Underwater Christmas --- Ideas?

[heysoymilk]

Hey all! New here, but hopefully can still get some ideas from you all. Basically, my girlfriend is finally getting certified and we are taking our first scuba trip together to Cozumel for Christmas. I have heard about (mostly by searching this forum) underwater Christmas Tree Dives. Well I'd like to plan one for my girlfriend and I in Cozumel and would love your feedback, and maybe some help with a few questions.

Here's what I'm thinking:
Take some kind of tree looking thing into the water (might hire a DM to help me with this and to take pictures for us). Then ill fill my lobster bag with decorations (some other SB threads mentioned fresh fruit, pita bread shaped as a star, and seashells as decorations). I'll probably dress my girlfriend and i up as Santa or elves.

Just a few questions:
-What should I use as a "Christmas tree?" Is it possible to buy a real one in Cozumel? And will I even be able to get the thing underwater?
-What else could I use as decorations? And are there any underwater Christmas lights that work at depth?
-Where should we do the dive? Is there a good beach dive in Cozumel with no current/ usually calm conditions?
-Should I use red/green rash guards for the costumes or would cheap polyester/ cotton costumes work?
-Any other ideas?

I really want to make this a very special Christmas so any feedback/ advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
-Chris

 

[k ellis]

Ill be honest with you the idea of a christmas tree in the water is a neat idea but not one for the actual open water and especiallt not in Cozumel since its a drift dive. This could cause a serious task loading for your girlfriend who in turn could have any number of things go wrong such as accidental brushes against coral and all the way up too the tree getting away from you and slamming coral as well.

When you speak of decorations these tend to be shiney by nature and flashy too so we all enjoy them neat sparklies of Christmas so just remember the barracuda (and possibly a few other critters) may mistaken these as bait fish and well that would not be a pretty sight either.

Last but not least you have to take into consideration the fact it is a marine park and sanctuary so you really have to look at possibly breaking laws both localy and on the federal level. Cozumel is very strict about its marine park even to the point that they dont allow gloves to my knowledge (Could have been the resort telling us that to keep us from wearing them) but none the less they are very protective of their park. Carrying a lobster bag may lead them to think your looking for dinner too.

Id save the tree idea for some other location such as a bay or marina and even then double check to make sure your not to introduce anything to the water that would possibly cause a contamination of sorts create a hazard to the wild life or other divers (Remember trees pose the potential to be entanglement hazards too.) Thats one reason I see more of these events in a swimming pool then actual open water though they do have these events in open water.

 

[knowone]

Now that you are probably contemplating cancelling
Christmas forever, or slashing your wrists, I'll come
over after I sell my house, and set up all you need in
the corner of the resort pool with all the props and no
shenannigans for fifty bucks.

Oh just send me your sizes and a couple of drawings
of the costumes you require and I'll quickly run them
up before I scooter over
Cheers
Emile.

Your can do christmas fun planner.

PS I can do ocean for $100


Plastic pita bread stars are extra

 

[scuboot]

This idea sounds like a good time. I can't offer much advice as I've never heard of it before now, but I do wish you luck.

A real tree would be more positively buoyant than a fake tree wouldn't it? as would most traditional ornaments?

For lights I would use glow sticks. IF you could get power to christmas lights the potential for shock would be ridiculous.

If you can pull off be sure to post pictures.

 

[k ellis]

Agreed Scubaboot it would be a neat idea. Just make sure for one if its real also that they have not used any preservative chemacils that could be harmful also to the coral. Live trees are often purchased right after thanksgiving and have been cut down before then so they get artificial supplies of water and nutrients.

+1 for glow sticks

 

[Guba]

Fun idea, but I think the authorities in Cozumel might have a bit of problem with it in their waters, since practically the whole area is a marine protected area with strict regulations as to what may or may not be intoroduced into the ecosystem.

If you want to do something really neat for Christmas in Cozumel, I'll be glad to put you in contact with some friends of mine. They go every year to the orphanage down there, play Santa and deliver gifts to the children. Of course, then they "invade" some of the local pubs (still dressed as Santa and elves) and have a good ol' tropical time. They're always looking for more folks to join the party!

Others I know help deliver supplies to Cruz Roja (Cozumel's Red Cross).

In short, there are a lot of ways to celebrate Christmas down there that don't involve putting things on the reef. By all means, have a great time diving there, too. (You can still wear your Santa suit underwater if you want--and the DM doesn't object!)

Have fun!

 

[RTee]

As somebody else mentioned, I do not think the Cozumel authorities will be too thrilled with your idea. Suggest you restrict it to your hotel room bathtub or whirlpool where you will be able to live your fantasies at the fullest and even save money on clothing/costumes...Happy diving.

 

[RonFrank]

Well I am sure that is not what you wanted to hear, but those are the facts and dragging a XMAS tree on a drift dive is such a bad idea! You were not aware Coz is a marine preserve?

There are plenty of ways to celebrate XMAS on land, and if you must I am sure the Hotel will let you use the pool. XMAS ornaments do not belong UW anyway as most are plastic junk, or not in the ocean. You could get a red wetsuit. Have fun!

You may get better ideas if this was in the Coz forum. Let me or any staff know if you want it moved.

 

[heysoymilk]

So much for that idea. I really should have realized that it wouldn't work in Cozumel, especially given the fact that its drift diving and a marine reserve.

If you want to do something really neat for Christmas in Cozumel, I'll be glad to put you in contact with some friends of mine. They go every year to the orphanage down there, play Santa and deliver gifts to the children. Of course, then they "invade" some of the local pubs (still dressed as Santa and elves) and have a good ol' tropical time. They're always looking for more folks to join the party!

Others I know help deliver supplies to Cruz Roja (Cozumel's Red Cross).

Guba, this sounds awesome. I'll PM you for more information.

-Chris