Scuba Mau

[MMM]

BTW MMM, it's MagnaBoxer, but I'm flattered none the less.

Oops, sorry. I've never been really good with real human names...much less even made up board names!

 

[MagnaBoxer]

MagnaB I do appreciate you sharing the problems with us. I saw this go up as I was leaving for a while and figured it'd get lively while I was gone. I have a few comments not intended to be critical of you, ScubaMau, Villablanca, or anyone else posting here, even tho the way I talk/type at times can seem caustic - I don't mean to be so, just some comments.

I'm sure FD will convey your problems to Opal & Mau and this is great. They need to know and strive to do much better rather than resting on laurels of happy customers. I know about some improvements that Mau had in mind last summer, but more is better.

It sounds like there was a personnel problem that week. These happen as an Op has to manage his employees but then give them rein, and problems come up. I had problems with a skipper at BA in March 2009, shrugged them off, then had the same skipper in August 2009 when my Spanish literate bud went with me - and told me what the skipper was saying about us. Like you, I stuck it out, but it does reduce enjoyment. And I know that some of the people I have worked under over the years have had customers complain about me. It happens. I hope Opal & Mau can figure out who the problem was that week and put a stop to that or him if needed.

I remember reading when you posted about the problem at BA, but never figured who it was that you were talking about. Makes for an uncomfortable situation I'm sure.

That sucks. I'm not much on shore diving myself so never have experienced that anywhere, but I guess it happens. Mau told me he was working on getting his own compressor. I'd told him about the CO problems I'd had on the tanks from the big fill station and encouraged him to budget in a Clear monitor. I know he has a tank analyzer of his own now, and the big station is installing a Clear, but don't have full details on progress.

Don't proclaim to be any sort of a photographer, but do immensely enjoy UW photography. Especially macro, so I can spend day after day shore diving the same site looking for little critters. Two tank boat dive in the morning, then afternoon shore dive is the norm for me. I know some might not care for it, but it was suppose to be part of my package and to be told there were "no tanks for shore diving" was a deal breaker for me.

I don't know when you were there, where you're from, or how experienced you are. Profiles help in discussions, but some don't.

Haha, I have an easy answer for that caca: "Do you like tips?" If that didn't work, I would have found Opal & Mau and put a stop to it at that level. For my trip, the were very agreeable to taking us where I ask, contingent on the other divers agreeing - which did take some juggling as expected, but we went across the channel one day, north one day, etc - no extra charge, unlike some other Ops.

Yeah well, my wife thinks they all deserve money and handed it over daily. I personally feel it should be earned, but that is another discussion.

Hey, I hope that guy is already history, and I understand your feelings. I wouldn't have put up with it as much as you did, and - maybe you shouldn't have. I have a hunch none of this will happen again, thanks to your report.

The little cafe there is a one man operation at times, and the guy is likable but the breakfasts were free on my deal. The buildings are old, not really built for us gringos and our paper flushing habits, but while I didn't have that problem - I have at BA and other hotels, and my house this week. Yeah, got to have those plungers quickly at times.

SM seems to be very agreeable to helping divers who want to stay other places, going beyond usual to help. We picked up one diver at Hotel Coz every day.

Oh wow! You got to do the Pit?! Great dive. Too bad about the DM. Mine took us to 130 ft and I dipped down to 140 for the shot of the bones. It's a hike for sure, but the Op I used had a 4wd to carry the gear. Sounds like another area for improvement, or they need to avoid such?

It was a neat experience, but could have been so much better. Damn sure wasn't worth the over 500 we spent.

I'm confused, exactly how much did you pay for how many cenote dives & transportation from the PDC ferry for how many people? It's an expensive day, I know.

Sorry, I didn't convey that very well. The cost of the two cenote dives was 40 X dollars, paid to SM, as well as 110 X 3 paid to the dive op on the other side for a total of 150.00 X 3. We paid for the ferry going and coming. Wife got the tickets so I'm not sure what they cost.

I've never seen a camera bucket on a 6 pack boat that I can remember, but I can only remember BA & SM experiences really. I know am told they will furnish one on request but I always used my own bag and a wet T-shirt. Now I know to ask.

Oh that happens all over Coz and Mexico. If you did not use the card anywhere else, that is suspicious - I agree. Someone got your number somehow. I'm confident it was not Opal or Mau, but can't say who or how. I've had it happen enough that I avoid using my main card. I negotiate cash discounts as much as possible, pay in US bills, and use a special debit card for additional money from Atms if needed.

You don't list your location or experiences either. Have you dived Cozumel? Yes, you have to ask for a bucket on small boats and yes caca happens requiring plungers. Happens at my house too like I said.

Well, thanks for the discussion. I'm looking forward to diving with SM again ASAP, but will be watchful for problems and quick solutions. I hope Magna is happy with his next Op. No one can please them all, but they try - usually the DMs most of all hoping for tips that most of us furnish, but I've had some bad ones here and there over the years. Again, gracias.

Thanks for your input DD.

 

[firstdive2005]

Magnaboxer-There are reasons I wanted to know which dm it was, if it was Eduardo he was the dm that had the diver bolt to the top while having a coronary. He died. Eddy was fresh back to dming, unfortunately he was overprotective and clearly not presenting like he normally had been and is doing now. This needs to be brought to Opal, Eddy is a favored dm. I have mad hundreds of dives with him. He is a wonderful person. I'm sad you guys did not connect.
I also was not insinuating anything about your dive prowess. I tried to find out a little about you from previous threads, so I knew you have some experience diving. If you took offense, then I apologize, it's hard for me to be sweet in print.
I thought I was clear I had tank issues once with Opal, a couple times a BA. They did help me out at each place by giving me a free night dive as I recall. I asked them for the free night dive in loo of the shore dive loss. not a problem for me. Some would.
And yes ASK for the bucket do you know how many people dont put one in a bucket, lots. I carry several cameras, some go in a bucket, one goes in a special insulated bag. I always make sure my kit is looked after, it is the divers responsibility to make sure. It's a small boat if they can get away without one they will. If they need one because someone asks they will put it on. Last December I was diving with a dude from Montreal and his camera kit was just huge, he was given a storage box to put his in. It was a pain in the butt for us on the boat but we put up with it. He asked.
The reason I asked about prices is there a several levels of pricing that Opal has to deal with, some stuff here, some there, it's always different. Not by much but she tries to get everyone a great deal.
Good on ya for being ok with the cenote hike. Sorry about your wife and other lady friend, and yes a huge ball got dropped there.

I know you will get back to the island and have fun there. I am sad that you wont let Opal fix the matter. I have had clients give me another shot, I kissed there a$$ because they where worth it. They got a great deal the second time around I tell ya. But now they know that it was a one time thing.
Thanks for putting the stuff out there, all of us can now see/understand your issue, I wish we could hear theirs. All I know is if you didnt do anything to pi$$ anyone off then you can bet your bottom dollar she would correct the past with great dives in the future. kevin.

 

[firstdive2005]

MMM yes it's the same Victor.

 

[DandyDon]

Wait I see now: $150 each for transportation, admissions, 2 cenote dives, and lunch is about right I think, maybe less if you set it up yourself someplaces? Add $25 each for ferries plus Cozumel taxis = expensive day, yeah. Sorry you didn't get a better cenote Op. Too bad you had to hump your gear to the Pit, then didn't get to the bones.

​

I loved the 30 ft drop into the Pit, the climb out, the Hydrogen sulfide bacteria level, etc.

Where was your second dive?

 

[firstdive2005]

Magnaboxer- where you diving in a drysuit by chance, just curious.

 

[suprane]

I am seriously thinking of using these folk myself in a few weeks. I am interested in hearing both the good and the bad, as it both helps me make an educated decision, and prepares me better to resolve any issues that might arise.

Use Aldora and you'll be a lot happier when it is all said and done!

 

[suprane]

As I said earlier, I believe this was one of their guys. Please don't try to shift the focus by making insinuations regarding my dive experience. You don't know me, or have any inkling as to my training or skills.

Just a thought....... It might be helpful if you filled out your profile and listed your attributes and training.
Then nobody will have any questions about them.

 

[cvchief]

I loved the ...., the Hydrogen sulfide bacteria level, etc.

?????

 

[DandyDon]

?????

Organic debris drops into cenotes and produces hydrogren sulfide that bacteria consume. There is a layer on descent so thick that it looks like a purplish cloud in the water. Saw a lesser amount in the next cave we did at Eden too. In some cave explorations divers will experience rotten egg smell and/or skin irritation, but we didn't. There is also a snot like H2S2 bacteria colony found in some deeper caves, and the sulfuric acid helps form some caves. Have you dived any of the cenotes?

The Pit is a rare treat. Most have to hump their gear on a bulldozed path in from a dirt road maybe 1,000 feet away, but my Op had a 4wd he used to haul ours in while we walked. You drop about 30 ft from the stride to splash, I lied to my bud and told him we did that high of strides in NC but then I went first, careful to lean your head forward so you don't hit your valve on impact, and either leave your BC empty or if inflated careful to not inhale until you surface. Cameras are lowered on a small rope pulley. At the end of the dive, 2 of us left our kits floating with the others, scrambled a steep path with the aid of a rope, then used a larger rope pulley to pull up gear and the small one again to pull up cameras.

My questionable photo skills did not capture the bacteria glow in the sunbeams and I was in such awe of the opening that I didn't think to get shots of it, but you can find various youtubes on the Pit at Dos Ojos.

Too bad that his DM was on Nitrox so they couldn't get down to the bones, but still a wonderful dive.