20 replies to this topic

[JohnnyBravo]

So the "Johnny Bravo Challenge" ended with me going to Cozumel by myself. Bloody typical. I thought saying challenge would make it more like a dare... but then again, daring people to dive with you might not be the best tactic.

I ended up at Aqua Safari's plus a night dive with Black Shark. Both were good. Frankly (as you'll see below) I'm starting to think that the fellow divers on the boat have as much or more to do with making it a good dive than the operator.

Anyway... here's my trip report.

The Good:

Flights to Cancun for 300 bucks round trip.

Cozumel itself. Absoultely a super place to go solo. I arrived on the ferry from PDC at 6:00PM and by 7:30 had met some people and booked a dive for the following AM.

Hotel Pepita. Great location, 35 bucks a night. A/C, walk-ins welcome, plenty of space and a big shower with a spigot for rinsing gear. Nothing fancy, but nothing wanting.

A restaurant called Johnny Bravo's (I didn't eat there, I just liked the sign)

Palancar area in general -- just has that "wonderland" quality to it that makes me love reefs.

An octopus out in the daytime in the open sand that gave us a nice demonstration of color and texture change before swimming off like a flounder.

A very curious and unafraid hawksbill turtle at San Francisco.

A young couple from Slovenia who were great divers and great people.

A night dive at Yucab in a ripping current. Could hardly stop to look at things but flying in the dark was fun.

The cheap lunch joints on Calle Adolfo Rosado Salas between Av 20 and 25

A Belgian girl named Veronique.


The Bad:

Hurricane Wilma: Having never been to Cozumel before I can't compare the reefs to this time last year, but the returning divers say they have taken a serious hit. That's not to say they weren't beautiful and teeming with marine life, but there was that post-snowstorm look in places. Topside damage is apparent in damaged piers, stripped trees and lots of construction.

Remora-Buddy: I got paired the first day with a guy who assumed a position over my right leg at a distance of about 18 inches and stayed there the entire time, undeterred by the periodic fin in the face. Every time I turned around he'd be staring at me as if to say "what what what!?" It freakin' creeped me out.

Little Miss Touch-A-Lot: She was from Russia or Eastern Europe I think, traveling with a Spanish guy over twice her age. (hmmmm -- can you say russianbrides.com?) She stroked the coral, she pet the sea fan, she grabbed the turtle, she poked the octopus, she is lucky I don't carry a dive knife.

Paris Hilton of the Deep: She looked good getting on the dive boat in her little yellow mini, but once in the water it was another story: arms flapping, fins on the bottom, while her daddy towed her around by her bc handle. Every so often she'd show him her spg and he'd signal okay. Never before have I seen someone participate so little in the preservation of her own life. She is proof that diving is safe.

Inspector Gadget, aka Speedy McCrash: He got a slick new camera for his birthday and dammit he's going to photograph every fish in the ocean no matter how many divers he has to take out to do it. He seemed to be everywhere at once -- so much that for a while I thought he was twins in matching gear. On a six person dive he managed to collide with everyone at least twice. While peering under a ledge I was treated to the novel sensation of an AL-80 skipping off my skull (it feels about like you'd expect). Obviously he'd thought I'd seen something and had sped at full force to my location to get that once-in-a-lifetime photo. The upside is that he burned through his air in 30 minutes and the rest of us got to spend another full 30 enjoying the reef in peace. During his safety stop he pulled the hat trick and took out an entire family of snorklers and a glass bottom boat. Okay, I made that last bit up, but it wouldn't have surprised me.

[BeachBunny]

Why did I miss this thread???? Not that I could have made it anyway but I love the trip report! Thanks for sharing!!!!! I went to Coz for the 1st time right after Emily. It still looked pretty awesome to me, aside from the torn up boats in the harbor of course. There was minimal damage to the finger corals on the shallow sites (from what I was told anyway) and the deeper sites were just breath taking.


Thank you again for sharing!!!!!!!

[AliKat]

Thanks for sharing. I needed a good laugh right about now. You'd fit right in on any SD trip.

[annasea]

And the next Johnny Bravo Challenge is being offered when??

[Travelnsj]

RussianBrides.com....great web site....got 50 matches right off..... Great trip report!

[MNJoe]

Never before have I seen someone participate so little in the preservation of her own life. She is proof that diving is safe.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the report. Great comments. I've seen McCrash on dives just about every where. I love it when they kick your mask off and then look at you like you did something wrong.

[dustbowl diver]

Thanks for the report!! Headed their Friday-so I'll be on the look out for these debacles of the deep!!!!!!!

[nurseshark]

Thanks for the great report..I needed a good laugh this morning!
I have seen some of these suspect divers on other trips..I thought by now they would have given it all up for skydiving

Karen

[WreckGoddess]

too funny!! Next time -- make sure to take your dive buddy over here.. uh hmm..

[Got_Air?Will_Dive]

What a great trip to experience solo! LOVE Cozumel for all of the good reasons you stated!

As for the bad...

Remora-Buddy: Isn't there enough Caribbean to share, other than the 2 feet of space to be able to fin in?

Little Miss Touch-A-Lot: (can you say russianbrides.com?) -- Do the brides learn to dive from the internet?

Inspector Gadget, aka Speedy McCrash: Hope your head healed from the collision! Did the pic turn out ok?

Paris Hilton of the Deep: You'd think with her loud safety yellow on that she'd be more cautious! NOT!

Hurricane Wilma: Share same sentiments, after having visited in January for the first time. But the bare trees, snowball reefs, and topside reconstruction have not deterred me from going back to visit there again!

Great trip report!

[drbill]

RussianBrides.com....great web site....got 50 matches right off..... Great trip report!

But how many have you met, Scott? Must admit the Russian ladies I've met are much nicer looking than the vodka swilling image we were given back during the Cold War. Het, did anyone ever consider that global warming may be due to the end of that conflict?

Never been to Cozumel, but enjoyed reading your report. I spend a few months diving about 150 miles to the south and loved it.

[WreckWench]

Well not to make the obvious comparison here...BUT...give us alittle notice and we'll most likely be able to help you find a dive buddy the next time! Our new travel team will be able to help you find a great buddy for your next uh...'solo trip'....that is if you can't join in on one of the group trips! -ww

[Ariesno1]

Hey James, I love your report. Hope you will tell us more details tonight.

[JohnnyBravo]

Well not to make the obvious comparison here...BUT...give us alittle notice and we'll most likely be able to help you find a dive buddy the next time! Our new travel team will be able to help you find a great buddy for your next uh...'solo trip'....that is if you can't join in on one of the group trips! -ww

Yes, I know I didn't give enough warning so I couldn't really expect people to be free at a moment's notice. Next time I'll check out the travel team.