Tulum/Akumal

hello -

I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May '04,
splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning on doing a lot
of diving off the island, and then once we hit the mainland chilling out a
bit, checking out some easy cave dives and kicking back. I'm trying to
select an accommodation either in Akumal or Tulum... we aren't going budget
as this is our 20th anniversary trip, but we don't need chocolates on our
pillow either.

These are some of the accommodations I've googled up, anyone have any
experience, comments:

Cabanas la Conchita
Piedra Escondido
Blue Sky
Tankan Inn.

the cirteria I'm looking for is quiet, nice, beach, mom and pop type
operation...

thanks very much

Penny S

On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 20:14:52 -0700, "Penny S"
<pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:

>hello -
>
>I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May '04,
>splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning on doing a lot
>of diving off the island, and then once we hit the mainland chilling out a
>bit, checking out some easy cave dives a


Easy cave dives?????

Darwin candidate.
>

MacReady scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 20:14:52 -0700, "Penny S"
> <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:
>
>> hello -
>>
>> I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May
>> '04, splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning
>> on doing a lot of diving off the island, and then once we hit the
>> mainland chilling out a bit, checking out some easy cave dives a
>
>
> Easy cave dives?????
>
> Darwin candidate.

screw you.... I"ve done my home work, and have looked up some guided dive
services that will take out OW certified divers on easy guided tours in
some cenotes and caverns . Or, better still educate me if I am ignorant, I
try not to be.

Penny

MacReady <southsidejonnie@notme.com> wrote:
><pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:
>>I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May '04,
>>splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning on doing a lot
>>of diving off the island, and then once we hit the mainland chilling out a
>>bit, checking out some easy cave dives a
>
>Easy cave dives?????
>
>Darwin candidate.

no, buy some clue. The OP is a brand new diver that doesn't distinguish
between "cave" and "cavern" dives. There are plenty of both in the
Yucatan, and the caverns perfectly fine for OW divers that feel comfortable
enough in the water. I went out for the day from Cozumel with (Yucatech?)
and did two of the more popular ones - Dos Ojos and Bat Cave, then a late
lunch and back to the island by evening.

Should a brand new diver go on these? I'd say it should be planned towards
the end of the trip, after they've shown to themselves that they can
control their bouyancy. Because of potential salt water layer with
difference density, they must be attentive. It's a bit more difficult
that out at Coz (in other words, slightly less than just trivial).

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

Jason O'Rourke scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> MacReady <southsidejonnie@notme.com> wrote:
>> <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:
>>> I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May
>>> '04, splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning
>>> on doing a lot of diving off the island, and then once we hit the
>>> mainland chilling out a bit, checking out some easy cave dives a
>>
>> Easy cave dives?????
>>
>> Darwin candidate.
>
> no, buy some clue. The OP is a brand new diver that doesn't
> distinguish between "cave" and "cavern" dives. There are plenty of
> both in the Yucatan, and the caverns perfectly fine for OW divers
> that feel comfortable enough in the water. I went out for the day
> from Cozumel with (Yucatech?) and did two of the more popular ones -
> Dos Ojos and Bat Cave, then a late lunch and back to the island by
> evening.
>
> Should a brand new diver go on these? I'd say it should be planned
> towards the end of the trip, after they've shown to themselves that
> they can control their bouyancy. Because of potential salt water
> layer with difference density, they must be attentive. It's a bit
> more difficult that out at Coz (in other words, slightly less than
> just trivial).

OK, now that we've established that I **am ** a beginner, maybe a bit
ignorant but not stupid, would any one care to answer the original inquiry?
(accomodations)

FWIW, this is the cave, er uh CAVERN trip I was thinking of..
http://www.aquaexploration.com/Engli...s/caverns.html

Penny

Penny--

I think you've probably figured it out by now, but cavern diving is when
you remain within the sight of natural light. Cave diving is beyond
that. You can do some escorted cavern dives in the cenotes. Cave
diving is perhaps the most advanced diving there is and requires
specialized training.

While you are kicking back on the Yucatan, you also ought to visit
Chichen Itza. It is a long day trip from Cozumel. It will be very hot
in May. Bring at least a liter of bottled water each for any of these
jungle trips.

Dr. Yak

Penny S wrote:
> hello -
>
> I'm a brand new diver. My hubby and I are taking two weeks in May '04,
> splitting it between Cozumel and the mainland. We're planning on doing a lot
> of diving off the island, and then once we hit the mainland chilling out a
> bit, checking out some easy cave dives and kicking back. I'm trying to
> select an accommodation either in Akumal or Tulum... we aren't going budget
> as this is our 20th anniversary trip, but we don't need chocolates on our
> pillow either.
>
> These are some of the accommodations I've googled up, anyone have any
> experience, comments:
>
> Cabanas la Conchita
> Piedra Escondido
> Blue Sky
> Tankan Inn.
>
> the cirteria I'm looking for is quiet, nice, beach, mom and pop type
> operation...
>
> thanks very much
>
> Penny S
>
>
>

One other suggestion...

I have never dove with Fred Davos, but I have heard some great things
about him. Why not ask him to recommend accommodations? He might even
be able to work out a deal for you. I know that some of the places
around Puerto Aventuras have electricity only a couple of hours a day
and no hot water. (But in May, you will get natural hot water.)

Sorry, I've only stayed on Cozumel.

Penny S <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote:
>> that feel comfortable enough in the water. I went out for the day
>> from Cozumel with (Yucatech?) and did two of the more popular ones -
>> Dos Ojos and Bat Cave, then a late lunch and back to the island by
>> evening.
>> Should a brand new diver go on these? I'd say it should be planned
>> towards the end of the trip, after they've shown to themselves that
>> they can control their bouyancy. Because of potential salt water
>OK, now that we've established that I **am ** a beginner, maybe a bit
>ignorant but not stupid, would any one care to answer the original inquiry?
>(accomodations)

I did answer your question.

Stay at Cozumel, do a day trip if you're feeling confident. Don't go
to the trouble of staying over there before you're sure you prepared
to do the diving, because while there is a guide and it vaguely fits
the cavern definition, you can still get yourself in trouble, and you
can't simply surface.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com stopped playing nethack just long enough to say:
>>
>> Easy cave dives?????
>>
>> Darwin candidate.
>
>screw you....

Typical newbie attitude - "I'm certified now, and nobody can teach me
anything".

>I"ve done my home work, and have looked up some guided dive services
>that will take out OW certified divers on easy guided tours in some
>cenotes and caverns.

It sounds like you are about to undertake a "trust me" dive. What
exactly are the credentials of these guides?

>Or, better still educate me if I am ignorant, I try not to be.

Cavern and cave diving is a highly specialized form of diving,
requiring a separate certification program and gear that is suitable to
the purpose. NO AMOUNT OF OPENWATER TRAINING CAN ADEQUATELY PREPARE A
PERSON FOR DIVING IN CAVERNS OR CAVES.

Fact: In the last 40 years, more than 400 fatalities have occurred in
underwater caverns and caves.

Fact: Well over 90% of the fatalities were divers who had no formal
training in cavern or cave diving. Many were OW instructors.

Fact: LACK OF TRAINING is the #1 direct cause of fatalities in caverns
and caves.

DON'T BE A STATISTIC. Seek proper training before entering any overhead
environment.

-JimG

--
Jim Greenlee (jkg@cc.gatech.edu) Normally I try to take one day
College of Computing at a time, but lately several of
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332 them ganged up on me all at once

In article <vo5l45q17oeg70@corp.supernews.com>,
pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com says...
> I'm about convinced that divers must just sleep on the beach using thier BC
> as a pillow, and have no comment on places to stay. The rec.travel.
> latin-america folks evidently havent' heard of this area. So maybe I'll just
> have to wing it for lodging.

I don't know any of the places that you specifically asked about, but can
tell you that there are many rooms and condos available at good prices
that time of the year. I have stayed in an apartment owned by the Coral
Reef Foundation in Akumal and also at Casa Luna Azul in Akumal. We are
going down in November and are staying at Casa Maya Bungalows in Akumal.

The CRF apartment was very cheap and was short on creature comforts like
air conditioning. It had a grass roof and I slept under a mosquito net.
Casa Luna Azul was a little bit more money, but I had an air conditioned
casita on the beach. There are plenty of condos available in Akumal and
Puerto Aventuras.

The diving is good in Akumal also. I used the Akumal Dive Shop (to the
left after you go through the gate). They do safe cenote tours, and run
panga boats out to the reef. The reef is not as good as Cozumel, but it
is very laid back enjoyable diving.

al
CID