dieswaytoofast
New
Just finished up three days of diving in Rincon, PR this labour day wknd, and have to admit that this was even better than our last foray here (Jul/4th wknd).
Mind you, we pretty much new *exactly* what we wanted to do this time around, which was to basically spend three days diving at Desecheo Island off of Rincon.
Its an island around 40 minutes offshore. There is currently only one operator that heads out there - Taino Divers - but that is really not such a bad thing, given that Taino is an *extremely* well run op. The entire lot really *does* give a damn, and they will go out of their way to make sure that things work out on your dive.
A brief synopsis of the dive is in order
You get to the shop at 7:30, check in, pay up, etc.
Around 8:00, everyone wanders down to the dock area (a *short* stroll away). The dive master (either Carson - the owner - or Ted - a local divemaster - swims out to their catamaran, and brings it back to the beach.
Meanwhile, one of the 'shop guys' drives the truck that all the gear is loaded on down to the bay. (If you are lucky enuff to have 'Teem' (Tim) on your trip, enjoy the experience - he is a hoot and a half...)
Then comes the fun part - all the divers get to line up, form a human chain, and move everything (tanks and all) from the truck to the boat. This can be somewhat unnerving at first - especially if you are form the 'dive shop does everything' school - but hey, its not that bad, things happen quite quickly, and it really breaks the ice all around - you get to be one of the group, etc., etc.
Everyone gets in the boat, and off you go - 30 to 40 minutes straight out to the island. The ride out tends to be fairly mild - as long as you brought your sunscreen and shades.
There are a number of dive sites at the island - most of the really good ones are on the west/northwest side. Mind you, the current changes things on an almost daily basis, so caveat emptor. That said, you need to realize that the viz. is *perfect* - its like a giant aquarium. Pellucid, limpid blue in all directions. I've *never* seen the like (hell, we intend to keep coming back every other month as long as our jobs allow it...)
The actual dive plan tends to be simple - Two dives separated by about an hour on the surface (with 'gourmet' sandwiches. And, if Carson isn't there, Cheetos. Mind you, the sandwiches *are* good, and Cheetos, well, it *is* the perfect food...). Where you dive depends on the current, and what you do depends, again, on the current. I wont go into detail 'bout the actual dives (i'll slap my poor best at underwater photos up on my site in a day or two), but typically the dive master takes everyone out on a 30 - 45 minute or so tour of the dive site. Then, he leaves the ones who still have air (and experience) under the boat, and ascends. The ones who stay can basically putz around till they need to ascend too (since most of the diving is at 20 - 40 feet, that typically gives you at least another 30 minutes or so of bottom time. Mind you, politeness dictates that you ascend at the 60 minute or so interval...)
There is *plenty* to do down there - coral by the ton (including the oh-so-elusive/rare black stuff), sea-fans everywhere, fishies, turtles, rays, and always, <i>Always</i> the everpresent glorious perfect Blue. In fact, if you've been out a couple of times (and (a) they know/trust you, and (b) you know the site), your best bet is to skip the 'guided tour' part, and just do your own thing down there.
Once the second dive is over, you stow your gear, put on slicks, and the boat heads back. This is the fun - or not so fun - part. The chop can get <i>fierce</i>, and there is a *lot* of spray. Me, i tend to sleep on the way back, but then again, I can sleep anywhere.
Once back at the shore, you do the loading in reverse, all the gear gets back on the truck. Everybody troops back to the dive shop, the shop rinses off your gear for you (mind you, I tend to clean out my own gear, but then again, I'm paranoid) whilst you hose yourself down.
At this point, pretty much everyone (the divemaster, the crew-dood, the shop doods, all the divers) adjourn next door to the attached restaurant/bar - The ShipWreck - and does the ritual post-dive beer(s) and food thing. Mind you, the restaurant is actually pretty damn good. Ok, not haute-cuisine, but it is surprisingly good. And, if you make it past the ever-present wings/calamari to any of the entrees, you'll be quite pleasantly surprised at the food.
By the way, on a side note, Dining advice in Rincon - avoid the 'fancy' places. I'm from Chicago, and a bit of a foodie at that (good combination there, let me tell ya), and there is definitely no (or maybe, and inverse) correlation 'tween the price of food, and the quality of the food. The best Vaso de Pulpo (grilled octopus 'salad') is at a little joint called El Platiyo Familiar at 4.95. Yes, you *can* go to (shudder) El Coche and shell out 12.95 for the same thing - and it'll suck. And heck, the empandadillas at the little road-side bars are ree-dee-culously good.
Anyhow, thats our latest Rincon saga....
Later
Mind you, we pretty much new *exactly* what we wanted to do this time around, which was to basically spend three days diving at Desecheo Island off of Rincon.
Its an island around 40 minutes offshore. There is currently only one operator that heads out there - Taino Divers - but that is really not such a bad thing, given that Taino is an *extremely* well run op. The entire lot really *does* give a damn, and they will go out of their way to make sure that things work out on your dive.
A brief synopsis of the dive is in order
You get to the shop at 7:30, check in, pay up, etc.
Around 8:00, everyone wanders down to the dock area (a *short* stroll away). The dive master (either Carson - the owner - or Ted - a local divemaster - swims out to their catamaran, and brings it back to the beach.
Meanwhile, one of the 'shop guys' drives the truck that all the gear is loaded on down to the bay. (If you are lucky enuff to have 'Teem' (Tim) on your trip, enjoy the experience - he is a hoot and a half...)
Then comes the fun part - all the divers get to line up, form a human chain, and move everything (tanks and all) from the truck to the boat. This can be somewhat unnerving at first - especially if you are form the 'dive shop does everything' school - but hey, its not that bad, things happen quite quickly, and it really breaks the ice all around - you get to be one of the group, etc., etc.
Everyone gets in the boat, and off you go - 30 to 40 minutes straight out to the island. The ride out tends to be fairly mild - as long as you brought your sunscreen and shades.
There are a number of dive sites at the island - most of the really good ones are on the west/northwest side. Mind you, the current changes things on an almost daily basis, so caveat emptor. That said, you need to realize that the viz. is *perfect* - its like a giant aquarium. Pellucid, limpid blue in all directions. I've *never* seen the like (hell, we intend to keep coming back every other month as long as our jobs allow it...)
The actual dive plan tends to be simple - Two dives separated by about an hour on the surface (with 'gourmet' sandwiches. And, if Carson isn't there, Cheetos. Mind you, the sandwiches *are* good, and Cheetos, well, it *is* the perfect food...). Where you dive depends on the current, and what you do depends, again, on the current. I wont go into detail 'bout the actual dives (i'll slap my poor best at underwater photos up on my site in a day or two), but typically the dive master takes everyone out on a 30 - 45 minute or so tour of the dive site. Then, he leaves the ones who still have air (and experience) under the boat, and ascends. The ones who stay can basically putz around till they need to ascend too (since most of the diving is at 20 - 40 feet, that typically gives you at least another 30 minutes or so of bottom time. Mind you, politeness dictates that you ascend at the 60 minute or so interval...)
There is *plenty* to do down there - coral by the ton (including the oh-so-elusive/rare black stuff), sea-fans everywhere, fishies, turtles, rays, and always, <i>Always</i> the everpresent glorious perfect Blue. In fact, if you've been out a couple of times (and (a) they know/trust you, and (b) you know the site), your best bet is to skip the 'guided tour' part, and just do your own thing down there.
Once the second dive is over, you stow your gear, put on slicks, and the boat heads back. This is the fun - or not so fun - part. The chop can get <i>fierce</i>, and there is a *lot* of spray. Me, i tend to sleep on the way back, but then again, I can sleep anywhere.
Once back at the shore, you do the loading in reverse, all the gear gets back on the truck. Everybody troops back to the dive shop, the shop rinses off your gear for you (mind you, I tend to clean out my own gear, but then again, I'm paranoid) whilst you hose yourself down.
At this point, pretty much everyone (the divemaster, the crew-dood, the shop doods, all the divers) adjourn next door to the attached restaurant/bar - The ShipWreck - and does the ritual post-dive beer(s) and food thing. Mind you, the restaurant is actually pretty damn good. Ok, not haute-cuisine, but it is surprisingly good. And, if you make it past the ever-present wings/calamari to any of the entrees, you'll be quite pleasantly surprised at the food.
By the way, on a side note, Dining advice in Rincon - avoid the 'fancy' places. I'm from Chicago, and a bit of a foodie at that (good combination there, let me tell ya), and there is definitely no (or maybe, and inverse) correlation 'tween the price of food, and the quality of the food. The best Vaso de Pulpo (grilled octopus 'salad') is at a little joint called El Platiyo Familiar at 4.95. Yes, you *can* go to (shudder) El Coche and shell out 12.95 for the same thing - and it'll suck. And heck, the empandadillas at the little road-side bars are ree-dee-culously good.
Anyhow, thats our latest Rincon saga....
Later
