Trip report staying at Blue Angel

[Drewpy]

Thanks for the report! I will be there in a few months!
Nice to see the blacktips..did not see those at all my last trip? Is that something new?
Was not getting to the N and S sites by vote, or goes BA not like to go there?
Would like to pedal a bike while there as well..did you rent?

 

[cicopo]

I've been to the northern sites with BA and most but not all to the south. Everything is based on skill sets & conditions, and I suspect time of year too. No use going north to look for Eagle Rays when they aren't in the area.

 

[blue steal]

Would like to pedal a bike while there as well..did you rent?

There are a few places to rent, but I just used the owners mountain bike, it had a basket, but would need a cable/lock if you are going into town for stuff. Another option is just ask one of the DM's to let you use theirs. I give them a nice gift and or a special tip for use of their bikes.

---------- Post Merged at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 09:20 AM ----------

I've been to the northern sites with BA and most but not all to the south. Everything is based on skill sets & conditions

The furthest south we went was Columbia deep. Would have like to give maricaibo a go.
As far as going north you are correct, most of the time we had folks onboard and it was their first day in, or we had to pick someone up south.

 

[ggunn]

The furthest south we went was Columbia deep. Would have like to give maricaibo a go.

I'm sure that there are those who see it differently, but my one and only experience at Maracaibo was not that great. Where we were it was so deep that you could not see the top of the reef when we entered the water, and it took a very long time to get down to it (~135') we descended the wall a bit, and after about 5 minutes the DM gave us the signal to ascend. Then we were about 30 minutes coming up waiting for deco obligations to clear, hanging in limbo with nothing to see. Down on the reef it was cold and dark, and we didn't see anything that we couldn't have seen at Palancar. I've not been that anxious to go back, though I can now say that I have been to 154'.

 

[cicopo]

Maracaibo is a site that fits using an op like Living Underwater or Aldora, because they provide BIG tanks & make sure the dive group has the skills (based ONLY on reviews & trip reports plus the need for more air). I have done it once on an 80 with Dressel (an extra cost dive) and conditions weren't ideal plus I got buddied up with a much worse air hog than I am, but we still got in a decent dive. Saw some BIG turtles but that was it. A few years ago Scubatony decided we should try after arriving at a very busy first choice. Unfortunately the surface was calm, but once we descended we hit one of the fastest moving currents I've rode in Cozumel, so we took that current north & enjoyed the view along the way. We covered a lot of ground before surfacing that trip, but there wasn't a chance to stop for a photo, let alone swim back for another. I'd rather spend the time on Colombia Shallows & area.

 

[Ron Lee]

I'm sure that there are those who see it differently, but my one and only experience at Maracaibo was not that great.

Do it with Aldora. Much better dive. Plus there is no need to go to 154' although I have been below 100' there.

 

[blue steal]

Well as far as deep dives go for me Columbia deep and santa rosa wall are perfect. I would be happy to do these any day, plus a follow up for a shallow 2nd dive and I'm good.

 

[Pelagicsal]

I'm sure that there are those who see it differently, but my one and only experience at Maracaibo was not that great. Where we were it was so deep that you could not see the top of the reef when we entered the water, and it took a very long time to get down to it (~135') we descended the wall a bit, and after about 5 minutes the DM gave us the signal to ascend. Then we were about 30 minutes coming up waiting for deco obligations to clear, hanging in limbo with nothing to see. Down on the reef it was cold and dark, and we didn't see anything that we couldn't have seen at Palancar. I've not been that anxious to go back, though I can now say that I have been to 154'.

I'll venture that it was a bad drop. There are sections, including the area near the arch, where the wall starts well above 100'. Through the arch can be done at 112'. I've never been below recreational depths, certainly not near 150', in lots of trips there.
A 100 or 120 cu ft tank of 31 or 32%, capi and DM who know the area well, proper surface conditions, and appropriate skill level add up to a gorgeous dive with several minutes spent along the wall, leading to a swim across the reef to Maracaibo Shallows (being a relative term ) to enjoy the lush hard and soft coral dunes. A most pleasant 50 minutes or so with no deco obligation for those who keep an eye on their computers.
A slow ascent and safety stop with that great viz affords sweeping views of the shallows as we keep an eye out for pelagics.

The described dive is with Aldora. I use a 100 cu ft tank. The capitans use GPS and can see (amazingly) the drop areas. Several DMs have extensive experience there and know Maracaibo well enough to lead a number of different dives there, some exclusively in the Shallows, meaning longer bottom times and no triple digit depths.

Maracaibo exists in a different set of environmental conditions with different water flow. The reef itself is different than what you see at Palancar. I hope you get to do it again, as a well-run dive that will knock your socks off.

I get a big smile when it comes up as one of the choices for the dive.
YMMV, but I wish for you that it didn't!