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My wife & I will be onboard the Jewel of the Seas in Jan (25th) & I understand all cruise ships are using tenders to get ashore. We plan to do a 2 tank dive. Any suggestions as to the most convenient op to get to Santa Rosa Wall ???
I just got back from a cruise that stopped in Cozumel 1/6/05, but our dive was cancelled due to high winds and seas. Booking through a local shop was difficult due the cruise ship schedules, but it can be done. You get in too late (missing the AM trips), and leave too early (can't get back for your ship's departure). You need to plan at least an hour each way to and from the ship for the tenders. The tenders were large, carrying about 300 people, but they don't like to leave until they are full. The actual trip is less than 5 minutes. It is the passenger loading and unloading that takes so long. From what I was told, Cozumel has a curfew for the cruise ships, and they have to leave by 5:00PM. The last tender for a ship leaves 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure. Keep in mind, the cruise ship may change the schedule during the trip. Our departure time from Cozumel went from 6PM, to 5PM to 4:30PM. As you can see, a two tank trip leaving at 1PM is not condusive to get you back to the tenders in 2 1/2 hours. If you want a specific dive site, you would probably need to charter a trip through a local operator on your own. If I had to do it all over, I would have booked through the ship to avoid the stress of the schedule changes, and hauling gear around Cozumel for a cancelled trip.
Tuckster, try posting on the "Charter Boats, Cruises & Liveaboards" forum. There's probably an experience Cozumel cruise ship divers there who will be able to steer you in the direction of a dive opeartor who can work with the cruise ship port call schedule.
Whomever you decide to dive with, tell them your Santa Rosa request when you first contact them. I'm sure that if they can accomodate it they will.
If your times don't work for some of the "usual suspects" (such as Blue XT Seas), then there are several companies which are more flexible in accommodating cruise ship schedules. I'd try Dive with Martin, Dive with Alison and depending on your experience, Eagle Ray Divers. All three are really good about different dive times. But contact them as soon as possible - the longer you wait, the less flexible they can be as they'll have other divers booked.
Be careful about wanting just one dive site. Santa Rosa's a great dive, but if the currents aren't running well that day for conditions to be good, trust your dive operators to find you another option. They know best, and are in contact with other companies who may have been there earlier in the day and know what's what.
... hee hee, unless you're fortunate to be on one of the Radisson or Windstar ships with the sports platforms that pop down out of the back of the ship.
This is good info. We are using Dive with Alison on March 30th off of the Legend of the Seas. I am also using her for an AOW in February while staying on Cozumel. She has been GREAT to deal with and gets good feedback here.
Originally Posted by BurBunny
If your times don't work for some of the "usual suspects" (such as Blue XT Seas), then there are several companies which are more flexible in accommodating cruise ship schedules. I'd try Dive with Martin, Dive with Alison and depending on your experience, Eagle Ray Divers. All three are really good about different dive times. But contact them as soon as possible - the longer you wait, the less flexible they can be as they'll have other divers booked.
Be careful about wanting just one dive site. Santa Rosa's a great dive, but if the currents aren't running well that day for conditions to be good, trust your dive operators to find you another option. They know best, and are in contact with other companies who may have been there earlier in the day and know what's what.
I'd email several of the smaller ops and see what kind of response you get. Your problem with the timing that's a result of the tenders is a common one these days, and I'm sure you'll find a dive op to work with. I'll put in a plug for Roberta's Dive Eco cozumel; in fact, I was just talking about the cruise ship diver/tender logistical issue with Roberta yesterday. I'm sure you know this, but apparently all the passengers using ship-based excursions get priority seating on the first tenders, so you might be a while getting off the ship. I'd be very surprised, however, if you can't find someone who will accomodate your schedule.
I'd second the advice of waiting and seeing with regards to the specific dive site you choose. My casual observation from diving last week was that the southern sites are in overall better shape; the best dives of the week for me were on palancar and colombia reefs. But, if it's Santa Rosa you definitely want, the smaller dive ops will typically take you where you want to go.
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Originally Posted by BurBunny
