brookenyc:
I had previously heard that Martin and crew all made it through the storm safely, but I haven't been able to find anything out about their boats.
Our LDS owner has been in contact with Martin and sent us regular updates. These are excerpts from some of those messages. The date is the date the email was sent out.....Willie
10-24-2005
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I received a phone message from Martin (Dive With Martin) at the shop at around 7:00 AM this morning. He reports that his family, his staff and their families all made it safely through the disasterous day and 1/2 that Wilma hung over Cozumel, Cancun, and Playa Del Carmen. That's the good news...the rest is not.
In his all too brief message, he said that both the Carnival Pier (Puerta Maya), and the International Pier where Royal Carribean docks is GONE! His dive shop at the end of the International Pier is also GONE! Fortunately, he did remove all his equipment from the shop before Wilma hit. He did not indicate the status of his dive boats. He said that he would try to call me later today.
10-25-2005
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Spoke with Martin yesterday about 1:30. The island has suffered a true catastrophe! Martin was truly fortunate. All 6 of his boats survived the storm. He also removed all his dive equipment and tanks from his shop before Wilma hit. Many shops along the waterfront did not.
Martin had*3 boats tied up in the Caletta by the El Presidente. Many boats*were damaged...not a scratch on his. Other boats came through also. However, many of the larger operators with the bigger boats had them anchored at the northern Harbour Master Marina. Most were either destroyed or sunk.
Again, Martin took his tanks and equipment to his house. He told me that at the Caletta where his boats were tied up, all his empty tanks on shore were still standing upright...not even one tipped over! He also had 500 liters of gasoline stored there...not a drop spilled.
10-31-2005
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Spoke with Martin Saturday AM.
As many of you know, Martin has always been a big supporter of his neighbors, community, and church. Quite frankly, Martin sounded alittle "down". The destruction Wilma caused affected everyone on the island. Martin is concerned for everyone. Get this...he told me he took all his old BCDs and gave them out to some Divemasters and Instructors of his competitors who were wiped out. Felt that he was so fortunate, he had to give to those who weren't!