Casa del Mar & Blue XTSea Trip Report June 09

[briankinley2004]

We left 6/01 and returned 6/09. Had a great time and we are already planning a return trip hopefully this year. Full trip report is attached below.

[jhayes75]

Nice Report. I leave tomorrow morning and I too am staying at Casa Del Mar.

[Bubbletrubble]

Thanks for chronicling your trip like that. It sounds like you and your family had a really good time. Next time I'm on the island I'll have to consider renting a car. :-)

In the future, before you go on your trip, it might be helpful to speak to your primary care physician about what to do if you get traveler's diarrhea. He/she will probably advise you to add the following 3 items to your first aid kit:

• probiotic Culturelle (dosing unknown, possibly preventative),
• ciprofloxacin (antibiotic which requires doctor's prescription), and
• Imodium/loperamide (over-the-counter antimotility agent).

Stay well hydrated and, if you start feeling really horrible, don't hesitate to visit a nearby clinic.

In case you're interested, there's a very nice 2004 article on Traveler's diarrhea in the journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Thanks once again for the very detailed trip summary.

[jhayes75]

ciprofloxacin (antibiotic which requires doctor's prescription).

I believe you can get this over the counter in Mexico.

[psychocabbage]

We often stay at Casa Del Mar when its just me and the wife. No matter where we stay, we use Del Mar Aquatics.

I love taking out the Big Splash and having had the pleasure of diving off of it with just the wife and a friend on a boat that huge.. well.. its living the high life!

We will be there in July and will have 6 divers with us so we will always make a dive. We may have our 15yr old on camera duty as she has been taking some amazing pics lately on our local dives.

[ddeborahdelamar]

In the future, before you go on your trip, it might be helpful to speak to your primary care physician about what to do if you get traveler's diarrhea. He/she will probably advise you to add the following 3 items to your first aid kit:

• probiotic Culturelle (dosing unknown, possibly preventative),
• ciprofloxacin (antibiotic which requires doctor's prescription), and
• Imodium/loperamide (over-the-counter antimotility agent).

Stay well hydrated and, if you start feeling really horrible, don't hesitate to visit a nearby clinic.\

Probiotic OTC in Mexico: "Sinuberase" is always avail. in Chedraui's pharmacy dept. Wonderful stuff! Chewable tab; safe for children & pets.

Cipro requires a prescription in Mexico. Many broad-spectrum antibiotics are sold without scrip. Problem is, antibiotics sometimes cause diarrhea as a side effect and you should be diligent about limiting your sun exposure while taking them.

Loperamide is also OTC in Mexico - various brand names, ask the pharmacist for assistance & compare labels.

[gpatz]

Nice report, my wife and I will be leaving tomorrow night on the redeye. You answered a question I asked several days ago. So far, it looks like my wife and I are the only divers going out all week with the dive Op I booked with. I'm sorry to hear that the business is still hurting for the locals, but to be honest we are looking forward to the exclusive service.

[ggunn]

Cipro requires a prescription in Mexico.

If that's true it has changed recently. Three years ago I got very ill on Cozumel and my sister (a nurse) got Cipro for me OTC at Chedraui.