Mexico Budget Trip

[slaterson19]

Thanks for all the information. After looking at some of the cave guide rates I should have dropped out of grad school and moved to Mexico.

[scoupland]

I'm diving in Mexico right now with Forrest Wilson, Mark Wenner, Barbara am Ende, Shirley Kasser, and Marbry Hardin. We are staying at Villas de Rosa and our guide is Lena Ericson. She is fanastic and taking us to some new and lesser known cenotes. Highly recommend her.

[LCF]

After looking at some of the cave guide rates I should have dropped out of grad school and moved to Mexico.

Some of the cave instructors are making more per hour than I make as an ER doc. Of course, I work under less stress . . .

[Attchoum]

Thanks for all the information. After looking at some of the cave guide rates I should have dropped out of grad school and moved to Mexico.

Guy's I can trade my annual salary whit almost anyone whitout even looking what kind of job you have.

When you count down the rate per hours after removing all the expense, you do close to nothing, I guaranty.

The majority of the guide I know live really poor.

Etienne

[AB8CD]

Guy's I can trade my annual salary whit almost anyone whitout even looking what kind of job you have.

When you count down the rate per hours after removing all the expense, you do close to nothing, I guaranty.

The majority of the guide I know live really poor.

Etienne

I understand your point Etienne. I charge $150-$300 an hour to dive. Almost anyone with some basic skills could dive in a clean environment and turn a wrench... What people don't always realize is that I might be diving under ice, through unstable entrapment hazards, seldom with any visability, in unsafe biological environments that few people are willing to enter. And when you factor in the equipment expense it drops the hourly income dramatically. And, of course those jobs don't come every day...

Dan

[slaterson19]

Thanks for all the suggestions. If everything works out I will try to set something up with Etienne (spelling).

[slaterson19]

How much is the Colorado hotel per night? Is the villa de rosa a nice setup. I saw the hotel rooms are 70 bucks a night. Is this a decent deal?

[scoupland]

Re: Villas de Rosa, go to www.cenotes.com. You will have to dig around their website to find their prices. It varies based on the number of divers. The location is great--right on the beach and close to the cenotes. You don't get to choose your meals but all the food has been wonderful thus far. The rooms are adequate. Most in our group would say the beds are a bit too firm and small. My overall experience though has been terrific.

[FW]

This is the pricelist: http://cenotes.com/Dive-Rates.php#privatediverates

The price for guided dives in about the middle, the price for the complete package is at the bottom. Make a list of all expenses, room, food, transportation, guides, gear rental, etc. It is possible a "budget trip" could end up costing more than the package deal.

[oside jimc]

Bil Phillips has a very nice lodging setup in Tulum, but I don't know what he charges.

Bil's rooms are $70 or $80 (+4% for maid service), they are air conditioned and include high speed internet, and easy walking to downtown Tulum for dinner and a cold beer.

Guiding is $210/day for a single diver and includes tanks, air, and transport to sites.

IMO a good deal since you can get away without a rental car