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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