Trip Report, Villa Blanca & Paradise Divers 6/12-19/2015

[gopbroek]

THe Marine park regulations require a LOCAL licensed guide who has taken the marine park course and hold a credential to do so to lead all dives - this also applies to snorkeling or any activities within the marine park

OK now that we are completely off the OP topic, in the SB Cozumel tradition, Christi could you possibly clarify the Marine Park Guide licensing rules for me? I understand from talking with various persons (and I probably have it wrong) that:

** The requirement is for a licensed Guide who has taken the Park course and holds the Guide certificate issued by the national Park.

** As I understand it there is not a requirement to hold an outside agency DM certificate (but I have never heard of any dive OPs not using an outside agency certificated DM) because the same license is used by guides for all water activities.

** I am not sure of the prerequisites to taking the course but I have heard that for a foreign national they must be ‘sponsored’ by shop or business, as an individual they cannot just walk in and take the course.

** Previously the instruction was only in Spanish but recently at the course has been performed in English.

Could you point out any errors? I would really like to know as I have heard bits and pieces of this discussion in various conversations but never in a complete manner.

 

[Firefyter]

I count them and like MMM I also try to figure out some way to distinguish them from the others underwater. Fins, different colors on their wetsuits or board shorts or booties, something different.

This is me, plus the fact that I watch how they dive, i.e. attitude, trim, positioning, etc. I can pick my DM out of a crowd 100 feet away just from his gear and positioning in the water.

---------- Post added June 23rd, 2015 at 10:20 AM ----------

That is why I dive a bright orange OxyCheq wing...

That wing is a definite standout. It made it really easy to identify you at a distance as well...

 

[Ron Lee]

Maybe I need something to help others pick me out in a crowd

 

[dberry]

That wing is a definite standout. It made it really easy to identify you at a distance as well...

My wing, lousy trim, and being the only guy who rolled in without his fins?

But I agree - I made sure I could ID Jorge (DM) from his suit and positioning. Don Julio's bright yellow doo-rag was helpful, too. Most folks dressed all in black, gray, and blue look like anonymous ninjas to me.
[And thanks to TJack for snapping the pic of my daughter and me]

 

[Christi]

OK now that we are completely off the OP topic, in the SB Cozumel tradition, Christi could you possibly clarify the Marine Park Guide licensing rules for me? I understand from talking with various persons (and I probably have it wrong) that:

** The requirement is for a licensed Guide who has taken the Park course and holds the Guide certificate issued by the national Park. YES

** As I understand it there is not a requirement to hold an outside agency DM certificate (but I have never heard of any dive OPs not using an outside agency certificated DM) because the same license is used by guides for all water activities. Partially true. There are water activities that do not require the guide to be a DM - they can take the course and work in certain jobs that do not require them to be a DM but require them to have a National Park Credential. However, all staff working on a boat in the marine park a/k/a dive boats and snorkel boats - must have their marine park credential. The marine park boat can and does stop boats at random to do spot checks and all staff on the bat must present their cards. Additionally, when we renew marine park permits every 2 years, we have to complete a roster with the staff and include either their Captains license number or DM/Instructor certification number. One last piece, in order to qualify for the course you must have a legal working VISA for the job specified.

** I am not sure of the prerequisites to taking the course but I have heard that for a foreign national they must be ‘sponsored’ by shop or business, as an individual they cannot just walk in and take the course. Yes, this is correct - must have legal residency and working papers

** Previously the instruction was only in Spanish but recently at the course has been performed in English. I am not sure about this - I think that a translator is available if needed. I took the class in 2002 in Spanish and again a few year ago in Spanish. The first time the course was a week long, every night for 3-4 hours. I think they have reduced it down to two nights of 4 hours each.

Could you point out any errors? I would really like to know as I have heard bits and pieces of this discussion in various conversations but never in a complete manner.

See my answers above - these are the current standards as I know them.

 

[Tjack]

Hey Don your trim looked perry good to me.

I'm one of those back in black divers. I am looking for a yellow beanie/hood so the boats don't run me over.

 

[Firefyter]

My wing, lousy trim, and being the only guy who rolled in without his fins?

But I agree - I made sure I could ID Jorge (DM) from his suit and positioning. Don Julio's bright yellow doo-rag was helpful, too. Most folks dressed all in black, gray, and blue look like anonymous ninjas to me.View attachment 211091
[And thanks to TJack for snapping the pic of my daughter and me]

There's nothing wrong with your trim if you're aware of where you are and intended to be there. For relatively new divers I thought you pretty much had your act together. As far as the fins go, that could happen to anybody. I'd wager that there's not many people in this forum that hasn't rolled in and forgot something at one time or another....

 

[Tjack]

Here is Thomas (Firefyter) in the water column........