Setting the hook deep!

[SolarStorm]

I need some sites. I am essentially a new diver, I was certified back in 2005 at a resort. I got my 17 year old daughter interested enough to take the course. Her interest seemed to increase a bit. In Dec we are headed to the Mayan Rivera where we will do our OWD's then a couple more days of diving (I have to spend some time on shore with the non diving 1/2 of the family). I am looking for some interesting dive sites that will finish setting the hook and create a diving addiction (like mine).

She has snorkled a fair bit and loves when we have seen rays, and once even some dolphins came to play (BTW that was really cool!). I personally find soaring with the turtles a blast. I taught her when snorkling to lay motionless and watch how the coral comes to life, and some of the small things you can see if have some patience.

So where would you experienced divers take a 17 year old if you could only do 4 dives. ie 2 days of 2 dives. Plus our 4 open water dives. She is a strong swimmer and quite comfortable in the water.

Not too deep, lots of cool fish and colorful coral.

I have been to the cenotes before and they were OK, I am going to show her some pictures to see if they interest her, but I think she would prefer the ocean more.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Anything in Cozumel should set the hook the deep. I recommend hiring a private DM for the first day or two. It will give her some extra security or confidence and will allow the three of you to dive your own profile until she gets comfortable. As for the mainland, imo the farther south you go, the better the diving.

Have fun! I'm looking forward to the day I can dive with my kids!

PH

 

[pcheney]

there are lots of great dive sites there - i took my family to several reefs - I remember Francisco and Chankanaab, among others. You can choose your depth. Don't remember the name of the dive boat op, but it's easy to find one......

 

[BrewingDiver]

Ditto Cozumel. And if you don't hire a private DM, at least tell the DM that you are new divers.

After a couple days of being in Cozumel, wife and I became completely addicted, and return almost every year now.

One nice feature is very clear water, especially helpful to new divers. And the drifting should be no problem.

 

[SolarStorm]

I have found this map with Dressell Divers, the company we will be using.

Mexico Dive Maps - Mayan Riviera

If you had to pick 2 or 3 of these sites, are there any that stand out?

I am hoping to convince her of a trip to Coz, but it is a whole day adventure, and she is still 17 and a tan is still quite important.

 

[Pez de Diablo]

There are many great sites in many different areas. It would help if I knew where you were staying so I could make some suggestions.

By the way, whats with the temp hitting 17 degrees yesterday in St. Albert?

 

[SolarStorm]

Yeah, it was a record temp for Nov 17.

We are staying at the Barcelo Palace just south of play del carmen.

 

[Pez de Diablo]

Yeah, it was a record temp for Nov 17.

We are staying at the Barcelo Palace just south of play del carmen.

Cool, you are 20 km south of Playa del Carmen and next to the town of Puerto Aventuras. In Puerto you have Aquanauts that provides dives (I was one of the owners until a couple of days ago )

You have a couple of really nice dive sites near you that you can dive from Dressel at the hotel or from Puerto Aventuras. Because your daughter is doing her first dives she should keep her dives shallower. You need to do Cuavitas (little caves), Paradise at 60 feet and Ruins North is another one of my favs. If you can get a firm yes, book a couple of dives north of you hotel to Tortuga and Baracuda. If Dressel or Aquanauts cannot give you a 100% then go to Playa del Carmen for those dives.

Spend a day in Cozumel and leave the choice of dive sites up to you and the operator.

I don't think you should write of the Cenotes, maybe it was the guide or the cenote you visited. If you do think of trying a cenote trip again, give me a call here in Mexico and I can help you deceide if you want to try it again. I have an Edmonton number you can reach me at: 780-628-2722.

Cheers,

Dennis

PS did you daughter do here training at the Dive Outfitters?

 

[rcoreytaylor]

Cool, you are 20 km south of Playa del Carmen and next to the town of Puerto Aventuras. In Puerto you have Aquanauts that provides dives (I was one of the owners until a couple of days ago )

You have a couple of really nice dive sites near you that you can dive from Dressel at the hotel or from Puerto Aventuras. Because your daughter is doing her first dives she should keep her dives shallower. You need to do Cuavitas (little caves), Paradise at 60 feet and Ruins North is another one of my favs. If you can get a firm yes, book a couple of dives north of you hotel to Tortuga and Baracuda. If Dressel or Aquanauts cannot give you a 100% then go to Playa del Carmen for those dives.

Spend a day in Cozumel and leave the choice of dive sites up to you and the operator.

I don't think you should write of the Cenotes, maybe it was the guide or the cenote you visited. If you do think of trying a cenote trip again, give me a call here in Mexico and I can help you deceide if you want to try it again. I have an Edmonton number you can reach me at: 780-628-2722.

Cheers,

Dennis

PS did you daughter do here training at the Dive Outfitters?

Hi Dennis -

I'm staying at the Barcelo in February and had planned to complete my OW cert. dives with Dressel - it's just so convenient. Can you provide me with any insight before I go down there? Are they relatively reliable, etc? Do you know where they tend to do the OW dives?

Cheers
Corey

BTW - I see you have an Edmonton contact. I'm in Regina and my son is attending college in Edmonton.

 

[SolarStorm]

I just got back with my daughter. I never thought of her having a crush on the dm as a good way to set the hook deep, but it worked

They were a good outfit. I was more disappointed with the quality of some of the certified divers. My daughter and I were new OWD divers and I would place us in the top of half of compentency. Some of the vacation divers were great, others were totally unprepared to dive. I dont mean equipment, but things like the guy who did not dive for 8 years, talked a good game so he didnt need to do a pool check, then couldnt control his bouancy (had to hold the DM's hand for the dive) and sucked back air at an allarming rate. He surfaced when my daughter and I still had 2000#.

The guy in the equipment room took care of our equipment better than the rental equipment, and perhaps better than I might have, although I made sure I gave him a good tip at the start and a couple of times over the 2 weeks we were there.

The reefs we dove were a 5 - 10 min boat ride from the resort. So by the time you finished gearing up and buddy check, it was time to dive. The reefs themselves were good and we saw an abundance of sealife. Although I found it funny how some said they saw nothing? We would be heading back and my daughter and I would talk about the turtle, shark, ray, barracuda, eel, octopus, puffer, etc and 1/3 of the divers would go huh? where was that?

I was impressed with the concern over safety, and one girl will tell you not to use them because they would not let her bring her camera until she could proove better bouancy control. I thought this was a good thing and agreed with the DM, after all, for an expert, the proof should have been easy .

Everything positive. The only reason I would consider someone else is to get a smaller group where the "experts" are in their own group. Out of 16 dives only twice did my daughter and I surface with less than 1000 psi and 3 times we surfaced with over 1/2 tank. We did do a deep dive with a great group of 6 divers and was probably the best dive of the trip.