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General Info Cozumel is, IMNSHO, a good 1st time "Out of country diver's dive site". It offers Clear, Warm Waters (and that's hard to beat compared to Seattle Waters), easy access to the beaches/boats, close to town with night life and some fairly good restaurants, and good hotels. It's a good experience for drift diving at the more popular places and offers a few varieties of life. Boat Schedules are accommodating and there are plenty of dive shops and services. Flight times are not bad, 3 hours from Seattle to Houston, about 2 hour layover and 2 hours to Cozumel. Short 15 minute ride through town to the hotel. Would recommend and hotel near town or prepare for a $3-4 taxi each way. Main part of town comes to life when the tourist boats come in and the nightlife usually begins around 10-11pm... doable for the younger generation, but diving at 8 am makes is a little rough... especially after running the conga line at Senior Froggies a few times.... I say a good 1st time out of country dive in that there are more colorful dive spots around. Although I've been to Cozumel twice now, the first time it was wonder fully, 15 years ago, now, having been lucky enough to experience a few other places, it is pretty much OK.... Doubtful I'd go back again. But would strongly recommend it for the 1st timer to get the experience of Out of Country Diving in clearer Warmer water.. Good trip overall, no one caught any traveling illnesses that I was aware of and generally had a good time. Now, lets get to diving.....
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A typical day begins as a 8:00 am Locker Call. Lockers are provided by the dive shop, Dive Paradise, at the hotel, Costa Club. The boat arrives around 8:15 and usually off by 8:30 for about a 20-60minute ride.
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| ...and sooooo
down we go....
the Cattle Boat has arrived....
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This "Floral Arrangement" is pretty common on the floor, usually the Pinkish sponges or coral branches with something crawling inside. |
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| These little Arrow Crabs are all over the place
if you look for them...
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and a few of these
"colorful" fishies...
Not a whole bunch of them, but enough to try to catch'em, as you can..... Typically, I snap the shutter just as the fish turns away or towards me, thus picking up a thin line and not the side... After about 20 shots, they just give up and swim away AND then.... I get the shot...
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Swimming or more to the point DRIFTING right along A few were taking Video, some pictures and others just memories... The reefs/walls run along the coast to about 1/2 mile out with a
depth from 50-90' and then a wall, You just glide along like a "Slo-Mo Superman/woman"
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You can stop drifting by ducking around
behind the reefs to an eddy or just keep on trucking down the line...
The current, for the most part, isn't that strong (or wasn't on this trip as it can be) so staying in one spot for a little bit isn't that difficult. You can actually swim against it if you want to watch your Air Gauge tick down to zero... again, in certain areas Simple technique is.... roll with the flow... |
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Of course some people just drift along not sure where the bottom is... Or even care? It's such a pleasant dive...
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The colors are a little deceiving... What looks as bland and pale, when brightened up with Sun? light (flashes) Paints them in Pastels which always makes it neat....
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| and into the tunnels we go...
It looks a little tighter than it is... No current, just a simple swim through, hug the bottom and it's a Piece 'O Cake... and fun too....
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Some even light up the tunnels...
Those Video lights certainly "light up my life...." Or is it something from the "X-Files" Coming to a theater near you... SOON.....
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Would you believe that these look "Black" when swimming by.. It was by accident that I found they were actually RED When a flash accidentally hit one... (although color was enhanced a little it's still a deep red)
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Some even look like they should
be alive as in Critters...
A lot of these can go unnoticed as they are underneath or along the side of walls...
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...and some are a lighter in colors.. It's amazing what colors appear when lit up... you could just swim right on by and never see the coloring
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Anyway,
it's about time we got some fish in here... |
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And just before we end this dive... we need to think about dinner... In Cozumel, they give new meaning to choosing your lobster from the LOBSTER TANK... I like my lobster to come to me .... on a silver platter with Champagne... This was a close call....
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OK, OK... Back on the surface we go... Typical night was to meet in the hotel Lobby? aka Bar at around 7-ish then walk to town or grab a taxi. Walking is doable for about 20 minutes or so... just about the max for walking and minimum for Taxies
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And walking it is usually...
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And a happy group we were...
Good Diving Good Walking Good Toasting...
And especially a GOOD Crowd..
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| Senior Froggies?
no....Carlos 'N Charlie's !!!! Nooo Senior Froggies!!! NOOOO..... CARLOS 'N CHARLIE'S !!!!! Ok, OK... So after din-din there's a little discussion on where to go next....
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So we did them Both....
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Da Frog.... |
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And the next day.... Some simply don't feel the need for air... and feel the fish need it more than they do.... but back to reality.....
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| and back to the cattle boat...
actually it wasn't bad at all. We had plenty of room on the boat.. Of course, I forgot to take a picture, duh??? but there was plenty of room on board... |
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Since we had the lobster ready
and willing to come
out into the open -for Dinner...
These Arrow crabs don't need to worry too much about being used for meal times... unless you needed toothpicks.... Hmmm I wonder if they're related to the Alaskan King Crab.... you ya think?
(ps. no critters were eaten nor harmed that we know about anyways)
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| Lot'sa these around... |
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And a few of these,
There were regular Eagle Rays about 4-5 ft across that I've seen on a previous trip. believe only saw 2 on this one, but there were supposedly 5 swimming around the boat or maybe they were porpoises?? Fergit?? |
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show offs.... |
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These are Jackknife Fish... Hard to catch, but got these right off the Hotel beach.
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and a few of these Cow ( Boxer?) fish... Didn't do that here...
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and various colors..
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some more colors, it's hard enough to catch them sideways, much less |
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Believe this is a Stone fish, brown grumpy fish?
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More of these... kinda get in the way.... (joking) |
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More Fluff.....
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And these brown thingies....
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Again, those Arrow crabs justa hiding away...
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.... and a little Moray action... they were usually hiding deep in the rocks
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this was a tough one. A Bat Fish I had to swim up current, didn't have the flash working yet and snapped what I could. I'm told this is an unusual fish... Aren't they all....
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Ok so cruising right along now.... |
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...and some get a little bored... AND just drift away relaxed..
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so back to the surface for a 5 minute DECO stop There are a lot of boats cruising around and having to come near one can get a bit messy. The dive masters have one, but chances of being near him when it's time to come up are slim and non... |
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and back to the ranch.... Rinse, lock-up and hit the hotel... get the cameras ready for tomorrow..
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Since we had our own Entertainer, But Wait, there's more....
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He continued on...
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and out for a little after dinner activities... |
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and back to diving.... There is a ship wreck that is shallow and a good wreck to dive. Perfectly safe, access points and guide ropes... All this and Clear Warm water TOO!!! What will they think of next....
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and down the anchor rope we go....
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starting at the bottom.....
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up to the main deck.... |
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Up the ladder and down the hatch we go...
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back out and through the door
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We're OFF to see the Wizard... The wonderful Wizard of OZ.... to the bow... |
Yawnnnnnnn.... Ho-Hummm Just hanging out, thinking of the Titanic movie... |
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Now you know it had to be done... ;-))
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and back to diving....
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I know, I know... Looks phony... but it's real... |
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Too many lemons???
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Too many cherries???????? |
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Just a wandering centipede who got lost??? (Joking)
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Little ferns......
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That's about all for the underwater folks, (Although I do have other pics, this is long enough... for now)
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After an early return, we rented some jeeps and drove the island. On the South East Side, just as the road turns North, there's a place called Bob's Marley Bar.. has some good Nachos and refreshments... Not to mention the great view... and the Ladies of Muscle Beach, doing their Morning exercise routine....
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1-2-3- lift 1-2-3 lift......
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And then refreshment time... Just enjoying the view.... |
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And that wraps up this trip... Hope you enjoyed the pics... It was a good trip overall, but ready for another place.... Cheers.
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