newbie in Coz (report)

whew! wow! two weeks in Mexico with my sweetie, one wee reserved just for
diving, Coming home is a bitch!

First of all took the advice to "dive lots". We got in 14 dives each if you
count the buddy check/refresher dive we dive off PLG to get ourselved
refreshed, before we went out on the boat.

We dove with Cozumel Equalizers and had a wonderful time. I reall
appreciate the fast boat and small groups. We had two or three days where
it was just my hubby and me, divemaster and the boat driver... doesn't get
much better than that.

Our first day was with two other beginners to Columbia Shallows and Palancar
Horseshoe. I was glad to not be the lowest common denominator of the groups
that day, and it was good just to get comfortable under the water.

We had a few days of small mixed groups, which is always interesting, more
from mixing complete strangers on the boat than anything else.

I found the first time to Santa Rosa Wall to be very disconcerting, almost
stress ful. The current was faster there, and I felt like little Nemo
looking out on the big blue. I wasn't able to really enjoy it because I was
paying attention to the current, depth, bounancy and all that other stuff...
it was great to go back and do it again after 10 dives or so. The night dive
was the same way for me... I didn't really enjoy it as it was such a new
thing, disorienting, but the turtle and sea snake eel made it all worth
while.

I did very well with my bouancy, had a little trouble maintaining my safety
stops. One of the DM's was a great teacher, so she really worked with both
of us on quiet body and other techiniques. My hubby is still stuggling a
bit...both with air consumption and body economy, but he was coming right
along.

Some highlights were, swim throughs, 3 nurse sharks ( one sleeping in a cave
that we watched for a while) large Morays and just looking back up at the
surface through 70 feet of water...

I suppose I could provide a list of all the dives we did, but you've been
there, you know what they are!!!! My favorites were the Palancar gardens
and Tunich and the San Francisco wall.

It was wonderful. Thanks for the tips everyone, I did try and remember some
of them.

Penny S

"Penny S" wrote

> I didn't really enjoy it as it was such a new
> thing, disorienting, but the turtle and sea snake eel made it all worth
> while.

Sharp tail eel. Not a snake at all.

> Some highlights were, swim throughs . . .

Naughty, naughty. Swim throughs are an overhead environment. Careful.

> It was wonderful. Thanks for the tips everyone, I did try and remember
some
> of them.

Glad you had a good time. We all figured you would.

Lee

Sounds like you are a relatively new diver. Just remember your
apprehension over certain dives then get more experience so it does
not bother you. It won't be long before your concerns are replaced
with confidence and increased enjoyment of each dive.

Of course this means more trips to Cozumel. Start planning Penny.

Ron Lee