Doug,
Once you and your gear are loaded on the boat you do the following: (YMMV)
>Make sure that all of your gear has made it to the boat.
>Introduce yourself to the other divers on the boat.
>Smile graciously at the boat captain. Try to find out his name.
>Memorize the name of the boat that you are on. This is very inportant if you get separated from the group.
>Remember the name of the dive operator also.
>Relax.
>Decide whether you want to set up your gear yourself or let the crew do it.
>Set it up, or sit back and relax.
>Listen to the guide as he describes the location. (You will want to remember the name of the site.)
>Tell the Guide about any special needs that you might have.
>Prepare yourself and your gear as your trek to the site.
>Tell the Guide how much weight you need, on a belt or integrated.
>Relax and have a drink of water. Make sure that you stay hydrated.
>Check your air, primary and secondary regs. Check your BC. Heck, check everything.
>When the "dive brief" starts, pay attention. Most are cookie-cutter speeches, but occasionally there are specifics about the site or the methods or the boat. Sometimes the "dive brief" is given in transit, sometimes at the site.
>The Guide will usually give time warnings as the boat approaches the dive site.
>Wash or rinse or spit or put SeaDrops in your mask. Whatever you do.
>Try not to be the last one ready. You don't have to hurry. Never "rush". You don't have to be first, just don't be the "hold up".
>Many of the small boats have a cover, and there is usually a place up under the cover where you can store things that you want kept dry. Ask if you are not sure.
>Relax and have another drink of water.
>Recheck your gear. Is your air on? Occasionally in the US they turn off your air in transit, but normally not in Cozumel. However, it is not a bad idea to check!
>Check your buddy if appropriate.
>Follow the Guide's instructions.
>On small boats, usually the Guide will drop in the water first to take a quick look. Be ready to go in (or not) when that happens.
>Enter the water as per instructions, and when told to do so, not before.
>Check behind yourself one last time before doing a back roll into the water.
>Once in the water, signal to the Guide and/or the Captain that you are okay, even if no one is paying attention.
>Follow instructions, either gathering on the surface or dropping down immediately; whatever they told you to do.
>Relax.
>Perform a casual check of your gear and everyone else. Anyone leaking badly?
Anyone look like they have a problem?
>Drop down per instructions.
>Make sure that your bouyancy is all set. Adjust as necessary.
>Signal Okay to Guide and to your buddy.
>Relax and Enjoy!
>Monitor your depth and your air. And your buddy. And your Guide. It doesn't hurt to keep half an eye on the rest of the group. I know that it is not your responsibility, but do it anyway.
>Enjoy the scenery and the variety of life.
>When you get down to the predetermined amount of air, signal the Guide per instructions.
>When the group is supposed to go up, go up. Just do it slowly. As slow (or slower than) the tiny bubbles.
>Stop at the predetermined safety stop(s) for the agreed amounts of time.
>You are still monitoring your air, your buddy, your guide and the group, right?
>When it is time to surface, do so carefully. Listen for boats, look for obstructions.
>When you surface, signal OK, even if no one is paying attention. Reinforce the good habits.
>Inflate your BC so that you can float comfortably.
>Wait your turn patiently, staying out of the way of other people. Remember that some people will want to cut in front of you, even if it is your turn. Unless you have a "problem", turn the other cheek and let the impatient ones go ahead. It is not worth fighting over.
>Climb aboard the boat per the instructions from the "dive brief". Usually you will take off your fins and hand them up to the captain. Some want you to remove your weights, some don't care. Some divers take off their BCs in the water. I climb the ladder intact, but that's just me.
NOTE: I suggest that you don't take your fins off until you are ready to climb up. Also, I find that it helps to have your reg in your mouth when you reach down to remove your fins.
>On small boats, when you climb the ladder, make sure that you hold on to the right things and the right places. Once I held only the ladder, and it pivoted forward, pitching me onto the bottom of the boat on my face. My fault for not paying attention.
>Once on the boat, help however you can. Sometimes the most helpful thing to do is to sit down out of the way.
>Start gathering your gear and getting it ready for the next dive.
>Relax, and have something to drink. Eat a bit if you wish to.
>The boat will either drift, or motor to the next dive spot, or motor to someplace for a surface interval. Follow instructions and relax. Have some water. Try not to get sunburned.
>When the Guide tells you to start getting ready for the next dive, finish getting ready. Follow most of the steps above. Rinse, repeat as necessary.
>After the final dive of the day, have a drink of water.
>Return the weights to the Guide, when he is ready for them.
>By all means, relax and get comfortable, but be considerate of your boatmates.
>Back at the dock, make sure that you have gathered all of your gear. Some ops will unload for you, some will carry, rinse and store your gear. Some expect you to do it yourself. You should know for your dive op what they will do and what you are expected to do.
>I recommend tipping your Guide, but that is up to you. They will share with the crew. Amounts are discussed on other threads.
NOTE: YMMV Every op and every diver is different. This is just based on the experiences of me and my friends. Yours will vary, but they should be similar.
NOTE: I have had 22 dives in Cozumel, but only on small boats. There will be some differences on larger boats.
NOTE: Go with the flow. Don't be the diver that other people remember as the whiny pain in the butt.
NOTE: Most Cozumel dives are drift dives, and the boat will usually follow along. The best captains are right there when you surface. However sometimes conditions or situations make that impossible. Relax and wait for your boat. If things go bad, you are prepared with a whistle and a signal bouy, right?
NOTE: If there is a current, there are a few things that I recommend.
==>Try to stay behind the Guide. If he stops to point something out, you don't want to be past him, and struggling against a current to gte back to see whatever.
==>Usually the current is lighter closer to the reef. If you start passing people, tuck in closer to the reef. You have good bouyancy skills, right?
==>Don't fight the current unless you have to. You will lose. You will use up your air, your time, your energy.
==>Try to stay with the group. Make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Your buddy is close by, right?
Above all else, be safe, and have a good time!
Wristshot
