Restore my confidence in Cozumel

[Chris66]

I have always loved diving Coz and felt that it had a special place in the diving world. I always thought that almost with few exceptions that all the dive ops were excellent, that the DM's were superb, the captains were superb and the environmetn safe however the events of late have me really rattled. Here I refer obviously to the Scuba Mau incedent. I am not referring to the specific divers (even though one wasthe owner of the dive op) and certainly not the downwellings (which although the need to be taken seriously, were CLEARLY not the cause of this misadventure. What I am referring to is some of the stuff that seems to be coming out (granted some of it in heresay) about DM's offering deep dives to customers off the clocks and of dive ops without insurance and of diveops inadequately equipped for emergencies both with equipment (enough oxygen) and with contingency plans (no recall plans etc). And of boat captains maybe not bieng as attentive as they should be...Please tell me that I am just bieng emotional at this time and that this is not the case... I realize this is all coming out of one incedent but this is a dive op that has always been considred to be in the top 5 dive ops??

Chris

 

[judydivescoz]

There are lots of choices for Dive Ops in Cozumel. Pick one, check around and most importantly, never dive when you feel uncomfortable. Its OK to say no. We have been diving in Cozumel for the past 10 years now up to 3 or 4 times a year and have never been asked to dive beyond our comfort level. I plan on continuing with that philosophy.
I have never dove with or even met the folks from Scuba Mau, regardless of the circumstances of their accident, they are in my thoughts and prayers hoping that they all recover.

 

[Brules]

You are being emotional, and irrational. All of it pretty much hearsay, especially the part about DM's offering dives off the clock. This whole incident seemed to be an off the clock/friends dive - so I wouldnt worry about it being normal by any means.

Even if some DM's would do it behind a shops back or off the clocl, which is possible, so what? It is obviously something that does not happen during normal business hours, and does not effect 99.99999999999% of us who visit and dive there. If someone wants to tempt fate and do something insane, on their own time and dime and they find a DM crazy enough to do it - so what? It doesn't make Cozumel any less safe or worse off.

Everything is pretty much 2nd hand, details are shady, and if ANYTHING this incident will probably make all the opperators, DMs, shop owners and boat drivers that much safer. I can imagine every owner has had a conversation with their employees about this incident and I can hope/guess that NOT doing something similiar has been made clear. Incidents like this tend to make people more aware and re-evaluate common practices, so hopefully that is the case here as well.

Don't worry and dive on!

 

[njones259]

What's to restore?First off cozumel is one of the finest places to dive in the world and has great dive ops.It is totally up to the diver to have insurance and decide what type of diving they will do.I have never done a dive that I didn't feel comfortable with.
I have dove with Scuba mau for 3 years love everyone there and will continue to dive with them if they continue to stay in business.I left coz the morning of the accident and saw them right before they went out on the boat,everybody was in good spirits and looking forward to a great day of diving.
As divers it is up to us to make our own choices.I know Heath liked dives that were more aggrssive and dove a reasonable profile nothing crazy like 250 feet.As far as mexican insurance goes I would venture to say it is probably useless.

 

[Nursediver]

I am a big believer in personal responsibility. You make your choices. Don't make reckless ones and chances are you will be fine. The most valuable piece of dive equipment is your brain. If someone offers a reckless dive, just say no.

 

[Insta-Gator]

Dive according to your training, skill and good judgement. With that said, you can dive anywhere you like, irrespective of the location or dive ops.

 

[driftin' by]

So a rogue DM offers to take you to 400fsw, are you going to submit like some lemming? For real?!?!

I realize this is all coming out of one incedent but this is a dive op that has always been considred to be in the top 5 dive ops??

One of the top 5 least expensive, yes which would certainly lend to their popularity but probably not a top operator in terms of quality service.

All of it pretty much hearsay, especially the part about DM's offering dives off the clock.

It's not all hearsay. The DM has made a post here on SB about the details which collaborates with much of the hearsay. The only hearsay at this point is the report of a down-current.

Nevertheless, you correct that this kind of dive isn't going to take place on a customer dive outing and to think or worry that you might get caught up in such reckless diving is foolish.

 

[Mark Derail]

It's normal that a very popular dive destination will attract the most attention.

It's like saying you won't drive through Manhattan because New York has a higher car crash ratio than Montpelier, Vermont.

I did my referrals and first 10 dives in Feb 2011 in and around Cozumel. I had confidence in my PADI training and my own gear.

 

[Jax]

Please tell me that I am just bieng emotional at this time and that this is not the case...
Chris

You're being emotional.

You do not need confidence in Cozumel. You need confidence in yourself.

You need only the self-confidence to decline going further than your training and comfort level allow. Please don't forget that Coz is a FABULOUS place to practice that.

 

[Jax]

It's like saying you won't drive through Manhattan because New York has a higher car crash ratio than Montpelier, Vermont.

I think that is a damn fine reason to not drive through Manhattan!