We caught the tail end of Hurricane Ida as she shifted from the Yucatan Peninsula toward Cuba a great relief to all of us. So our first day of diving was spent shopping, eating and napping waiting for the 9 to 12 foot swells to subside. Del Mar Aquatics our dive operator for the trip was gracious allowing all to make up our dives over the next five days. The following days were sunny and warm with the seas picking up some swells only on two afternoons which made for some rodeo ladder riding exiting the water.
It was a GR8 group of divers with Lisa and Harold along for their first blue water diving. We had two boats to handle the 39 divers Big Splash and Splash IV. As always Cozumel is known for great visibility on this trip well over 100 feet. sightings included numerous seahorses, nurse shark, big blue parrot fish, honeycomb cow fish, juvenile trunks, large puffer, and bugs [aka lobsters] on every nearly dive. The water was a balmy 84° with light currents 1/2 to I knot drift diving. Dive sites included Chankanaab, Tormentos, Paradise, Yucab, San Francisco wall, Paso Del Cedral, La Francesca [the french lady] and Dalila. We had the opportunity to dive C 53 a US mine sweeper on the bottom for 7 years many divers enjoyed the wreck with a controlled and guided penetration. Congratulations to Dina with her 50th dive on C 53 completing her Master Diver and Wreck Diving certifications.
Surface time was spent shopping, touring the island, eating and sleeping. This was a terrific trip being all inclusive with all food and beverage provided. The restaurant mixed it up with ordering from a menu and buffets all the food was delisous. A couple of theme nights at dinner with entertainment and dancing. Friday night was best pirate costume night with Stephanie, Sue and Randy joining in and Stephanie winning first place. We have a similar all inclusive trip next December to Coco View on Roatan. The staff at Casa Del Mar was terrific, friendly and accommodating. Everyone would return to their rooms from the morning dives to be treated by the house keeping staff with over the top towel art. They created elephants, sharks, lobsters, shrimp and mermaids. Dive staff was just great providing fun and safe diving.
Let us express our gratitude to all who joining us. We enjoyed diving and traveling with all of you and look forward to GR8 international, regional and local trips next year.
Check out travel and events for next year and pictures of Cozumel an the website.