02 May 2008 07:21:35
Daniel
Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

Hello all,

My wife and I have decided to get scuba certified down in Cozumel. We
will be staying at the Cozumel Palace. I hear good things about the
dive shop on site Aqua Safari. However, the only dives you do during
the training are from the beach right there at the resort. Is this
still a good del or should we find another scuba shop that has a
variety in the dive locations?

Thanks for any input,

Daniel


02 May 2008 09:57:24
Grumman-581
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

On Fri, 02 May 2008 07:21:35 -0700, Daniel wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> My wife and I have decided to get scuba certified down in Cozumel. We
> will be staying at the Cozumel Palace. I hear good things about the dive
> shop on site Aqua Safari. However, the only dives you do during the
> training are from the beach right there at the resort. Is this still a
> good del or should we find another scuba shop that has a variety in the
> dive locations?

Well, usually it is best to get certified locally and then go to the
resort locations and dive regular dives there, but from looking at your IP
address, you're probably located around Clovis, NM and that might not be
an option around there...

Although most of the reefs are a bit off from shore, I would have to say
that a beach dive in Cozumel is still probably better than most lake or
quarry dives that most people do when they are getting certified...

--
See NNTP header field "X-Real-Email-Address" to reply by email.



02 May 2008 09:15:33
Daniel
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

On May 2, 8:57=A0am, Grumman-581 <grumman581+usenet-2...@gmail.com >
wrote:
>
> Well, usually it is best to get certified locally and then go to the
> resort locations and dive regular dives there, but from looking at your IP=

> address, you're probably located around Clovis, NM and that might not be
> an option around there...
>
> Although most of the reefs are a bit off from shore, I would have to say
> that a beach dive in Cozumel is still probably better than most lake or
> quarry dives that most people do when they are getting certified...
>
> --
> See NNTP header field "X-Real-Email-Address" to reply by email.

Thanks for the input. Yes we are in the Clovis area and while there
are dive shops nearby this seemed like a nice add-on to a vaction
already planned. So it sounds like it would be worth going with the
resort dive shop instead of hunting around for a shop that will do
boat dives.

Thanks Again.


02 May 2008 13:51:12
Lee Bell
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

> My wife and I have decided to get scuba certified down in Cozumel. We
> will be staying at the Cozumel Palace. I hear good things about the
> dive shop on site Aqua Safari. However, the only dives you do during
> the training are from the beach right there at the resort. Is this
> still a good del or should we find another scuba shop that has a
> variety in the dive locations?
> Thanks for any input,
> Daniel

You should get certified before you go and dive from a boat once you get
there.

I only found a few shore dives to do in Cozumel and they were just barely
worth doing for free. The hotel provided the tanks and gas. All the dives I
enjoyed were far enough from shore that current was a significant issue.
Swimming out to the sites would not have been that bad, but once there, I
certainly would want a boat to catch and return me at the end of the dive.

Cozumel is not, normally, considered a great place to learn to dive, or even
a great place for novice divers. The currents are strong and the best
diving is, generally, deep. The depth is complicated by the lack of a
visible indicator of depth. Between the lack of a visible bottom and water
clear enough that you're way to deep before it gets noticeably dark, Cozumel
diving is usually considered advanced. On the other hand, the most
spectacular dive I did there was at about 50 feet, drifting along above the
top of the drop off, out over the blue water. It was one of those awe
inspiring dives that make you remember why you learned to dive in the first
place.

Lee




02 May 2008 13:52:57
Lee Bell
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

Thanks for the input. Yes we are in the Clovis area and while there
are dive shops nearby this seemed like a nice add-on to a vaction
already planned. So it sounds like it would be worth going with the
resort dive shop instead of hunting around for a shop that will do
boat dives. Thanks Again.

Be careful and pay strict attention to currents. They are sometimes very
strong in Cozumel.

Lee




02 May 2008 11:36:29
RayC
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

Daniel wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> My wife and I have decided to get scuba certified down in Cozumel. We
> will be staying at the Cozumel Palace. I hear good things about the
> dive shop on site Aqua Safari. However, the only dives you do during
> the training are from the beach right there at the resort. Is this
> still a good del or should we find another scuba shop that has a
> variety in the dive locations?
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> Daniel

We used to lead trips to Casa Del Mar and have made hundreds of beach
dives there... for figuring out weighting and just to have a little fun
before and after our daily boat dives.

You have already had lots chime in about getting certified before going
so I won't repeat that mantra ... even though I agree. But as far as
having shore dives for certification ... absolutely!

You are going to be doing various exercises and practicing different
things during the class. Doing it at spectacular wall down 50' or more
might be a bit too distracting to pay attention to doing it right. Your
class is to teach you how the stuff works and how YOU work with it ...
not to entertain you (although learning diving the first time is quite
entertaining in itself)!

Yes ... do the beach for your training dives. Look at the few pretty
fish and whatever rocks or coral that may be there. But once you are
done with "formal" training, go on some of the other dives and enjoy.

Remember that EVERY dive is a learning dive so pay attention and have fun.

--
Ray Contreras
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
http://www.coltri-usa.com
http://www.rayzplace.com


02 May 2008 23:36:44
Ron Lee
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

Got to tell you that spending much of a vacation LEARNING to dive (as
in classroom work, pool work, studying and testing) seems like a
waste. Do it if you wish but doing the prep work at home makes more
sense.

You are not far from a major open water certification dive location in
Santa Rosa NM (Blue Hole).

If you get certifed before you go you can do real dives from the first
day.

Otherwise, you can do the classroom/pool work/studying/testing at home
and get a referral to do the checkout dives in Cozumel (four dives
over two days).

Don't let talk about the current scare you. It is usually not that
bad.

Ron Lee


04 May 2008 21:17:09
Dillon Pyron
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

[Default] Thus spake Daniel <danielp@coyotesolutions.com >:

>On May 2, 8:57 am, Grumman-581 <grumman581+usenet-2...@gmail.com>
>wrote:
>>
>> Well, usually it is best to get certified locally and then go to the
>> resort locations and dive regular dives there, but from looking at your IP
>> address, you're probably located around Clovis, NM and that might not be
>> an option around there...
>>
>> Although most of the reefs are a bit off from shore, I would have to say
>> that a beach dive in Cozumel is still probably better than most lake or
>> quarry dives that most people do when they are getting certified...
>>
>> --
>> See NNTP header field "X-Real-Email-Address" to reply by email.
>
>Thanks for the input. Yes we are in the Clovis area and while there
>are dive shops nearby this seemed like a nice add-on to a vaction
>already planned. So it sounds like it would be worth going with the
>resort dive shop instead of hunting around for a shop that will do
>boat dives.
>
>Thanks Again.

Are you going to do the classroom and confied water at home? Spending
a couple of days in a classroom is a horrible way to burn vacation
time.


05 May 2008 02:22:47
Wm. David Maddin
Re: Are beach dives in Cozumel worth it?

Daniel wrote:
> My wife and I have decided to get scuba certified down in Cozumel. We
> will be staying at the Cozumel Palace. I hear good things about the
> dive shop on site Aqua Safari. However, the only dives you do during
> the training are from the beach right there at the resort. Is this
> still a good del or should we find another scuba shop that has a
> variety in the dive locations?


Hello Daniel.

I have used Aqua Safari twice, 1998 and then again in 2006, both trips were
great. Their service is good and they have shop facilities to rinse and
leave your gear there over the night.

Beach dives for your training are a good idea, little current so the class
can hang with the Instructor.

Get your card and board the boat for some good diving.

I feel Cozumel is a great place for beginning divers.
It is drift diving and easy.

David
Edmonton, Alberta