Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rruxe.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxv!rruxa!rruxe!bsisrs From: bsisrs@rruxe.UUCP (R. Schiraldi) Newsgroups: net.rec.scuba Subject: Re: Cancun-Cozumel Diving? Message-ID: <302@rruxe.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 08:56:48 EST Article-I.D.: rruxe.302 Posted: Fri Nov 1 08:56:48 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 06:45:46 EST References: <12000004@uiucdcs.UUCP>, <21200005@inmet.UUCP> Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J. Lines: 50 Cancun?? Diving?? DON'T DO IT!!!! My wife and I went there and tried the diving. I'm a PADI Divemaster, so I think I know how to dive. First, the boat was about 25 to 30 feet long and a narrow beam. The thing looked ready to become a wreck diving sight. The crew was not the most helpfull I've seen (and I've been on a lot of boats!!). Second, ALL the tanks were stored on the boat leaving no room for passengers. Not one of the tanks had a VIP sticker, not even an old sticker! All the tanks I saw were 3 to 5 years OUT OF HYDRO!!! Now for the real horror. The first dive was on a coral formation (if you can call it a coral formation) that was ONE brain coral head about 30 feet in diameter. Once we got there (two miles from the dive shop and a 50 min ride) the crew set up all the tanks. They would'nt let me touch my own BC or regulator. When they set it up, they put my BC jacket on the tank UPSIDEDOWN. I refused to let them correct it and put the thing on correctly myself. The first tank they gave me had a whopping 1200 lbs (aluminum 80 cf @ 3000lbs) and I refused it. The next tank I got had 800 lbs and they tried to tell me my gauge was off. I DEMANDED another tank and it had 2500 in it so I settled for that one. Now for the first dive: Visablity of about 40 feet ( I had 40 foot + vis on meny wreck dives off New Jersey) and the @#$*&(#$ hole of a divemaster wanted ALL divers to hold hands for fear of someone getting lost!! The coral itself was worse than the scrap that was under the dive pier at the Flamingo Beach Hotel in Bonaire (Oh if I could only go back to Bonaire :-) ). The second dive was about the same as the first. My wife you ask?? Well this was her first warm water dive and she thought it was the best in the world until I took her to Bonaire ;-) !!! The best thing about Cancun was the souvenirs. The worst was a toss up between the diving and the effects of the food (stay away from ANY sea food) and the water (all salad was rinsed in the local water). I can't talk about Cozumel, my sister-in-law was there for the diving but sucummed to the food and water after 4 days. Try Bonaire if you want a great diving adventure. Rich Schiraldi rruxe!bsisrs PADI DM# 21546