On the subject of cruise divers, our very first dives after openwater were in Cozumel and we arrived on a cruise ship. There were 4 of us including one jr diver limited to 60 feet. Since there were four of us and we were cruisers (we really didn't know any better) we chartered our own boat for not much more than 4 divers at the normal rate. The DWM boat was a short walk from the cruise ship pier and was waiting on us when we arrived. Getting off the ship was a lengthy process just trying to get 4000 people or so out one door and I'm an "on time" kind of guy so I was a little frazzled to begin with. In typical Cozumel style, the DWM crew was absolutely laid back and had expected us to be late getting off the boat. 10 minutes later, we were on our way.
The dive was a nightmare for the DM. One daughter wanted to cover about 8 feet on the bottom for the entire dive, one daughter wanted to cover the entire Carribbean in one dive, then did summersaults and lost her weights. I spent my dive trying to tell one daughter to hurry up and trying to chase the other down and bring her back...into a mild current. Surface interval was spent discussing the importance of staying together. The second dive went exactly the same. Lol. I tipped well.
i can laugh about it now. If we were typical cruise divers, I can't blame an op for running in the opposite direction. I'm sure our DM drank heavily that night! And for clarification, im not saying the OP was anywhere near as bad as we were...or even bad at all. I am saying that we were the stereotypical cruise ship divers. I hang my head in shame....
We found Aldora 2 trips later (we fly now) and haven't found a reason to change since. I can see both sides of this issue and can agree with both on some level. I have a high stress job and work hard for my vacation time. I consider it selling my soul and pieces of my life so my family can live a comfortable lifestyle and I can afford to go diving 2-4 times a year. What may be just another day at the office for service providers in Cozumel, is the one week I have before going back to work. In that light, I am more sensitive to issues like this, but have also found Aldora absolutely willing to resolve issues in my favor, usually not charged for dives or Nitrox. Jorge in the diveshop, has always been great, even staying an hour late to meet us the night before our dives due to travel delays. Whatever he is paid, it's not enough.
good luck to the OP, Aldora is not for everyone, Dive With Martin, Blue Magic, 3p's, Blue XTSea, and about 100 or so other dive ops are available. My standard comment when someone asks, "What's the best dive op" is that it takes time to find the best dive op FOR YOU. They all do something a little different. Cost, tank size, SI time and location, departure point, boat size, number of divers, departure time, surface strategy, entry style, services provided (valet or traditional) and all the variables that go with that, standard dive sites included, port closure alternatives, nude diving rules, warhammer procedures, and any other operational differences make each dive op uniquely perfect for someone and a disaster for others. I'm sure you will find the perfect one for you, it just takes lots of dive trips...which is a good thing!
OP, I'll happily buy you a Bohemia Obscura at the Thirsty Cougar should we find ourselves in Coz. If not, I'll drink one in your honor in October...then one for Dave....then you...then Dave...then me...then Big Bird...then Christian the bartender....the Sharif the DM....then Dario.... then I'll stumble back for a nights sleep to get ready to dive again!
Safe travels,
Jay
The dive was a nightmare for the DM. One daughter wanted to cover about 8 feet on the bottom for the entire dive, one daughter wanted to cover the entire Carribbean in one dive, then did summersaults and lost her weights. I spent my dive trying to tell one daughter to hurry up and trying to chase the other down and bring her back...into a mild current. Surface interval was spent discussing the importance of staying together. The second dive went exactly the same. Lol. I tipped well.
i can laugh about it now. If we were typical cruise divers, I can't blame an op for running in the opposite direction. I'm sure our DM drank heavily that night! And for clarification, im not saying the OP was anywhere near as bad as we were...or even bad at all. I am saying that we were the stereotypical cruise ship divers. I hang my head in shame....
We found Aldora 2 trips later (we fly now) and haven't found a reason to change since. I can see both sides of this issue and can agree with both on some level. I have a high stress job and work hard for my vacation time. I consider it selling my soul and pieces of my life so my family can live a comfortable lifestyle and I can afford to go diving 2-4 times a year. What may be just another day at the office for service providers in Cozumel, is the one week I have before going back to work. In that light, I am more sensitive to issues like this, but have also found Aldora absolutely willing to resolve issues in my favor, usually not charged for dives or Nitrox. Jorge in the diveshop, has always been great, even staying an hour late to meet us the night before our dives due to travel delays. Whatever he is paid, it's not enough.
good luck to the OP, Aldora is not for everyone, Dive With Martin, Blue Magic, 3p's, Blue XTSea, and about 100 or so other dive ops are available. My standard comment when someone asks, "What's the best dive op" is that it takes time to find the best dive op FOR YOU. They all do something a little different. Cost, tank size, SI time and location, departure point, boat size, number of divers, departure time, surface strategy, entry style, services provided (valet or traditional) and all the variables that go with that, standard dive sites included, port closure alternatives, nude diving rules, warhammer procedures, and any other operational differences make each dive op uniquely perfect for someone and a disaster for others. I'm sure you will find the perfect one for you, it just takes lots of dive trips...which is a good thing!
OP, I'll happily buy you a Bohemia Obscura at the Thirsty Cougar should we find ourselves in Coz. If not, I'll drink one in your honor in October...then one for Dave....then you...then Dave...then me...then Big Bird...then Christian the bartender....the Sharif the DM....then Dario.... then I'll stumble back for a nights sleep to get ready to dive again!
Safe travels,
Jay