Upcoming Trip to Cozumel

[HaleyMarie]

My highschool school offered diving lessons and helped get me signed up for open water ($525 total). and I paid for a trip to Cozumel($1,850 for plane/hotel/food/dive costs) solely for diving purposes. 3 dives a day, 6 days. The last day we will be diving with whale sharks! :blinking:

I am SO excited, I plan on pursuing a career in Marine Biology, or something that will allow me to continue diving and travel hopefully.

Since I basically JUST got certified, anything you guys can tell me about Cozumel and what to enjoy/watch out for/look for/etc.

I'm thinking of buying another mask to put a purge valve on, I know so many people don't like them, but I get so freaked out if and when a couple drops of water leaks in or something.

For Christmas I'll be getting tanks, a bcd, regulator and all that good stuff. But that will stay home, I just need to bring the basics which the class supplied me with. <3

 

[herbdb]

I have already trash canned my first and only mask with a purge valve. A mask that fits well will stay fairly dry. Purge valves leak. Find a shop with a pool on site and try them until you find a mask that fits. You really need to learn to tolerate water in your mask because you will get it knocked off or flooded and you must handle it without panic.

You will love Cozumel. Lots to see and great visibility. You may want to research some of the marine life you are likely to see before your trip. You will enjoy it more if you know what you are looking at. If you are traveling with a school group, make it a project and have a contest to find different things. Educational and fun.

 

[DandyDon]

You'd probly get more information on the right forum Cozumel - ScubaBoard

Do you have DAN dive insurance or similar? Pretty essential, but don't get the cheapest plan. The middle one is $10 more but significantly better.

I take all my own gear on every trip, all that I expect to use anyway and some spare parts. Not tanks or weights of course.

Beware drunks on scooters and don't even think about riding one.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

First, sorry to put it bluntly but Get over "Freaking out" with water in your mask or stick to Snorkeling. Underwater is no place to freak out over something that is just inconvient.

Second...Have a great trip. Get Dan insurance as Don Suggests.

 

[ronbeau]

My high school school offered diving lessons and helped get me signed up for open water ($525 total). and I paid for a trip to Cozumel($1,850 for plane/hotel/food/dive costs) solely for diving purposes. 3 dives a day, 6 days. The last day we will be diving with whale sharks! :blinking:

I am SO excited, I plan on pursuing a career in Marine Biology, or something that will allow me to continue diving and travel hopefully.

Since I basically JUST got certified, anything you guys can tell me about Cozumel and what to enjoy/watch out for/look for/etc.

I'm thinking of buying another mask to put a purge valve on, I know so many people don't like them, but I get so freaked out if and when a couple drops of water leaks in or something.

For Christmas I'll be getting tanks, a BCD, regulator and all that good stuff. But that will stay home, I just need to bring the basics which the class supplied me with. <3

Unfortunately you will have to get used to diving with some water in your mask.
This is coming for someone who had the same issue during open water training.
The purge valve in a mask is a personal preference issue.
My wife likes hers and I don't care for it.
You will need to learn to not freak out over water in the mask.
Some of your dives in Cozumel will probably be in 80 feet of water.
The last thing you want to happen is to get water in your mask at 80 feet, freak out and bolt to the surface.

Also, most of the diving is Cozumel is drift diving. Depending on the number of divers on the boat and how experienced they are you might have them bump into you. If that happens it is possible you might get some water in your mask.

Also, the purge valve doesn't prevent water from getting into the mask, it just makes it easier for some people to purge the water out once it gets into the mask.

 

[DandyDon]

Who are you traveling with? Got a dive buddy lined up? Hiring a private DM the first day is money well spent. Take your own snorkel gear on the whale shark outing too. You have to swim hard to keep up with them and a life vest will slow you down, but is required unless you have an inflatable vest like we took, or wear a buoyant wetsuit.

 

[The Chairman]

Have fun in Cozumel! I hear that there's a rumor about some sort of ScubaBoard Invasion of Cozumel late June or early July.

 

[diversteve]

The last day we will be diving with whale sharks! :blinking:

The last day you will be snorkeling with whale sharks - it's illegal to dive with them in the Marine Park.

<--It's still excellent though

 

[DandyDon]

Ha! They could never keep up with one in scuba anyway.

Have fun in Cozumel! I hear that there's a rumor about some sort of ScubaBoard Invasion of Cozumel late June or early July.

OMG did you warn the island? A little early for whale sharks too, I think?

 

[The Chairman]

OMG did you warn the island?

We have been talking with them Don. Look for a formal announcement while I am at DEMA. This should be fun!!!