Operator offering 3 daily dives? And lodging with meal plan?

[elora_c]

I'm considering a return (solo) trip to Cozumel this October and am struggling with a good combination of lodging + diving. Last time I stayed at Scuba Club Cozumel and while I enjoyed many things about it, the main drawback was I only got in 2 dives a day. I signed up for the afternoon dive each day, but no one else ever did, so there was no trip. I'm not outgoing, so doing a shore dive with someone else at the resort isn't really viable. I did like the fact that there was a full meal plan as I didn't want to venture out on my own to find restaurants. I had no problems with the food.

This time, though, I would like to try to guarantee 2 morning dives and an afternoon dive. I've only found Dive Paradise at Hotel Cozumel, Pro Dive at Allegro, and Dressel Divers at Ibero. Since the dive sites are in the south, staying to the south to get in that afternoon dive seems logical. Of the three, Ibero seems the best. At least on TA; on here, it doesn't seem as well regarded. And Pro Dive told me I wouldn't be able to do morning dives the day after I arrive, which I'd never heard before.

So, I'm asking the experts for recommendations given the following:
Dive op:
1) 3 daily dives (2-tank morning, 1-tank afternoon). I'm not interested in the 2-tank mornings, and 2-tank twilight/night options.
2) Dive your own computer (not having to ascend as a group)
3) Will let me "buddy" up with the DM instead of another solo stranger
Nice to haves:
4) Knowledgeable DMs who are good at pointing out critters
5) Takes care of equipment between days (or at least has a locker to store it)
6) Fast boat w/ shade (a better criteria would be a morning trip that gives enough time to eat lunch before the afternoon trip)

Lodging:
1) Prefer somewhere that offers a full meal-plan. If not, then at least an on-site restaurant (w/ breakfast)
2) Convenient to the above-selected dive op
3) Wifi (or gets good service from T-Mobile's network

Just a little more background: I am Nitrox and AOW certified. 29 logged dives. I have dived T&C, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

Thanks!
Carole

 

[MMM]

With only 29 logged dives under your belt. unless you are an amazing prodigy, I wouldn't worry too much about your #2 point. Your air consumption likely isn't good enough for this to be an issue; in fact you might be ascending BEFORE the rest of the group and you need to take that into consideration as to how you will handle that (are you proficient at sending up your own surface marker)?. That also makes #3 an improbability as the DM will most likely need to ascend long after you. Most of the well recommended ops op this forum will meet your #4, 5, and 6 criteria.

You might want to look at Blue Angel as it has an on-site restaurant and on-site dive op and wifi.

 

[elora_c]

On my previous trip, I was always the last one to ascend, with the DM, and I would have 700-1300 psi left. Those were 45-60 minute dives, 50'-90' depth. So air consumption is not a concern. Being forced to go up because of someone else's consumption is a concern.

I didn't see that Blue Angel offers 3 dives; I'll look again. Thanks!

 

[MMM]

On my previous trip, I was always the last one to ascend, with the DM, and I would have 700-1300 psi left. Those were 45-60 minute dives, 50'-90' depth. So air consumption is not a concern.

Sounds like you might be good on air. Just curious...were those average depths or maximum depths?

 

[Oldbear]

Sounds like you might be good on air. Just curious...were those average depths or maximum depths?

What size of tank were your using? Useful thing to log in your log book to help you comparatively analyze your gas consumption.

When I first started out I didn't even realize that different Dive Operators used different size tanks as they all looked the same to me between vacation dive trips, e.g. Al63 and Al80.

 

[Midge907]

Are you not interested in doing a 2-tank afternoon dive at all? On my last trip I stayed at Casa Mexicana where they offered a free and very large breakfast buffet. For dinner there is a large mix of easy to get to restaurants within about 100 yards. One of my favorites is the Thirsty Cougar and Marijuana " the restaurant" for being real close to the Mexicana, their sister hotel is the Bahia and its even closer to the Cougar, yet still comes with the Mexicanas breakfast buffet. As far as diving I dove with Tres Pelicanos, and did a 2-tank morning diver every day, and then alternated doing the 2-tank afternoon, and the 2-tank twilight/night. If your already going out for a 1-tank afternoon dive, you might as well do a 2-tank afternoon dive as the boats are willing to go further south. Hope that helps.

 

[Oldbear]

...And Pro Dive told me I wouldn't be able to do morning dives the day after I arrive, which I'd never heard before....Thanks!
Carole

What is Decompression: Diving After Flying — Medical Dive Article — DAN | Divers Alert Network

Mild dehydration can occur on long flights, especially when travelers cross several time zones; alcohol consumption can also contribute to dehydration. Generally speaking, dehydration is thought to predispose a diver to decompression illness because the washout of inert gas (nitrogen, in diving) is less effective in a dehydrated individual.

If there were a relationship between diving after flying and DCI, we would expect to see a great deal of decompression illness on the very first day of diving indeed, some data suggests that there are more accidents on the first day of a planned multiday dive trip. Of the 88 cases reviewed from the Caribbean for 1994, 33 or 37.5 percent occurred on the first day. The remainder occurred on days two through seven. Given that there are thousands of tourist divers who fly to Caribbean and Pacific dive sites, these numbers are far too small to establish a cause and effect.
Although no one can insist upon a 24-hour waiting period after flying, such a conservative approach to diving after flying is a reasonable idea it gives divers an opportunity to rehydrate, adjust to a new climate and time zone, and rest up after a long flight.
DAN - Medical

Carole,

Of all of the health related factors that contribute to Decompression Sickness, dehydration is the easiest to combat, yet one to the most frequently ignored factors in my opinion. Time and time again I have seen people dive all day long and then just sip a few drinks from a water bottle, all while tell the story of how they partied the night before.

You should start to drink water at least 24 hours BEFORE your first dive. This will keep you hydrated and thus a good blood supply and flow, which is the Ni super highway in and out of our tissues. Diving in the salt water ocean itself will draw water out of our systems just by exposure. So the resorts might prefer you do not dive the first day you are there due to the dry air on most commercial airplanes and how it can dehydrate people...they are just playing safe on your behalf.

 

[redacted]

Years ago, I used to stay at the Grand or Alegro when their house op was Dive Palancar. They were fairly restrictive with bottom time but did 4 single tank trips daily. We did long morning dives wth Blue XT and then an afternoon dive with DP. They are not at the Grand/Alegro any more and I would not recommend Pro Dive. I believe DP are now operating in one or more of the resorts around Secrets.

But SCC is really quite good if you take advantage of their shore dive. It is silly to pay for a pm boat dive there. It is a very easy solo dive.

 

[gopbroek]

The limiting factor is the single afternoon dive daily. Most valet types ops that allow you to dive your tank do their dives by 2 tank trips. If operating from the Marina or town the distances to the park use a lot of fuel and fuel in Mexico is not only questionable in quality it is very expensive (as much as the left coast or more). I dive with Tres Pelicanos and they match every other requirement especially allowing you to dive your tank and not forcing you to pair with an insta buddy. While I also would like a 3 tank schedule, I normally try to run a 2x4x2x....... schedule. With bottom times typically at 65 - 75 minutes I have to run mostly nitrox to sustain it.
If you do plan to dive your tank, a SMB is a good idea.

 

[imoto]

I've stayed at the Iberostar 4 times and mainly dove with Dressel. I did do 3 two tank AM dives with Dive with Martin this past trip though.

Dressel: You could actually do two AM and two afternoon dives each day. Free nitrox (they seem to prefer their divers to be using nitrox). Diving your own computer might be a problem. I've had times where my dive was cut short because the buddy I was paired with was an air hog, and times that I surfaced with the DM. So #2 on your list might not be guaranteed. They dive a schedule, and most of their boats (up to 3 or 4) show up at the same sites pretty much together. There can be as many as three different groups on one boat, and while there seems to be enough space on the boat for everyone, I have experienced an underwater bottleneck where the groups get together because of something interesting (nurse shark and green moray together).

You return to the resort after every dive, and the boat rides are short. Dressel is very safety conscious. There are lockers to store your gear, and a place to hang your wetsuit.

Iberostar offers free wifi. There are a lot of divers at the resort and it shouldn't be too hard to find folks to talk to. (I'm fairly shy as well).

I find that going into my trips with the attitude of getting the most bang for the buck tends to spoil my fun sometimes. I find myself competing internally with my wallet instead of focusing on being in paradise doing one of my favorite things.

I like the fact that Dressel will give vouchers for dives missed or not taken (with advance notice).

The next time I stay at Iberostar I'll also book half my dives with Dressel and try the other half with one of the ops often recommended on this board (3P's or Aldora perhaps).

Hope this gives you a bit of information.