirt road and continue to look. A few blocks later we saw something like a hut with a poster of Blue Ocean Safari. I saw a man handling some scuba gears and yelled to him if he was Phil. He was. The taxi driver said its $3, because its further away from the main part of the town Mahuhual. It turned out the address from BOS web site is for the office they are building in downtown Mahuhual, whereas the dive op is located several blocks south.
Phil said Julie went to pick us up but did not find us. Phil was putting a bunch of BCs on the deck of the hut. The hut had dried grass top and later on the counter opened as a bar/restaurant. The BCs looked new, same with the rental computer.. Phil said he went to a local shop to get the 100cf tanks as I requested, but they were out of air. In fact, that shops compressor broke, so they all had to drive north 45 min to get air fills. Anyway, well all diving with 80cf tanks. I then found out Ken and I are the only two divers.
It was a 5-10min ride to the first dive site, at Escallones. It was a small boat, and we are to back roll into the water. This was the first time for me in such a small boat and the first time with back roll entry, so I was glad I got to do something new. When Ken turned on his tank, it only showed 1500 psi. Phil was surprised, as he drove to get 16 tanks filled the day before. He switched his tank with Ken.
As the dive briefing, we first went down to sand, checked buancy, then head into the reef. The viz was about 80-90. The reef looked healthy, pristine. The dive started at 8:40am. There were more colors than in Belize (it was quite plain, mostly beige color in Belize). There were more variety of sea fans, lots of pink sponges/corals, horns, tubes, barrel sponges, brain coral, fire corals, etc.. The barrel sponges had more variety and colors than Belize and Cozumel. But the fish variety looked smaller than Coz (Coz had some big fish).
The surface temp was 95, and water temp 85 top and bottom. There were some canyons or abyss, but not very deep. We went down/through some of them, but it was not like cavern/cave swim throughs in Coz. After a little while we can to a wall, and went down a bit. The computer showed the deepest at 93' and I didn't realize we actually got that deep in this dive. I was wearing lycra skin top and pants, and 10lbs of weight.
This was an enjoyable dive, but we were also concerned about Phils air. After about 25 min. he pointed to us his air gauge. We continued a bit, then few minutes later had to go to the safety stop. The dive ended at 35min, 9:15am. I had 800psi. I felt that was actually pretty good. When we were going up the boat, Ken indicated that I should unbuckle my BC to hand the BC/tank to the captain, then itll be easier to climb the stairs. Another new thing I learned. Phil apologized about the air situation, and said he felt bad that he gypped us in air. As we were riding back, I began to feel a bit sick. It may have been the small boat.
I had a MX10 camera, but after taking a few pictures, it got stuck. I had this problem earlier. So I went looking for a dark place to try to rewind the film and take it out, and put a new roll in. I just bought a macro lense and a strobe, so I was disappointed that I was having problem with the camera itself.
Back on shore we met Julie. I told Julie the Taxi driver at first didnt find them, based on the address I had from their web site. Julie was surprised. Julie had mentioned the restaurant name that they were by, but because it was a Spanish name I did not pay attention at that time, thinking I have the printed address from their web site with me. So I suggested to Julie they better fix their web site address so people dont go to the downtown office that isnt yet built.
Our Carnival Miracle ship was supposed to be at Costa Maya on Fri. Sept. 1/06, 7am-4pm local time (8am-5pm ship time). But due to hurricane Ernesto, it was changed to Thr. Aug 31, 6am-2pm local time. I didnt like the time so early in the morning, and also it was shortened by 1 hour. But at least we still went to Costa Maya.
While searching for dive ops, I originally found Dream Time and Maya Palms. Dream Time then became Carnivals contractor and the price went up double:shakehead . Maya Palms would cost $75 (2-tank dive), but it was ½ hr and $20 by taxi each way. I then found a newly started up shop Blue Ocean Safari (or BOS). The web site was still being developed and at first the email didnt work. It took some patience and trials to get a hold of Phil Hetherington. After several email exchanges, I decided to give them a try. As the trip got closer, I emailed/phoned both Phil and Julie. Julie is the owner and was traveling between CM and Texas, whereas Phil was not as easy to reach in CM. Costa Maya doesnt have the stable telecom infrastructure and that added to the communication challenges.
Costa Maya is a new port that can handle 3 ships docking at an L shaped pier. Diving and most other activities are at the small fishing village of Mahahual, 10min taxi ride south of the port . Because of the ships change of itinerary, I had to email on the ship (expensive) to BOS. My wife and in-laws and friends (6 of them) were going to the Chacchoben ruins tour in the morning, and I had booked them to come to BOS right after for a lunch and snorkeling trip. But with the shortened time, I told BOS to forget about the lunch arrangements, and they will directly to the snorkeling after the ruins tour.
Earlier on the ship I met another diver Ken, who was interested in joining me to BOS. I emailed to BOS on the ship. Julie indicated thats fine and she would wait for us just outside the gates of the port area, as they cannot go in.
On Aug. 31 the ship was late getting into arrived Costa Maya. The day before we were in Cozumel, so there was plenty of time to travel the short distance. Dont know how they managed to steer the ship late. We waited at the gangway wanting to get off right away. It was frustrating that they finally let us off 45 min. late, at 6:45am local time. The pier has an L shape, and we were docked at the furthest location of the L. Furthermore, of the 3 gangway doors of the ship, they used the door furthest away. It makes you wonder what kind of planning the ship was doing. We had quite a long walk to get to the port area where there are lots of shops. We then found they made the walkway in an S shape forcing you to walk a long way around many shops, before getting to the taxi/bus/shuttle area.
My wifes group were to purchase a $3 ticket to catch a shuttle to Mahahual (to the Chacchoben ruin tour). Ken and I walked outside looking for Julies car, but didnt find it. Well, we were 1 hr from the time the ship was supposed to dock. We went back to ask, but did not find anything, then decided to walk further out. When we walked 2 blocks out to an intersection, thats where we caught a taxi. The taxi told us its $2/person. We then understand that the port was selling $3 tickets to get their cut of $1.
I showed the taxi driver the address, but when we got there, he didnt see any dive shop. I told him it is supposed to be south of the restaurant Pez Quadro (as Phil had told me), he then continued further a dirt road and continue to look. A few blocks later we saw something like a hut with a poster of Blue Ocean Safari. I saw a man handling some scuba gears and yelled to him if he was Phil. He was. The taxi driver said its $3, because its further away from the main part of the town Mahuhual. It turned out the address from BOS web site is for the office they are building in downtown Mahuhual, whereas the dive op is located several blocks south.
Phil said Julie went to pick us up but did not find us. Phil was putting a bunch of BCs on the deck of the hut. The hut had dried grass top and later on the counter opened as a bar/restaurant. The BCs looked new, same with the rental computer.. Phil said he went to a local shop to get the 100cf tanks as I requested, but they were out of air. In fact, that shops compressor broke, so they all had to drive north 45 min to get air fills. Anyway, well all diving with 80cf tanks. I then found out Ken and I are the only two divers.
It was a 5-10min ride to the first dive site, at Escallones. It was a small boat, and we are to back roll into the water. This was the first time for me in such a small boat and the first time with back roll entry, so I was glad I got to do something new. When Ken turned on his tank, it only showed 1500 psi. Phil was surprised, as he drove to get 16 tanks filled the day before. He switched his tank with Ken.
As the dive briefing, we first went down to sand, checked buancy, then head into the reef. The viz was about 80-90. The reef looked healthy, pristine. The dive started at 8:40am. There were more colors than in Belize (it was quite plain, mostly beige color in Belize). There were more variety of sea fans, lots of pink sponges/corals, horns, tubes, barrel sponges, brain coral, fire corals, etc.. The barrel sponges had more variety and colors than Belize and Cozumel. But the fish variety looked smaller than Coz (Coz had some big fish).
The surface temp was 95, and water temp 85 top and bottom. There were some canyons or abyss, but not very deep. We went down/through some of them, but it was not like cavern/cave swim throughs in Coz. After a little while we can to a wall, and went down a bit. The computer showed the deepest at 93' and I didn't realize we actually got that deep in this dive. I was wearing lycra skin top and pants, and 10lbs of weight.
This was an enjoyable dive, but we were also concerned about Phils air. After about 25 min. he pointed to us his air gauge. We continued a bit, then few minutes later had to go to the safety stop. The dive ended at 35min, 9:15am. I had 800psi. I felt that was actually pretty good. When we were going up the boat, Ken indicated that I should unbuckle my BC to hand the BC/tank to the captain, then itll be easier to climb the stairs. Another new thing I learned. Phil apologized about the air situation, and said he felt bad that he gypped us in air. As we were riding back, I began to feel a bit sick. It may have been the small boat.
I had a MX10 camera, but after taking a few pictures, it got stuck. I had this problem earlier. So I went looking for a dark place to try to rewind the film and take it out, and put a new roll in. I just bought a macro lense and a strobe, so I was disappointed that I was having problem with the camera itself.
Back on shore we met Julie. I told Julie the Taxi driver at first didnt find them, based on the address I had from their web site. Julie was surprised. Julie had mentioned the restaurant name that they were by, but because it was a Spanish name I did not pay attention at that time, thinking I have the printed address from their web site with me. So I suggested to Julie they better fix their web site address so people dont go to the downtown office that isnt yet built.
