Sue Sue
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I am going to do my best to cover this trip and keep the report brief. I expect this is going to be difficult however, but I will try.
My visit to Cozumel was solo for the first few days. Over the course of the next 4 weeks I was joined by my parents, husband, two sons and their girlfriends.
TRANSPORTATION Continental Airlines, out of Austin to Cozumel via Houston. As usual flights were great. Went directly to the shuttle ticket booth upon arriving at the airport and got settled quickly. We did hire a driver for one day of touring the island for the entire family. Otherwise, we either walked or took cabs.
LODGING: Our family stay was at the Summer Place Inn, which I highly recommend for Divers, Couples, Solo travelers, Family vacations, and Seniors. The Inn is walking distance to the Chedruai (major grocery store) and a short cab ride to the Aldora Dive pier. The entire premises is very well kept, has a very well maintained pool and Dive Rinse Tank. On week #4, our family went home and my husband and I moved to the Caribe Blu hotel. This was our third stay there and were once again very pleased with the accomodations. This facility is also very well maintained, has a wonderful pool and a dedicated dive pier.
DIVING: Blue XT SEA. The name says it all. This dive operation is in a league of its own. Two very well maintained boats, small and fast. Personalized service. Very professional and experienced dive masters and captains. In addition to the diving I will mention below, I do want to note that my husband and I were Nitrox certified on this trip, and my oldest son and his girlfriend completed their Basic Open Water. The staff at Blue XT Sea addressed these needs with upmost care and expertise. Very special and heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Blue XT SEA.
Over the course of the month I logged 30 dives, my husband logged 21 dives. Las Palmas, Tormentos, Tortuga, Pedro's Reef, Palancar Gardens, Punta Tunich, Paradise reef, Palancar Bricks, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Yucab, Chankanaab, Palancar Bricks, La Francesca, Dalila, Cathedral, Columbia Shallows, Palancar Caves, San Francisco, Devils Throat and El Cedral. PLEASE NOTE: Over the course of this past month, I had the opportunity to visit and re-visit dive sites. These dives ranged from 30 feet to 124 feet. Conditions varied as well depending on the depth and location of the reef. I need to report that YES, there has been damage to the corals and sand does still cover areas and YES, the makeup of some of the reefs have changed, but please know, Cozumel reefs are NOT DESTROYED. In fact, much of the corals are intact and if not are rejuvinating well. Some swimthroughs were altered, however some were improved and uncovered. Marine life is plentiful, especially juvenile marine life. We were blessed to see Seahorses, Batfish, Shark, huge Morays, Grande Groupers, Tortugas large, small and plentiful, octpus (day and night) and one very special large school of 6-7 foot Tarpon. The one highlight of a night dive was witnessing a very large moray hunt, attack and eat its prey. The experience was very interesting, however violent, but, mother nature does take its own course. All of this in addition to the usual critters of Spotted Drum, Parrotfish, Angels, Tangs, Splendid Toad, Trunkfish, lobster, crab, and flounder. Visibility ranged from slighlty cloudy to clear, very typical for Cozumel. Currents varied depending on the day, and dive site. My husband and I have been diving in Cozumel for three years. Fifty-nine of my seventy-three dives have been in Cozumel. I admit, I am not an expert, however, I do feel I have a pretty good grasp of Cozumel Diving and the present conditions. (Our last dive trip was post Emily-pre Wilma) The Palancar Reef is in a stage of rebirth, embrace this opportunity to experience something very unique.
MEALS: Casa Denis, La Choza, Pancho's Backyard, Camillos, Chilangos, Lobsterteria, Chi's, San Franscico Beach, Iguana's on the East side, Jeanies Waffle House, Rock N Java, Coffee Bean and lunch above Blue Angel Dive Shop at the Caribe Blu. In addition to wonderful these wonderful meals with exceptional service, we did our own meal preparation with food purchased from Chedraui's.
ACTIVITIES Cozumel Museum, Tour around the island, , day trip to the East side, snorkeling, and of course Diving. My parents, oldest son and girlfriend also made a trip to the Mainland for the ferry ride and to visit the ruins. In addition to all of this activity, we also enjoyed just sitting, relaxing, reading and loosing our thoughts while staring at the water and sunsets!
OVERALL I will admit, I was ready to go home by the end of my vacation. There is only so much of a good thing one can take in. I learned a bit more Spanish and got to meet so many wonderful people. With that said, I do feel blessed to have had such a wonderful experience. I also was honored to meet up with several Scubaboarders. Martha and Dan, jpmorantz, divedoggie, Jeff and Mia. Hello to all and thanks for your company. My husband and I are already planning our next trip to the island. We look forward to seeing friends and diving there once again. Cozumel is a very special place for us.
My visit to Cozumel was solo for the first few days. Over the course of the next 4 weeks I was joined by my parents, husband, two sons and their girlfriends.
TRANSPORTATION Continental Airlines, out of Austin to Cozumel via Houston. As usual flights were great. Went directly to the shuttle ticket booth upon arriving at the airport and got settled quickly. We did hire a driver for one day of touring the island for the entire family. Otherwise, we either walked or took cabs.
LODGING: Our family stay was at the Summer Place Inn, which I highly recommend for Divers, Couples, Solo travelers, Family vacations, and Seniors. The Inn is walking distance to the Chedruai (major grocery store) and a short cab ride to the Aldora Dive pier. The entire premises is very well kept, has a very well maintained pool and Dive Rinse Tank. On week #4, our family went home and my husband and I moved to the Caribe Blu hotel. This was our third stay there and were once again very pleased with the accomodations. This facility is also very well maintained, has a wonderful pool and a dedicated dive pier.
DIVING: Blue XT SEA. The name says it all. This dive operation is in a league of its own. Two very well maintained boats, small and fast. Personalized service. Very professional and experienced dive masters and captains. In addition to the diving I will mention below, I do want to note that my husband and I were Nitrox certified on this trip, and my oldest son and his girlfriend completed their Basic Open Water. The staff at Blue XT Sea addressed these needs with upmost care and expertise. Very special and heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Blue XT SEA.
Over the course of the month I logged 30 dives, my husband logged 21 dives. Las Palmas, Tormentos, Tortuga, Pedro's Reef, Palancar Gardens, Punta Tunich, Paradise reef, Palancar Bricks, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Yucab, Chankanaab, Palancar Bricks, La Francesca, Dalila, Cathedral, Columbia Shallows, Palancar Caves, San Francisco, Devils Throat and El Cedral. PLEASE NOTE: Over the course of this past month, I had the opportunity to visit and re-visit dive sites. These dives ranged from 30 feet to 124 feet. Conditions varied as well depending on the depth and location of the reef. I need to report that YES, there has been damage to the corals and sand does still cover areas and YES, the makeup of some of the reefs have changed, but please know, Cozumel reefs are NOT DESTROYED. In fact, much of the corals are intact and if not are rejuvinating well. Some swimthroughs were altered, however some were improved and uncovered. Marine life is plentiful, especially juvenile marine life. We were blessed to see Seahorses, Batfish, Shark, huge Morays, Grande Groupers, Tortugas large, small and plentiful, octpus (day and night) and one very special large school of 6-7 foot Tarpon. The one highlight of a night dive was witnessing a very large moray hunt, attack and eat its prey. The experience was very interesting, however violent, but, mother nature does take its own course. All of this in addition to the usual critters of Spotted Drum, Parrotfish, Angels, Tangs, Splendid Toad, Trunkfish, lobster, crab, and flounder. Visibility ranged from slighlty cloudy to clear, very typical for Cozumel. Currents varied depending on the day, and dive site. My husband and I have been diving in Cozumel for three years. Fifty-nine of my seventy-three dives have been in Cozumel. I admit, I am not an expert, however, I do feel I have a pretty good grasp of Cozumel Diving and the present conditions. (Our last dive trip was post Emily-pre Wilma) The Palancar Reef is in a stage of rebirth, embrace this opportunity to experience something very unique.
MEALS: Casa Denis, La Choza, Pancho's Backyard, Camillos, Chilangos, Lobsterteria, Chi's, San Franscico Beach, Iguana's on the East side, Jeanies Waffle House, Rock N Java, Coffee Bean and lunch above Blue Angel Dive Shop at the Caribe Blu. In addition to wonderful these wonderful meals with exceptional service, we did our own meal preparation with food purchased from Chedraui's.
ACTIVITIES Cozumel Museum, Tour around the island, , day trip to the East side, snorkeling, and of course Diving. My parents, oldest son and girlfriend also made a trip to the Mainland for the ferry ride and to visit the ruins. In addition to all of this activity, we also enjoyed just sitting, relaxing, reading and loosing our thoughts while staring at the water and sunsets!
OVERALL I will admit, I was ready to go home by the end of my vacation. There is only so much of a good thing one can take in. I learned a bit more Spanish and got to meet so many wonderful people. With that said, I do feel blessed to have had such a wonderful experience. I also was honored to meet up with several Scubaboarders. Martha and Dan, jpmorantz, divedoggie, Jeff and Mia. Hello to all and thanks for your company. My husband and I are already planning our next trip to the island. We look forward to seeing friends and diving there once again. Cozumel is a very special place for us.
