ucfdiver
Contributor
Good advice until you suggested that
Variety or repetition
- Thread starter Belmont
- Start date
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hudson
Contributor
Within 1 hour of driving distance you also get Ginnie and Madison Blue, so I'd say a 6/4 split in favor of Peacock area may make more sense.
FWIW, as a newbie, I liked Little River a lot both times I've been there.
At the Intro level, if you rent two sets of doubles, you can get four dives into a day (if you get up and get moving). Many sites will have multiple lines that are accessible to you. Spending a day, for example, at Dos Palmas, and doing each line twice, I found to be a really good thing. The first time you dive a line, you're so busy looking at where it goes, checking each directional change for T's and the like, that you don't see anywhere near as much cave as you will on the second trip. By the time I was on my third Mexico adventure at Intro/Cave 1, there were places I was really beginning to relax, because I had my landmarks and was beginning to have a little confidence that I really knew where I was.
At the same time, I think doing a number of different systems is a way to expand your experience and find some challenges. Diving Naharon (Cenote Cristal) for example, you get a taste of what navigating in a really BLACK cave is like. Carwash is a line running challenge, and Mayan Blue B tunnel is a challenge in really clean technique while running line.
If I were going to spend ten days in Mexico, I'd do a little of both. Try a variety of systems and see some different kinds of cave, and pick one or two to do several times.
I think you could easily do two or even three days at NoHoch. The trick there is that there are several lines that begin within a small area, and you can run your primary to any of the three and dive it. (The main line, the Parker line, and the Alberto line.)
I really like Dos Palmas. You don't get any line running practice there, but there is some very nice cave upstream AND downstream, and a little flow, and downstream has some low and somewhat tight areas, to give you a little experience in dodging formations. There are nice facilities there (flush toilets and running water!) and the entry fee is low (50 pesos, last time we were there).
We did White River on our last trip. It's a VERY long drive from the highway, but the cave is lovely. However, it is almost unmarred, so if you are still having any technique issues, save it for a later trip.
Carwash is very nice upstream (and a line running challenge!) but there is also a very pleasant downstream line you can do.
If you hire a guide, you can do Aktun Koh (beautiful halocline effects) and sometimes Yax Muul (very technically challenging at the Intro level, and gorgeous cave in both directions).
Ponderosa (Cenote Eden) is another place where you can easily spend an entire day, because there are multiple lines you can do. But you need some kind of permission slip from a local instructor to get in there -- the shop you rent your gear from may be able to do that for you.
Have fun -- there is a ton of interesting, beautiful, challenging and educational cave easily available in MX!
At the same time, I think doing a number of different systems is a way to expand your experience and find some challenges. Diving Naharon (Cenote Cristal) for example, you get a taste of what navigating in a really BLACK cave is like. Carwash is a line running challenge, and Mayan Blue B tunnel is a challenge in really clean technique while running line.
If I were going to spend ten days in Mexico, I'd do a little of both. Try a variety of systems and see some different kinds of cave, and pick one or two to do several times.
I think you could easily do two or even three days at NoHoch. The trick there is that there are several lines that begin within a small area, and you can run your primary to any of the three and dive it. (The main line, the Parker line, and the Alberto line.)
I really like Dos Palmas. You don't get any line running practice there, but there is some very nice cave upstream AND downstream, and a little flow, and downstream has some low and somewhat tight areas, to give you a little experience in dodging formations. There are nice facilities there (flush toilets and running water!) and the entry fee is low (50 pesos, last time we were there).
We did White River on our last trip. It's a VERY long drive from the highway, but the cave is lovely. However, it is almost unmarred, so if you are still having any technique issues, save it for a later trip.
Carwash is very nice upstream (and a line running challenge!) but there is also a very pleasant downstream line you can do.
If you hire a guide, you can do Aktun Koh (beautiful halocline effects) and sometimes Yax Muul (very technically challenging at the Intro level, and gorgeous cave in both directions).
Ponderosa (Cenote Eden) is another place where you can easily spend an entire day, because there are multiple lines you can do. But you need some kind of permission slip from a local instructor to get in there -- the shop you rent your gear from may be able to do that for you.
Have fun -- there is a ton of interesting, beautiful, challenging and educational cave easily available in MX!
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