Cozumel -- refresher course

I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for 6
years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course there.

Do any regular visitors have any suggestions?

If I hired a divemaster for a day of personal instruction, how much would
that cost (USD)?

Many thanks

Andrew Chalk wrote:

> I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for 6
> years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course there.
>
> Do any regular visitors have any suggestions?
>
> If I hired a divemaster for a day of personal instruction, how much would
> that cost (USD)?
>
> Many thanks
>
>

Most operators will give you the opportunity to do a shore dive. I just
got back and stayed at Plaza Las Glorias. Aqua Safari is the dive shop
there. While I have never used them they offer the shore refreshers,
and the water there looks decent enough.

Also at the LaCeiba ( I don' think that is the name - although that name
is still up on the building) they have a nice shore dive with a sunken
plane. However the new international pier is located just to the south
with cruise ships in and out damn near every day.

I would not recommend personal instruction, but there are plenty of
operators who have the small, fast boats (6-8 divers) so dm attention
can be the norm.

However ( and there is always a however in life) This is slow time in
Coz so the personal instruction may be had for a good price - especially
if you pay in USD. The cost is going to depend on how much personal
instruction you want/need. Most operators will assist you in any way
they can.

On Mon, 31 May 2004 09:23:24 -0500, Joe English
<jenglish@accessusn.net> wrote:

>
>
>Andrew Chalk wrote:
>
>> I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for 6
>> years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course there.
>>
>> Do any regular visitors have any suggestions?
>>
>> If I hired a divemaster for a day of personal instruction, how much would
>> that cost (USD)?
>>
>> Many thanks
>>
>>
>
>Most operators will give you the opportunity to do a shore dive. I just
>got back and stayed at Plaza Las Glorias. Aqua Safari is the dive shop
>there. While I have never used them they offer the shore refreshers,
>and the water there looks decent enough.

I've dived with them before. Didn't know they did refreshers. OTOH,
didn't need one.

>
>Also at the LaCeiba ( I don' think that is the name - although that name
>is still up on the building) they have a nice shore dive with a sunken
>plane. However the new international pier is located just to the south
>with cruise ships in and out damn near every day.

Yeah, but they are far enough out that the plane is not an issue. Of
course, they can be loud. Also, don't most ships hit there in the
morning? Like by 9?

>
>I would not recommend personal instruction, but there are plenty of
>operators who have the small, fast boats (6-8 divers) so dm attention
>can be the norm.

Sorry, I don't expect any kind of attention from DM's. Maybe a
scolding for staying down too long or not keeping up, but never any
real attention to how I'm diving (once they are comfortable with the
fact that I'm not going to trash the reef). Most DM's are there to be
tour guides, not to take care of the divers. In a place like Coz,
they expect a certain level of skill. Or it may just be that the
shops I dive with think like that.

>
>However ( and there is always a however in life) This is slow time in
>Coz so the personal instruction may be had for a good price - especially
>if you pay in USD. The cost is going to depend on how much personal
>instruction you want/need. Most operators will assist you in any way
>they can.

Contact the shop before hand and make arrangements for your arrival
day. Most of the DM's are hungry enough to take you out for a few
bucks.
--
dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

"Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote:

>I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for 6
>years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course there.
>

Have you considered a refresher at your local dive shop. Seems that
they can cover the fundamentals then just tell the dive op you would
prefer a relatively easy first dive. Drop over sand..take your time
going down...clear your ears and get used to the buoyancy issues.

Then settle to the sand or just above it and by the end of the first
dive you should be fine.

Remember than Coz is drift diving. It is fun. Do not fight the
current. Let it take you on a leisurely tour of the ocean. If you
get ahead of the group...relax. Drop behind a coral head and hover
until they catch up.

Do not flail your arms and legs. Relax. Smooth motions. No need to
hurry. When going up...don't bicycle (your legs).

Ron Lee

Joe English wrote:
>
[....]

> Also at the LaCeiba ( I don' think that is the name - although that name
> is still up on the building) they have a nice shore dive with a sunken
> plane. However the new international pier is located just to the south
> with cruise ships in and out damn near every day.
>


The La Ceiba Hotel still exists in the tall tower section. The original
three story hotel section has been bastardized into the El Cid timeshare
resort. Onsite diveop is Aqua World with a retail shop a block north
toward town (ocean side), same place with the submarine ride. The only
reason I mention this is I did this last year just for grins, and
frankly, it wasn't as Disneyish as I expected - and we didn't need to
die trying to use those anemic oxy-gen cans. It was a windy day hoot.

If you use the La Ceiba dive shop, you WILL need your C-card for air -
no nitrox.


[....]


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten'
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

Good point. I'm investigating that now.

- Andrew

"Ron Lee" <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote in message
news:40bbab77.16047868@news.pcisys.net...
> "Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote:
>
> >I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for
6
> >years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course
there.
> >
>
> Have you considered a refresher at your local dive shop. Seems that
> they can cover the fundamentals then just tell the dive op you would
> prefer a relatively easy first dive. Drop over sand..take your time
> going down...clear your ears and get used to the buoyancy issues.
>

Andrew;

DSD is also an option.

Wayne
www.springdivers.com




"Ron Lee" <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote in message
news:40bbab77.16047868@news.pcisys.net...
> "Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote:
>
> >I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived for
6
> >years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course
there.
> >
>
> Have you considered a refresher at your local dive shop. Seems that
> they can cover the fundamentals then just tell the dive op you would
> prefer a relatively easy first dive. Drop over sand..take your time
> going down...clear your ears and get used to the buoyancy issues.
>
> Then settle to the sand or just above it and by the end of the first
> dive you should be fine.
>
> Remember than Coz is drift diving. It is fun. Do not fight the
> current. Let it take you on a leisurely tour of the ocean. If you
> get ahead of the group...relax. Drop behind a coral head and hover
> until they catch up.
>
> Do not flail your arms and legs. Relax. Smooth motions. No need to
> hurry. When going up...don't bicycle (your legs).
>
> Ron Lee

DSD?
"Wayne Bjorken" <wab@springdivers.com> wrote in message
news:FHpxc.3037$Y3.613@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> Andrew;
>
> DSD is also an option.
>
> Wayne
> www.springdivers.com
>
>
>
>
> "Ron Lee" <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote in message
> news:40bbab77.16047868@news.pcisys.net...
> > "Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived
for
> 6
> > >years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course
> there.
> > >
> >
> > Have you considered a refresher at your local dive shop. Seems that
> > they can cover the fundamentals then just tell the dive op you would
> > prefer a relatively easy first dive. Drop over sand..take your time
> > going down...clear your ears and get used to the buoyancy issues.
> >
> > Then settle to the sand or just above it and by the end of the first
> > dive you should be fine.
> >
> > Remember than Coz is drift diving. It is fun. Do not fight the
> > current. Let it take you on a leisurely tour of the ocean. If you
> > get ahead of the group...relax. Drop behind a coral head and hover
> > until they catch up.
> >
> > Do not flail your arms and legs. Relax. Smooth motions. No need to
> > hurry. When going up...don't bicycle (your legs).
> >
> > Ron Lee
>
>
>

"Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote in message
news:TUoyc.118$Br6.72@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com.. .
> DSD?

Dive-surgic acid. Makes you see lots of colorful fish while doing a safety
stop in strong surge. Only works well in the tropics unless you count
garibaldi.

Discover Scuba Diving aka Resort Course
"Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote in message
news:TUoyc.118$Br6.72@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com.. .
> DSD?
> "Wayne Bjorken" <wab@springdivers.com> wrote in message
> news:FHpxc.3037$Y3.613@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> > Andrew;
> >
> > DSD is also an option.
> >
> > Wayne
> > www.springdivers.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Ron Lee" <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote in message
> > news:40bbab77.16047868@news.pcisys.net...
> > > "Andrew Chalk" <achalk@XXXmagnacartasoftware.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >I got my PADI Advanced certification some time ago but haven't dived
> for
> > 6
> > > >years. I am going to Cozumel next month and need a refresher course
> > there.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Have you considered a refresher at your local dive shop. Seems that
> > > they can cover the fundamentals then just tell the dive op you would
> > > prefer a relatively easy first dive. Drop over sand..take your time
> > > going down...clear your ears and get used to the buoyancy issues.
> > >
> > > Then settle to the sand or just above it and by the end of the first
> > > dive you should be fine.
> > >
> > > Remember than Coz is drift diving. It is fun. Do not fight the
> > > current. Let it take you on a leisurely tour of the ocean. If you
> > > get ahead of the group...relax. Drop behind a coral head and hover
> > > until they catch up.
> > >
> > > Do not flail your arms and legs. Relax. Smooth motions. No need to
> > > hurry. When going up...don't bicycle (your legs).
> > >
> > > Ron Lee
> >
> >
> >
>
>