Scuba Diving newbie

YeHa, my wife and I just completed our four open water dives, decided to just stay in Cancun because it was close to the resort and they picked us up right on the beach. Very nice coral reefs and saw lots of beautiful fish. Funny story: the fist day we were picked up by a nice 42ft center console with twin 250s, when I asked the instructor about the boat he said it was confiscated by the Mexican government because some Columbians got caught running drugs. The owner of the dive shop took the president of Mexico out diving and the president gave him the boat for taking him on a nice dive. Now they are friends.....I wonder what else they trade for?
Can't wait to go diving again but not in Lake Michigan...To darn cold!
 
I miss diving vacations. Haven't done one in far too long.

When I was last diving in Cozumel we did a deep dive on the reef where it drops off right after the reef down maybe to 800 ft plus. Neat dive, but very eery looking out and down at the deep blue. I think it might have been Palancar, but I can't recall for sure.

Then two days later on a very windy day, we went on a fishing charter and the captain went to what seemed to be the very same spot and we set up and trolled right off that same reef. We were nailing Blackfin tuna, but a very large portion of them never made it to the boat. The sharks were taking them off our line. I have a few pictures of severed & bloody blackfins that we brought in. At the time my buddies and I were commenting on how remarkably similar in size they were to a human thigh. We were glad that the fishing was AFTER the dive trips.
 
Craigalan said:
If you are looking for five star diving, but still accessible for newbies, I would recommend Grand Cayman as well as the West and South sides of Puerto Rico. For the PR dives, you can time yourself to be there for the Whale migrations. That will change your life. Ive been diving for almost 20years and its still one of my favorite sites. For the total experience, investigate dives at Desecheo island on the west side of PR.
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im heading down to pr feb 10th-17th.. when is this whale migration u speak of? Im bringing my gf down for her first dive any preference on were to bring her? If I head out alone for a more advanced dive (im padi certified) were should I go? Were staying in san Juan. Thanks
 
Head over to Rincon and visit Taino Divers. First rate operation who charter to Desecheo Island. The Whales migrate usually Feb-March. It will be a life changing event to witness such a rare site on a killer scuba diving trip. Go for it.
 
For the GF, maybe take the ferry over to Vieques island. There are some excellent easy dives and its a nice little romantic spot to spend the night. Of course, its on the other side of the island from Rincon, but its a small island and a nice little few day road trip.
 
They are frickin crazy in Cancun. Be careful as a new diver. Follow the safety rules and procedures you've been trained and precheck your buddy. Don't rely on the dive instructors. Valves on 100%, no leaks from your o-rings, know where your octopus is and your dive buddy's too. Be sure you have those down. Open water in the winter is rough as hell down there and it is usually a haul before you drop. The currents are strong, so they will either have you go down a mooring chain which is exhausting or have you drop like a rock. You need to be prepared and well trained. If you you get sea sick know how to puke underwater.
 
JV II said:
If you you get sea sick know how to puke underwater.
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Now that's a funny thing to witness!
I dont trust Anybody esp certain countries( that I won't single out) with my life. I've been brought out in less theb favorable conditions 2 foot rollers but by the time I resurfaced it was 5 foot breakers. Not fun at all to board in this conditions. Also always do your own math when it comes to surface intervals while on resort dives. The faster they get you off the boat the sooner they can make more money.
Ie. Belize. First dive 45 foot reef 50 minutes at the sand. Second dive scheduled for 30 foot reef but waves were building so he stopped and told us we were doing an 80 foot wreck only 20 minutes later. For those who know how to do the math that's a big no no. I opted to stay onboard for the second dive. Everybody turned out fine but not a chance I wanted to take. Only to find out the cruise we were on had over booked dive company that day and they were posing fir the second trip.
 
Resort dive trips can be risky if you dont assert yourself. The operators never want to cancel, regardless of conditions. Trying to catch a swim ladder on a boat moving up and down the waves in 8 foot swings (4ft waves) is scary. And generally people are in the water puking by that time.

The other risk is the new divers that want to prove how "experienced they are" and push the divemaster to do consecutive deep dives at the limits of the dive tables. Then someone in the party separates too much and it takes 3 or 4 minutes extra to assemble the group to surface, stretching the limits. Then you repeat. Its much better to do some research and find a local divemaster with a good reputation with truly experienced divers at the same level as you are.
 
Creekwood said:
Resort dive trips can be risky if you dont assert yourself. The operators never want to cancel, regardless of conditions. Trying to catch a swim ladder on a boat moving up and down the waves in 8 foot swings (4ft waves) is scary. And generally people are in the water puking by that time.

The other risk is the new divers that want to prove how "experienced they are" and push the divemaster to do consecutive deep dives at the limits of the dive tables. Then someone in the party separates too much and it takes 3 or 4 minutes extra to assemble the group to surface, stretching the limits. Then you repeat. Its much better to do some research and find a local divemaster with a good reputation with truly experienced divers at the same level as you are.
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:smt038 diving, although extremely fun and exciting is very dangerous. It should be taken very seriously but yet you must also make sure you enjoy what your spending your time abd money on. Take all necessary precautions, remember your training and enjoy it. For all those new divers reading don't let Any of this scare you but let it educate you. Other people's experiences is the second best way to learn and save your own ass in an emergency. I would consider myself to be an extreme sports enthusiast. I skydive base jump and dive. And although I've seen people make mistakes causing every injury from cuts and bruises to paralysis to death. But nothing takes me away from what I love to do I just learn from there mistakes and make sure I don't make the same ones. (No more base jumping or skydiving tho. Having my daughter forced me to stop. She needs me more then I need the rush) that being said happy diving and enjoy the view!
 
Creekwood said:
Trying to catch a swim ladder on a boat moving up and down the waves in 8 foot swings (4ft waves) is scary.
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Dive ladder? What dive ladder. You fall backwards over the gunwale and to get back in take off your BC and a fat Mexican hauls you back in the boat like a corpse.
This is what they took me out in for a 45 minute slog out to the wreck. https://vivalapazblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/whale-boats.jpg
To them, the 4 foot seas are normal. They were all drinking beer on the return trip. "What's the matter gringo, no cervesa!!?"

I've done 3 dives there and they were all the same chaos. You have to restore order yourself.
 
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Dive ladder is a longer than normal swim platform ladder with a single pole and rungs that stick out to the sides so you can climb with fins on.
 

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Good for you guys! My wife was never interested until we went snorkeling in Mexico. She had a great time and now would try diving. I've been a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver for 25 years and can tell ya deep water diving is more technical than sightseeing. Nothing much to see past 50ft and at 120ft your dive/bottom time is about 5 minutes. We did the Bibb and Duane off Key Largo that went a bit deep for a reef project. Fun to do but only ships to see but still cool. Currents there can be very strong so you're like a flag on a flag pole sometimes! Best diving I've done was in Grand Cayman and off Mexico. We've always had a great time in Mexico on private boats and some of the best times. Hoping to do Belize next.
 
Creekwood said:
Dive ladder is a longer than normal swim platform ladder with a single pole and rungs that stick out to the sides so you can climb with fins on.
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I wouldn't want to try catch that ladder in rough seas, dangerous spot to put it with the engines so close. Side of boat is much safer unless you have an extended swim platform with inboards. We just took the equipment off in the water and hand it to guy in boat starting with weights, BCD and fins last. Much easier to climb ladder than with extra 50 pounds staped to you.
 
I agree with the Cayman's comment. That is prob our all time favorite and most successful for creature spotting, big and small. Its always top notch and bustling with sea life.
 
JV II said:
Dive ladder? What dive ladder. You fall backwards over the gunwale and to get back in take off your BC and a fat Mexican hauls you back in the boat like a corpse.
This is what they took me out in for a 45 minute slog out to the wreck. https://vivalapazblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/whale-boats.jpg
To them, the 4 foot seas are normal. They were all drinking beer on the return trip. "What's the matter gringo, no cervesa!!?"

I've done 3 dives there and they were all the same chaos. You have to restore order yourself.
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Ha. Must be the same guys we went out with on Cozumel!.
You are absolutely right on. You need to take control and make you own decisions.
My wife still does not like to dive after one of our last trips. Mostly because of bad dive operator, bad conditions, and a group of us that went with the flow. Not great for a nervous diver and she had far less than an enjoyable time.
 
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