tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24642336379747025632024-03-06T01:55:02.820-06:00Cozumel islandIn this blog we offer information about Cozumel history wich is very reach,the reef and it`s inhabitants, what to do and where to go, something for everybudy!
So welcome , share your comments, post a nice pic....enjoy it!Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-71478271182811656512012-08-05T15:39:00.000-05:002012-08-05T15:39:00.570-05:00Hola I wan to invite you to visit our new location in Playa del Carmen Mexico located right on the beach on the hart of Playa between calles 6 & 8, we are offering our safe, quality, friendly sercvices as always; reef diving, cenote diving, whale shark and bull shark encounters of course Cozumel diving, and deep sea fishing.<br />
Lots of fun...!<br />
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<a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0626-631a-a0f9" style="color: #cc6600;">Diving Adventures in Playa Del Carmen Slideshow</a>: Diving’s trip to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Tourism-g150812-Playa_del_Carmen_Yucatan_Peninsula-Vacations.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Playa del Carmen</a>, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Tourism-g659488-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula-Vacations.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Riviera Maya</a>, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Tourism-g150768-Mexico-Vacations.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Mexico</a> was created by <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/" style="color: #cc6600;">TripAdvisor</a>. See another <a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/slideshow/mexico/playa-del-carmen.html" style="color: #cc6600;">Playa del Carmen slideshow</a>. Create your own stunning <a href="http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/" style="color: #cc6600;">free slideshow</a> from your travel photos.</div>Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-60814788543450375332011-08-26T19:54:00.012-05:002011-08-27T10:52:11.548-05:00A humble aproach for every dive........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuRcuK9wnxEaPZQYGvKuFq5VPzhT8xKlnAifGV8K_I9rEF6wmHXck8i9HYMefLcRxroxJHfJ_ELAmfIS5FBMlTUVbLWFYvZ_imRu6VLZga5mIBKqqFZoSnfJjh1CTqTiWhhcYvEFUmb8A/s1600/Jun+2+th+2011santa+rosa+wall+010.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645333677037650354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuRcuK9wnxEaPZQYGvKuFq5VPzhT8xKlnAifGV8K_I9rEF6wmHXck8i9HYMefLcRxroxJHfJ_ELAmfIS5FBMlTUVbLWFYvZ_imRu6VLZga5mIBKqqFZoSnfJjh1CTqTiWhhcYvEFUmb8A/s200/Jun+2+th+2011santa+rosa+wall+010.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I was diving the other day with some experienced divers, on their first day we went to a famous wall that starts around 55 ft on the Sandy area and has most of the time a good 3 knots current, when I asked how much weight was needed some numbers start to come out<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“18 lb, 22 lb” etc., on my experience it seemed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>too much for the complexion and allegedly experience this folks told me they had, now I been doing this since 1986 so you develop an eye for this things, anyway <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I took <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>some lb of every request and pass the belts for everyone, remember we were diving in a bottomless wall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on an average of 80 ft and being overweighed is not very smart; we got all geared up and ready to roll back from the boat,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I ask the Capitan if we were ready and he gave the OK , rolled back and entered the water making sure we were on the spot I like to start in order to see the crevasses and caverns on this awesome wall; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>on my mark all the divers got in the water and for my surprise…… they could not descent!!! </span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The current start to take them in to the deep water away from the reef and yet they where about 20 ft in the mid water and not descending; we needed to get down to the reef.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I was watching the caves pass by as I was knocking my tank to call their attention and make them swim to where I was positioned on the reef, finally after some good 4 min. we were at 50 ft moving with the current on the sandy bottom and the divers where eagerly asking me for more weights ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I stared to handle 3 pounders <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>and 4 lb pieces to those <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>nearby me when suddenly one of this divers took off after I put a 4 lb on his bcd pocket, he just shoot up to the surface without notice to me or his dive body.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I COULD NOT BELIBE what I was watching, I knocked on my tank repeatedly and at first my instinct was to chase him and stop him but It was impossible to reach him and leave three other divers by themselves on the reef with a 3 knot current, as he got to the surface I so our boat approaching to him and assisting on boarding, I could notice that he was responding to the Captain´s instructions and climbed up the ladder just fine, that calmed me down and I knew he was ok for now , also knew that the Capitan will call me up to finish the dive if there would be any complication.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Needless to say I was with mix fillings, worried about the diver even he was fine on surface and very upset because experienced divers simply don’t do that!; anyway we continue the dive but all the good stuff was way behind us and now only the shallow part was ahead, a few minutes later I saw our bail out diver snorkeling happily on top of our bubbles giving me the ok sign.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Fortunately nothing to regret happened we always can go back to the same spot next day and see the caves.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But a lesson for everybody was there not to forget, </span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As a diver:</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">1 What is an experienced diver, how many dives make you experienced?</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">Breathing easy and excelling most of the air out of your lungs gives you and edge on descent also controlling your fins movements as you go down make it easier to gain depth.</span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And further more if overexerted or filling fears remember the basics STOP….BREATH, THINK & ACT! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">2 Is not the same to dive 5, 10, 20 years down the road as if it was yesterday, we have to accept that we age and its consequences on our fiscal and mental strength.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">3 A humble approach to the ocean is always far more wise than a bravado one, we are very little on the ocean and this one is ruled by simple but inexorable physics rules.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">4 We should always help our dive body if he need´s assistance and should ask for help if we do, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">seriously people stay close by with your dive body. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>As a Dive master:</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">1 Never to take divers experience for granted specially if they brag about it too much.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">2 Always start the first day on an easy dive to warm up the group and correct details. Even better if possible make a beach dive on the arrival day before the boat dives to check for equipment and weights.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Diving is a wonderful safe activity that opens a large world to our senses not just our eyes, it becomes a state of mind, you can become one with nature by being surrounded and embraced by the ocean and its magic colors and shapes, but it requires our full commitment to safety, team work and respect for nature and the other divers.</span></span></p>
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<br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Enjoy the underwater world!</span></span></p>Felipe Romo PADI OWSI 36363
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<br />Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-26600074182402030912011-08-04T15:58:00.003-05:002011-08-04T16:07:19.033-05:00This is a new post after a few months of silence, I have to be quite honest I spected to much in to little time from a blog, but then again what do I know about blogs? I was a black and withe tv child if you know what I mean; but talkng a few days ago to a much yunger felow that knows his html lenguage I learn that bloging is a long term commitment basicly with yourselve...I guess and then to share information or just your crasy ideas to the world by the web, so here I go again if you hapen to stumble in to this blog or I sent it to you mail spam or not; hopefully you get something out of it.<br />Sincerely<br />Felipe RomoFelipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-73369686236973843832011-03-07T20:45:00.000-06:002011-03-07T20:45:11.099-06:00Cozumel Mexico March 7 2011<a href="http://animoto.com/play/pL46JPrb6PuXXNEmgKD79A">Cozumel Mexico March 7 2011</a>Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-56078266651291021732010-11-03T08:52:00.002-06:002010-11-03T08:56:56.948-06:00<p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Today let`s talk about assent rates, one of the skills that is vital for a long diving trajectory.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We are taught to go up to surface at an assent rate of 60 ft per minute, but at the beginning we relly don`t have a clue of what does that mean, if you do have a watch and a depth gauge you will soon find is not as easy as the book said, you have to be very careful so you comply with this very basic but essential rule.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Making sure you are actually ascending and not suddenly descending 10 or 15 ft wile you think you are pedaling up, especially in very clear water or where there is current. </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Buoyancy also affects your assent rate if you are over or under weighted,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the air consumption is a factor on the speed of assent and on the safety stop, if your tank is aluminum and kind of empty well it will be way more positive than at the beginning of your dive, if diving with steel tanks you may not have this issue at 15 ft.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Anyway it is never the less to remind ourselves that on the assent is when the golden rule of scuba diving applies the most “NEVER HOLD YOUR BREATH”, not even for helping to assent a little.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But again how to make sure we are coming up at a safety rate?</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The rule of thumb is to go up at the same speed as the smallest bubbles that we exhale, this are very tine and remain must of the time just in font of us, NEVER COME UP WITH THE BIG BUBBLES !</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And yes of course if you have a computer it is a whole new game ….this gadgets will blink and beep at you even sometimes if you put your arm up to fast, so there is really not much thinking.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">But remember computers may fail, keep in mind these pointers specially the one of coming up with the smallest bubbles you exhale and ALWAYS make a SAFETY STOP at 15 ft or 3 meters for a few minutes even your dive profile does not necessarily requires one, it is a great way to be consensus that we have to stop before we are on surface, this will keep you going up slowly and slow assent will keep you safely diving for the years to come.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I would love to have your comments about these subjects and if you would like me to address one in particular I will be glad to do so.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Looking forward to hear from you. </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Have great diving!</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Felipe Romo </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">PADI OWSI 36363</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></span></span></p>Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-90477904147664532802010-10-16T12:52:00.007-05:002010-10-21T18:05:57.239-05:00Floating, sinking........good bouyancy control?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQbUsLHyfsJyQJKBHbp7Te-giyE_e8RlEgBJouzeiGnJasnex_1ECW_K-iT682G14jrz3emIk1xxToxyE96SJNMtouYoqx-bEPaWeKSzgviECjR1YvDg55t8UW-XCpUVVx_pEkKe0I64C/s1600/arrecife18.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 136px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528724873495180738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQbUsLHyfsJyQJKBHbp7Te-giyE_e8RlEgBJouzeiGnJasnex_1ECW_K-iT682G14jrz3emIk1xxToxyE96SJNMtouYoqx-bEPaWeKSzgviECjR1YvDg55t8UW-XCpUVVx_pEkKe0I64C/s320/arrecife18.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 15.5pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:15;color:#666666;" lang="EN-US" >I want to talk about buoyancy today, it is on my opinion one of the must important skills a diver has to achieve; once you have gone through the open water course and learned the proper use of the BCD jacket, the weight system, etc., the adventure is just beginning and finding the right amount of weight and finally understanding how much does our breathing pace affects our buoyancy is the real first step in to achieving it.<br />Let’s remember that the different environments require different equipment like a 3 mm. wet suit for diving <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>the Caribbean in the summer or a 7 mm. in a lake somewhere in Texas, Canada or North Atlantic, etc. and of course the amount of weights will change drastically.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 15.5pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:15;color:#666666;" lang="EN-US" >Also take into consideration if you had put up some weight since you got certified or you lost weight.<br />But on my experience as a Dive master and Instructor there is a factor often forgotten by the newly certified diver and that is simply to EXALE ALL THE AIR IN YOUR LUNGS well of course is impossible to get ALL air out , but I mean all possible air and then take a breath back slowly to allow yourself to descent to about 10, 15 ft (3, 5 mts) try it out next time you or your dive body are about to descent it is a huge difference.<br />During your dive pay lots of attention in to the breathing pace, often we catch ourselves keeping a big volume of air in our lungs, this eventually make us go up and loose our buoyancy control, as we go up the air in our BCD expands and make us more positive, if we do not deflate it properly we can end up on surface asking ourselves what a heck happened? So keep aware of this little detail of exhaling all the air you take in; this also helps to optimize our air consumption since the gas interchange in our lungs is more efficient this way making us feel relaxed and comfortable due to the right amount of oxygen that gets to our tissues and the co2 on our nerve system is kept into the right levels.<br />If you are a dive professional you may agree with me and have other pointers to share on this blog, I will love to see that happened, since the propose of this series of short articles is meant for the new diver, to welcome them and share our experience in to this marvelous world of diving that we all love and enjoy.</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 15.5pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:15;color:#666666;" lang="EN-US" >Till next time </span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 15.5pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:15;color:#666666;" lang="EN-US" >Have great dives!</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:15;color:#666666;" lang="EN-US" ><br style="mso-special-character: line-break"></p><o:p></o:p></span></div>Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-60349509872594668102010-10-15T13:21:00.003-05:002010-10-15T14:00:01.907-05:00Cozumel drift divingHi from Cozumel Mexico, the world`s capital of drift diving; during the 20 years diving in this warters I have heard many divers talk about the current and the drift dives, for some is a dive condition that strress them mainly before they jump in the water wile they are thinking about it on board, for most of us is a great way of diving... maybe the best way; once you get use to just go with the current and be part of it, once you start usung it in to your favor so you can cover more reef or get to where you want, then is a new perspective, it is confortable and you feel like home.<br /><br />But for those who still feel a little aprehensive about it here are some pointers that will help your next drift diving expirience and I would like to share:<br />1 - Get properly weighted, being to heavy will make you work to hard to flote above the reef to avoid crashing with it, being to ligth will constantly take you to shallower depths making your diving very unconfortable and not so safe sice some times the accent rate is not observed.<br />So a beach check out dive to get properly weighted is very recommended before you start your boat diving.<br />2 - Allow your selve to just go, dont ever figth the current, it has no sense at all since swimming against a 2 or 3 knot current in full scuba equipment is not fun you will suck all you air in a few minutes and I have never seen even Divemastetres make it for more than just a few feet, so go with the flow!<br />3- Plan ahead, if you are drifting along the reef and want to see more sea creatures try to look ahead and palane your way to the spot you are interested a few yard or meters in front of you that way your focus will be on it and by the time you aproach and get there, sure you have bettrer chances to look for sea life.<br />4- And of course if you want to take a bracke from the drift, almost all the reefs have clifs and cravases, overhads, etc, where you can hide from the current as you would do on land by hiding behind a bulilding or something from the wind.<br />5- But the must important thing wile diving in Cozumel or any other drift diving destination is to STAY WITH YOUR DIVE BUDYE AND FOLLOW YOUR DIVEMASTER.<br />I had the oportunity of diving in Belize and Cuba they both where beautifull, but where the current is not exixting or very little and it was very frustrating triying to reach further on the reef since we where all use to the drift, anyway each place has its beauty.<br />Cozumel for me still a magical dive thanks to that current that brings lots of nutirents and cleans the waters from polution, silt, etc. making posible visibility ranges of 100 ft plus 30 mts plus.<br />So next time you are in Cozumel if you hare a good drift diver ...well just enjoy! but if you still in the process of becoming one try to follow the pointers I recomend surely you will soon become a drift diver fan.<br />Any comments or questions welcome <a href="mailto:dive@divingadventures.net">dive@divingadventures.net</a><br />Have great time diving!<br />Felipe Romo PADI OWSI 36363<br />Owner Operator<br />Diving Adventures Cozumel.Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464233637974702563.post-54926576091383117612009-08-14T11:01:00.003-05:002009-09-02T00:40:42.345-05:00Cozumel before the SpaniardsCozumel or "Cuzamil" wich in Mayan lenguage means land of swolows and it was its name before the arrival of the Hispanics, it was an independent Mayan political organization with its own caciques(chiefs). Its governing center was the site called "San Gervacio" located on the mid part of the Island, it has several stuctures that can be apreciated and also they counted with nice comunication ways called "sacbe" wich in mayan lenguish means white road that conected the different villages or towns like El Cedral, Buena Vista, San Miguel and Molas.<br />The main activitiy was agriculture and the best lands where ocupied for that.<br />There has been some findings at El Cedral town of clay potery that sugests the population from Cozumel came from the region of what today is Guatemala & Belize called "El Peten".<br /><br />About the <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Commerce </strong></span>during thos days of the pre-Hispanic priod, Mayans, Chontales and other Mesoamerican groups carried out an intense commerce with the Caribbean.<br />Batholomeo de las Casasa and Cistobal Colon during theire fourth trip saw a canoe of Mayan retailers in front of Guanaja islands that crossed the Caribbean islands to carry out trade; they brought blankets, cotton weaves, colorfull feathers, salt, honey, wax, cacao and other products. Great importance had Cozumel Island for the Mayan retailers; of wich they started off or touched before seting sail for traiding.<br /><br />Some of the Mayan <strong>Costumes</strong> where to bury theire dead under stone or in the house`s foundation, (this could obay to the fact that the soil in the Island is very thin and rapidly is foud the limestone wich it will make very dificult to make a hole in the ground).<br />They use to adorn them with pectorals of conch, or coral covering the skull with a vessel, sometimes they also included sea shels, obsidian knifes, and oter adorments like jade pieces, necklaces, earings and corporal ornaments.<br /><br />The <strong> Live</strong> <strong>Conditions </strong>and health were favorable for the inhabitants of Cozumel; acording to the studies in the bones found in diferent burials, we can say that they were more corpulent and tall than those that lived inside the Yucatan peninsula, since their average stature was of 1.60 mtrs against the 1.45 ntrs in the main land.<br />Their set of teeth was healthful and is suposed that theire life expectancy was arround 50 years.<br />It is belibed that theire diet was rich in protein content due to the abundance of natural resourses like fish, seafood,turtule meat, deer, pork spine,turkey, ducks, doves etc. <br />In the jungle, existed sapodilla tree, zaranullo, ramonal, seeds cooked and ground turned into lump to make tortillas and a lot of fruits such as sweet potatoes and yuca.<br />They collected honey from the wild bees, also prepared a drinck called "balache" wich was made with the ferment of the bark, honey and water and was ofered to the good of rain "Chac".<br />I will continue shareeing with you more about the Mayan culture and customes of the ancient Cuzamil and throught the history up to our days, so stay tuned, also I will set links to diferent pages to find more about this facinating subject.<br /><br />Cozumel is awesom diving of course but has lots more to offer to the traveler and the one who is willing to know more about the heritage and culture of the places they dive.<br />Thank you for reading, please send you comments or sugestions to my e mail.<br /><a href="mailto:divingadventures1@gmail.com">divingadventures1@gmail.com</a><br />Best regards from the land of swalows Cuzamil............<br />Felipe Romo PADI OWSI 36363Felipe Romohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14278958534136340020noreply@blogger.com0