RubberDucky
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On the 16th of April, I landed in Cozumel for the 7th time in 6 years. Though I ended up getting sick and having to cut the trip a few days short, overall it was worthwhile just like every other trip.
Below is a list of some things I learned during my stay. I would say some are good and some bad, but learning from experience is rarely a bad thing.
Keep in mind that these are just my personal experiences, and it is possible - very likely, even - that some folks, perhaps many, have had the same or vastly different experiences. Please feel free to share yours as well!
I hope you've found something informative from this post. Overall I had a great time (afterall, we did get to go to La Choza!), and can't wait to go back.
For those who just want to see pretty pictures (and understandably so!), here are some average pictures which are really just screenshots taken from GoPro footage (w/ red filter, no lighting, no post-editing), and were not actually taken as still images.
Tortuga at Tunich #1
Tortuga at Tunich #2
Damselfish (one of my favorites)
Seahorse across from the Paprika restaurant
Below is a list of some things I learned during my stay. I would say some are good and some bad, but learning from experience is rarely a bad thing.
Keep in mind that these are just my personal experiences, and it is possible - very likely, even - that some folks, perhaps many, have had the same or vastly different experiences. Please feel free to share yours as well!
- If the 11 piece Cuban Salsa band Grupo Arara is playing at Wet Wendy's or in the square, go check them out. They put on a good show.
- If your throat gets extremely dry during dives to the point where you sometimes dry heave uncontrollably upon surfacing, and if you're staying very well hydrated prior to diving (and sucking on mentholated cough drops, and eating Tums, or any of the other non-biolfilter suggestions found on the Internet), suck it up and just drink some ocean water during the dive. It's not delicious, but it sure beats the dry heaves.
- Cab fares continue to be inconsistent, even though the rates are supposed to be the same across the board. For example, a trip from Punta Langosta to 4 blocks past Chedraui could cost you 30 pesos or 50 (before tip). I continue to state my destination to the cabbies prior to stepping foot in their vehicles, and politely decline if I believe I may be getting taken for when they give the price. I also ask for cards or phone numbers from cabbies who give good rates so that I can call them in the future if they'd like. I've met some very interesting drivers this way!
- If you take a pony to Meridiano 87 to have it filled, have them fill it right then and there. This is the second year I've gone there and they've told me to come back at 3PM, and at 3PM it's still sitting there waiting to be filled. When they did fill it, I timed it at about 1 minute, perhaps less (19cu ft, filled to 2500 PSI). The cost was less than $3 USD. I know that some dive shops will do this for you, but most of my diving is done with more of a freelance type op. Meridiano 87 is on Coldwell and 7 Sur if you're wondering. I think they may have a second location, but that's where I go to get the pony filled.
- Blue Angel doesn't appear to have much to offer (unless perhaps you're staying there, which I've never done). The snorkeling there has very little to see, and the food service is slow to non-existent. Twice our waiter forgot things that had been ordered. One was a drink, another was food for the 5 of us. When asked about the food after waiting 45 minutes or so, I was given the ol' "yes, it's cooking now". Having been to Mexico a few times in the past, I knew better than to let that go unverified. "We have a member in our group who needs to leave (which was true). Is it literally cooking right this moment, or has it not been started yet?". It hadn't been started yet, so we ended up paying for our drinks and finding food elsewhere. I'm not sure if the issue was lack of good staff, or just lack of staff in general (they didn't seem to have many people on hand for the number of folks that were there), but twice in the same day leaves one wondering.
If you want to snorkel, go down the road a bit to La Palapita. They'll get you food from Papa Hogs or La Hach in a timely manner in my years of experience there.
- In another ScubaBoard thread recently - I don't recall which - someone said something to the effect of there not being any mosquitos because it's not rainy season. If my legs could've talked on the 17th, they would have said, "you brought 2 cans of Off!, and didn't use any last night. Look at us now, you fool!". I used it from that point forward and was fine. Point being there are always mosquitos in Cozumel, rain or sunshine.
- CMC is expensive. If possible and not an emergency, perhaps try Medica San Miguel instead.
- The battery life on the GoPro 3 is criminally short. Before my next trip, I'll have to buy a second battery to swap out during the surface intervals.
- Thinking about buying electronics in Mexico? I wouldn't. Well, I did. I wouldn't do it again. Bought a laptop from Office Max, and was told by the salesperson there that it could be configured to use English during the setup. It couldn't, and the staff in the store refused to provide a refund. It also wouldn't connect to the wireless where I was staying, making it even more useless to myself (they tested it in the store with their access point, and it failed to connect the first time, and worked on the second attempt).
After calling the Office Max phone number listed on the bag, they arranged for me to get a refund, which I did get. This was 1 week and 4 trips to the store later. 3,000 pesos of the 7,119 they owed was given to me in coins (15 bags worth! hah!). I speculate this was due to the overall lack of bills at the store, as the store had communicated to corporate about how much money they do a day at the store, which isn't much. I certainly have no reason to disbelieve that. Though I had been frustrated while trying to obtain a refund, I had always remained calm and polite. A quick trip to Santander the next morning took care of exchanging the coins for bills.
- If you believe you've been screwed when purchasing something while on the island, go upstairs at the Plaza del Sol and explain your issue to the folks at Prefeco. While there is no guarantee that they can get your money back, it is to my understanding that is what they are there for - to assist you with such problems. I had already spoken with them and had planned on going with them to Office Max in 2 days. Thankfully I had been refunded my money before that day, and did not need further use of their services (which are free, as far as I know). One very imporant thing Prefeco told me is that I should have gotten it in writing from the salesperson when they told me that the laptop (ok, the operating system) will support the English language. I asked them if I could go to back to Office Max with my GoPro in my pocket, secretly recording, and if I could get the same salesperson to mention that they said it would support English (that seemed far more plausible than asking him to write down that he told me something that evidently wasn't true). I was told that would not be permissible testimony, or something along those lines involving the word "testimony" (my Spanish only goes so far).
- The Oasis Cozumel Apartment is a cozy place for a small number of folks, and is run by a highly energetic, friendly, and caring lady by the name of Cindy Smith. She does wildlife rescue in Cozumel, sometimes spending a week or so in the jungle taking care of various critters. When my dive buddy and I got sick and had to leave the island early, she generously refunded us the unused portion of our stay. The place is on 5 between 19 and 21 just 3 to 4 blocks from Chedraui - easy walking distance to groceries, cabs, and many other things if you like to walk.
I hope you've found something informative from this post. Overall I had a great time (afterall, we did get to go to La Choza!), and can't wait to go back.
For those who just want to see pretty pictures (and understandably so!), here are some average pictures which are really just screenshots taken from GoPro footage (w/ red filter, no lighting, no post-editing), and were not actually taken as still images.
Tortuga at Tunich #1
Tortuga at Tunich #2
Damselfish (one of my favorites)
Seahorse across from the Paprika restaurant
