bdshort
Contributor
I'm on my last day of a wonderful two week vacation down in the Mexican Caribbean. Spent a great week in Cozumel where I did 10 dives with Aldora, and am just finishing up the 2nd week on Half Moon Bay in Akumal. While here, I did 2 cavern dives with shop I was hooked up with by a friend. It's the small shop right at the entrance to Dos Ojos Cenote. I have no idea what the name is but the guy running it is named Luis. Both dives were at Dos Ojos, and man were they beautiful. I have 200+ dives under my belt in the past 2.5 years, and even with the great diving I had in Coz, I think those two dives in Dos Ojos were some of the neatest dives I've ever done. I almost wish I hadn't brought my camera with me just so I could have just enjoyed the dive more.... anyway, I think you all know where this is heading!
I've been interested in learning cave diving at some point for awhile, but the dives in the cavern in Mexico I think are pushing me along a bit! So I'm asking for advice on what the next steps should be, for someone who lives way away from cave country, and realistically won't be able to make a trip to cave areas more than once, maybe twice, a year. Is it something I should even consider since I won't actually be able to practice much in between classes on vacation? Maybe I should just stick do going on cavern tours when I visit Mexico?
What are some steps I can take to put myself on the road to cave training while I'm in open water? I already have a hogarthian BP/W for singles, with a long hose. I'm thinking I should start by continuing to hone my buoyancy, which isn't bad but I know I'll need the extra precision for cave class. Also, I think I'll start putting away $$ for everything I'll need for the doubles. And the owners of my LDS back home are both tech/cave certified, so I'm sure I can pick their brains on what to do.
Finally, what are some good shops to do training with? I've heard it's better to learn in Florida, simply because the flow makes things more challenging, but are there some recommended outfits in Mexico to learn through?
I thought I had more questions, but can't think of what they were right now, so I guess we'll just start here.
I've been interested in learning cave diving at some point for awhile, but the dives in the cavern in Mexico I think are pushing me along a bit! So I'm asking for advice on what the next steps should be, for someone who lives way away from cave country, and realistically won't be able to make a trip to cave areas more than once, maybe twice, a year. Is it something I should even consider since I won't actually be able to practice much in between classes on vacation? Maybe I should just stick do going on cavern tours when I visit Mexico?
What are some steps I can take to put myself on the road to cave training while I'm in open water? I already have a hogarthian BP/W for singles, with a long hose. I'm thinking I should start by continuing to hone my buoyancy, which isn't bad but I know I'll need the extra precision for cave class. Also, I think I'll start putting away $$ for everything I'll need for the doubles. And the owners of my LDS back home are both tech/cave certified, so I'm sure I can pick their brains on what to do.
Finally, what are some good shops to do training with? I've heard it's better to learn in Florida, simply because the flow makes things more challenging, but are there some recommended outfits in Mexico to learn through?
I thought I had more questions, but can't think of what they were right now, so I guess we'll just start here.