Would you dive with this op?

[mikeycanuk]

There are a few good points but Christie made some and Mike nailed it. It's Mexico and you used a budget op. We left Coz off the list until we had 100+ dives. I know people learn to dive in Coz but we were not comfortable with that idea. We started our diving experience in Akumal and almost ended it there. Mexico might be part of Norte Americano but not when it comes to safety standards. You have to be prepared to look out for yourself a lot more than other destinations, in our experience anyway.

Not to pump a certain op, but Aldora gave us our own private DM without us asking, or charging. It just turned out that way. Maybe it was our 12yr old son. Either way researching diving with a new diver should have lead to using a different op, not just one that happens to be "convenient".

 

[Mike]

I really do not see this as good advice. Someone who has never been in the area before- how will I know where 'around' ends in comparison to the swim through? The reef structures are quite large. Rank beginners would end up lost.

Maybe. Especially if caught in one of those notorious vicious Cozumel down currents!

But in reality unless it's some gynormous swim thru that I've yet to see, with 100 foot viz, you can see the bubbles coming up from all your dive buds doing the swim thru and easily see where they are and where they are coming out. (Mikes tip number 212 - look for the bubbles if you can't find the divers)

Now one time we did a night dive on Santa Rosa, and I was trying to take a picture of a lobster (you can probably figure this was a long time ago based on it being a lobster!), I hung out just a little too long with this lobster, when I turned around dive buddy (insta buddy) and entire group had disappeared, I mean gone! No lights anywhere to give them away. I just about panicked for a second, as it was totally bizarre for all lights to disappear on a night dive. Well, they had continued on and went through a swim thru, so they were gone of the side of the wall I was on and on the other side. Luckily I stayed calm, went up a bit shallower in the water column and POOF all their lights popped into view on the other side of the reef. Taught me a few lessons on that dive!

 

[Mossman]

That's certainly your call, however if you ever find yourself in an overhead with a problem and just OW training, you'll be wishing you had done the "swim over/around" Looking for your DM in Open Water is far preferable to suddenly discovering you need an air share with someone single file, 6' away, with a 40" hose.

However, I'm not your keeper and you're free to do anything that's within your risk tolerance and capabilities.

Also, your DM was apparently good. DM capabilities and care-level runs the spectrum from "Protects you like their own child" to "Not so much"

Just curious, what level of training would you suggest in order to be able to competently air share with someone single file, 6' away, with a 40" hose?

 

[lionfish-eater]

From what you said, you talked to a lot of people about your needs before the dive. Next time make sure you communicate with the one person who actually matters. The captain is the one who kills the engines and declares the pool to be open.

 

[Mossman]

There are a few good points but Christie made some and Mike nailed it. It's Mexico and you used a budget op. We left Coz off the list until we had 100+ dives. I know people learn to dive in Coz but we were not comfortable with that idea. We started our diving experience in Akumal and almost ended it there. Mexico might be part of Norte Americano but not when it comes to safety standards. You have to be prepared to look out for yourself a lot more than other destinations, in our experience anyway.

Not to pump a certain op, but Aldora gave us our own private DM without us asking, or charging. It just turned out that way. Maybe it was our 12yr old son. Either way researching diving with a new diver should have lead to using a different op, not just one that happens to be "convenient".

I'm confused. You're pumping Aldora (or not), but you said that Mexico is not up to American safety standards and you have to be prepared to look out for yourself. Are you implying that Aldora's safety standards are inadequate?

I've used dive ops in Cozumel that I thought were on a par or even exceeded safety standards at dive ops I've experienced in the U.S. Heck, Aldora won't even let divers surface on their own out of safety concerns and I've never heard of any concerns about them (at least not since the rusted steel tank incident of years ago).

---------- Post added April 24th, 2014 at 03:11 PM ----------

From what you said, you talked to a lot of people about your needs before the dive. Next time make sure you communicate with the one person who actually matters. The captain is the one who kills the engines and declares the pool to be open.

The captain is also usually the one with the worst English.

Besides, the DM may trump the captain, especially if the DM is the owner and pays the captain's salary.

 

[Mike]

I'm confused. You're pumping Aldora (or not), but you said that Mexico is not up to American safety standards and you have to be prepared to look out for yourself. Are you implying that Aldora's safety standards are inadequate?

I've used dive ops in Cozumel that I thought were on a par or even exceeded safety standards at dive ops I've experienced in the U.S. Heck, Aldora won't even let divers surface on their own out of safety concerns and I've never heard of any concerns about them (at least not since the rusted steel tank incident of years ago).

Aldora, BlueXTC, Living Under Water, Scuba w Alison, are all 'American' dive ops aren't they?

 

[Ron Lee]

There was a comment made about fatalities on Santa Rosa wall. I do not keep records of Cozumel fatalities but the last one I recall was a woman from a cruise ship who reportedly surfaced then sank but no one really knows if she surfaced or sank or why. The info I get from ScubaBoard may or may not be factual.

It appears that there was a breakdown in the buddy system for that diver.

Likewise the death of a woman reported to be diving with her two brothers may have been a buddy system breakdown since no one admits to knowing what happened to her.

I would not consider Santa Rosa to be a high risk dive site based upon what I know about it.

If almost all newbie (low experience) divers were to use a private DM on their first day...and make the effort to learn how to deal with Cozumel diving....maybe fatalities would drop.

 

[ggunn]

Saturday after lunch we showed up with gear for the first dive, met our guide and did a dive briefing while waiting on the boat. Our guide briefed Paso de Cedral - perfect! Shallow, usually mellow current with coral heads to help someone get used to current. Couldn't have asked for a better first dive for our plan. Boat shows, load up and set up gear. No problem.

Arrive at the dive site, first group of six drops in the water and the boat moves off to our drop spot. STOP... as we move to the stern to drop, our guide says that we are not at the site that we briefed and were at the wall.

Armchair quarterbacking is easy - here's my contribution...

At the point where it was revealed to you that you were at the wall, "Whoa, back the truck up. I told you guys we wanted an easy dive and we were just at one. Take us back there or cancel this and all the rest of our diving." I'm willing to bet that every diver still on board would have stood with you; I know I would have.

 

[Mossman]

Aldora, BlueXTC, Living Under Water, Scuba w Alison, are all 'American' dive ops aren't they?

Not to my knowledge. In fact, Dave is Mexican and Jeremy sounds like a Mexican.

 

[judydivescoz]

I hate the "it's Mexico" so don't expect safe diving. If I thought diving in Cozumel was not safe I would not go there. Why would you? My experiences have always been great if it wasn't good, we would not keep going back.