[net.rec.scuba] diving in the islands

ms@dvamc.UUCP (07/15/83)

Time to resurrect scuba... I was getting chilled just reading the past
entries on diving in Canada and in the Pacific.  A friend and I are
seriously thinking about a dive trip to an island area, such as
Jamaica, Bahamas, Virgins, Bermuda, etc. or even Cozumel.  Does
anyone have any personal experience in these areas or even hearsay?
Here's your chance to give advice.

>From some of the best wreck diving anywhere... N. Carolina

Marc Sabransky
decvax![mcnc,duke]!dvamc!ms
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, NC

bunje@uw-beaver (Carl Bunje) (07/19/83)

My brother has a time share in Cancun where he claims the diving is good
but no exceptional.  Being from Seattle, I'm sure its better than just OK.
He did rave, however, about Couzmal(sp?).  I gather you can rent a boat,
either a group with guide or on your own.  If on your own you'll have to
trust the boat not to abandon you out there.  Not that it happens a lot,
but you never know.

Tell us something about the wreck diving in NC.  Maybe a few anecdotes?

Carl Bunje.

rusty@crystal.ARPA (Russel Sandberg) (07/20/83)

Several of us from Wisconsin took a trip to Cozumel
this spring.  It was FANTASTIC!  We stayed at the La Ceiba
hotel which was small, reasonably priced and very clean.
The whole trip consisted of 7 days, 6 nights, 5 days of boat
diving.  Each day of diving included two dives and lunch. 
We also made one night dive.  Total cost including air fare
was about $650.  Food, drink and souvenirs came to about $200.
Diving was through Aqua Safari in Cozumel.

Highlights of the diving:
 - water temp was 80 degrees every day, down to 100 ft!
 - visibility was about 100 ft.
 - constant 2 mph current was perfect for drift diving
 - beautiful coral formations, for example, San Fransisco reef
   was about 2 miles with a flat top at 30 ft., one side dropped
   to sand bottom at 60 ft., the other side dropping to 200 ft.

The only problems were adjusting to the "manana" attitude.  Plane,
hotel and diving reservations were all screwed up and it was impossible
to pin anyone down to a certain time.