Good for you…I love the dive.
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
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You did not need to do a deco stop at 60'. It may have been recommended that you do a deep stop at 60', but those aren't mandatory.I dove it last year with my wife and it was awesome! The advice you received was all good and you should take it. We are very good on air consumption and although my experience below 90' has been limited, I did not find myself experiencing narcosis (that was a bit of a concern). I did need to do a deco stop at 60', and that was recommended by the DM. It's a really cool dive and I did not find it to be as tight as people have commented. Good luck.
There was so much wrong with that dive I hardly know where to start. Getting dropped off downcurrent from the entrance is as good a place as any.We did the Devil's Throat a number of years ago. We were diving with my nephew, 20 years old, recently certified, excellent swimmer/lifeguard. We were put on a boat with a group of young couples from Brazil. We assumed that the female half of each couple was along for the ride. DM said to us "We are doing Devil's Throat. Is that OK with you?" We talked to my nephew, explained the dive, and told him it was his decision. He wanted to go. We told him that it was an advanced dive and that he was to stay between my husband and me. He agreed. We watched the other divers gear up -- some of them appeared to have no idea what they were doing. Down we went, following the guide. Swam against the current to reach the first entrance. When I got there, the DM pointed in back of me and did a "HUH?" gesture. The three of us and the DM were the only ones there. He held up 2 fingers. We waited 2 minutes, and in we went. First tunnel, second tunnel, out at about 120 ft. We did a stop at 60, another at 15. Husband low on air; I and nephew OK. Got back in the boat. Finally found all the other divers -- some picked up by other dive boats.
He never inquired about the experience of any of the divers. He never told anyone that the dive required a light. Most of the divers on the boat should not have attempted that dive. It was a good thing that they never made it to the first entrance.
When we got back, we went to the dive headquarters, explained what had just happened, and stated that we did not want to be on a boat with that DM again. Found out later that he had received a big tip in advance because some of the young men in the group wanted to do that dive.
It was an interesting dive, but not that exciting. I was mostly concerned about my nephew, but he had been diving with us for almost a week and had never been anything but calm and totally in control. He told him we brought him along as a "pony" because his air consumption was so good. The most difficult part of the dive was getting to the first entrance -- I was trying to keep up with 3 men.
There was so much wrong with that dive I hardly know where to start. . . .
The dive is too short
very little wildlife to be seen
Devil's Throat is first of all a very over-rated dive
it is a potentially dangerous dive
especially when done without redundant air and without decent lights.
if Devil's Throat appeals to you despite the potential for trouble then have at it, but there are far too many MUCH better dives in Cozumel for me to waste my time descending through a silt storm holding on to my mask for dear life.
I take a light on every dive. On night dives, two of them.However, why would one do ANY dive with a potential for reduced light levels without having access to a good light? I fully agree with you that good lights are a necessity. So why not dive with one?