Am I being silly?

[MauiScubaSteve]

BTW I took a number of brand new divers here and everyone of them loved it! It was there first time without an instructor after being certified! All came back and all had big smiles!

BTW, if YOU took them then it wasn't really their first time without an instructor was it? Or maybe this does make sense?

 

[Papa_Bear]

Without their instructors! And the DMs do all the work as well as all dives except shore are guided!

 

[webjr]

Try to find a operator that specializes in groups. If you book through the cruise ship you will be stuck on a cattle boat and that will only make the experience worse. Try contacting Scuba Diving in Cozumel with Cristina She usualy has only 4 to 6 people on her boat and is top notch at making new divers feel comfortable. Keep in mind diving in Cozumel is usualy called "Lazy Diving" . It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I can tell you the cattle boats are the snorkelers! Not that many will be on the SCUBA portion! First they limit the number because in Cozumel they have a rule about the number of divers per DM! So I would just go with the flow like the diving it's self and that way you don't have to worry about missing the boat! LESS STRESS!

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

I can tell you the cattle boats are the snorkelers! Not that many will be on the SCUBA portion! First they limit the number because in Cozumel they have a rule about the number of divers per DM! So I would just go with the flow like the diving it's self and that way you don't have to worry about missing the boat! LESS STRESS!

This is incorrect. The marine park does have a maximum 8 divers per divemaster rule (I believe it's 6ppl/DM on night dives), but that does not prohibit the cattle boats from having more than one DM per boat.

 

[Papa_Bear]

How many people have you seen on the cruse (Dive) boat? The number is never what I would call a cattle boat! Not with the economy as it is! Next the operator it may be Sand Dollar has their own rules! It maybe ten to one, but I have never seen unescorted divers on the reef! But thanks for reassuring him, you been very helpful

 

[dpaustex]

It's your call. Cozumel is generally crystal clear. The drifts are nice, as you go with a guide/DM, and just get neutrally buoyant and enjoy the ride. There are areas in which the current isn't too bad.

But if you're not comfortable with it, don't push yourself. However, if you go, simply tell the operator that you are a new diver, have never done a drift dive, etc., as they'll take good care of you.

Once you do it, you'll love it.

But you're being smart to be concerned. Main thing is relax and have fun. But if your buoyancy is decent, I'd at least go talk to the operator.

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

How many people have you seen on the cruse boat? The number is never what I would call a cattle boat! Not with the economy as it is! Next the operator it may be Sand Dollar has their own rules! It maybe ten to one, but I have never seen unescorted divers on the reef! But thanks for reassuring him, you been very helpful

I'm not speculating here. This is what I see. Cozumel is where I live and dive 9-10 months out of the year. I doubt much has changed in the 3 weeks I've had to be back at my house in the States. I don't believe the OP is a chimney, so I have no intention of blowing smoke up his rear-end. Below is a previous post of mine in this thread. As you can see, I believe Cozumel is a good place for new divers. I just don't recommend booking through the cruise line if it means using a cattle boat operation. Of which, Sand Dollar is one of them. Sand Dollar is notorious for packing as many people as they legally can on their boats (some boats are close to 50'). From a business perspective, I don't blame them. But, from the perspective of a diver, I wouldn't recommend them for newbies.

Your experience will depend greatly on who you choose as a dive op. If you book through the cruise ship, chances are you're going to be put on a cattle boat with 25-30 new buddies. Not good for a new diver. If you dive with a dive op that uses go fast boats with 6-8 ppl, and tell them you're a new diver, I think you'd have a good time with a more attentive DM. Cozumel diving is pretty friendly diving. And my guess is that once you hit the water, you'll wonder why you were ever apprehensive.

Also check-out the Cozumel Forum if you haven't already.

 

[I Dive]

Am I being silly? I’m going on a cruise at the end of the month and had originally planed to dive in Cozumel, but as it gets closer I’m Terrified at the thought of drift diving. I just got certified over the summer and all my dives have been fresh water quarries. What should I do? I’m almost to the point of just taking a discover scuba in Cozumel so that I can get my feet wet so to speak…I’m not afraid of diving in fact I’m very excited to be diving in Ft Lauderdale post cruise, I’ll be there for 3 days and plan to dive day 2 and 3. I just can’t over come this fear, not to mention the fact that I know they will push me beyond my training (i.e. go to deep)

HELP!!!!

Sean

You will be silly (idiotic?) to do a dive you are unsure of. You are never silly to call a dive you are unsure of.

 

[blackcloud]

I have made 3 cruises so far that I have used the cruise ships dive boats and so far I have not been on a boat with more than 10 divers I just haven't seen these so called cattle boat conditions that people speak of. I have been on some boats that I didn't care for either the operator or some of the sites chosen but that is my opinion and others on the same dive boat thought they were great.