Mexico Trip May 2016

[Brent]

Just returned from Mexico and have some info that might be of help to those of you who may be planning a trip in the near future. I've made this trip over 30 times including a six week automobile trip back in the day when I was younger and dumber! For you folks that have been there, not much of what you're about to read is new but if you going for the first time, read on!

Lots of comments about TSA made recently. It seems to be a hit or miss situation depending on the airport you fly out of. We departed out of Gainesville and breezed right thru. Hand carried our lights, chargers, and computors, and again, no problems. Not the case on the return. Spent lots of time both in Cancun and Atlanta explaining all those wires and cylinders. Once again, hit or miss.

We stayed at the Villa de Rosa. Been staying there since 92. Back then it was the ONLY place to stay. In my opinion, if you're traveling with a group of say 4-6, then the prices will be very good. Smaller groups may find better prices in the Tulum area or north by Puerto. Shop around.

Cancun airport is like I-75. Constantly under construction and will never be finished in our lifetime. All kidding aside, lots of changes have been made over the decades to make your arrival easier. They even have a Johnny Rockets, so how bad can it be? Now having said that. there is still lines everywhere that you have to pass thru, but we got lucky I guess and got thru all the lines and customs and so on in around 30 minutes. Believe me, it's been worse!

We dove mostly in the Tulum and Coba Road area and all of the dive sites we visited have been improved over the years to support the divers. Tank racks are common now. Most locations have bathrooms and changing buildings. Believe me, a bathroom at a Mexican dive site was not a common site back in the day.
One change that has been somewhat discussed on the forum is the need for C-cards. On the Copa Road, where lots of the tourists visit ( as well as cave divers ) you will need a CAVE C-card. Especially true at Grand Cenote. One of my gang only had his tec cards but no cave card and even though I had my cave instructor card, it was a no-go. Fortunately, we had a notebook and the card was on it so that was accepted. Three other dive sites could have cared less. Bottom line, take your card with you.

One big change from the old days worth mentioning. All the popular dive sites you will visit will have LOTS of OW divers there. Using Taj, as an example, we saw an estimated 20-25 divers all being guided by Mexican guides. Most of these divers ( the ones we talked to ) were down from Cancun for the day doing a Cenote experience dive. I kept thinking back to the recent fatality at the Temple of Doom and just hoped for the best. Not to say anything bad about the guides or the dive shops that promote Cenote tours but you've got to believe me when I say that it was a scary site. We never saw anyone out of the daylight zone all week so hopefully, everyone was doing their job correctly. Solitude at the dive site, unless your at Jungle Farpoint, is a thing of the past.

One last item. Prices: Most of the dive sites in the Tulum area are 2-250P per diver. Yes, there are a few that are a bit cheaper and some even more expensive but that's a good average.

Can't think of anything else but if you any questions, feel free to ask either here on the forum or you can PM me.

Brent

[Dominic]

Thanks for the write up. Good Information to know. I was wondering about carrying on lights leaving Mexico. I checked them last time I was there.
I'll be back there in December, so I'll hope for the best.

[Diverlee]

Good write up! I go every year, since 1998 and have seen the changes. Thanks


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[patpicos]

of all the sites i dove last november, only gran cenote and dreamgate were littered with OW folks. The rest were nice and peaceful (nai tucha, dos pisos, naharon, coop-one, tres estrellas, mayan blue, calimba, uxuxubi, caracol, muchachos, caterpillar, and nohoch). However i can see nohoch being closer to have a crowd!

[Dominic]

Hopefully they don't get too littered with OW divers. There is an indescribable peacefulness, when you're gearing up, or coming out of a secluded cenote and everything is really really quiet. I love it.

[Brent]

[QUOTE=patpicos;308826]of all the sites i dove last november, only gran cenote and dreamgate were littered with OW folks. The rest were nice and peaceful (nai tucha, dos pisos, naharon, coop

Mayan Blue was as bad as Taj and Gran Cenote. Might have just caught it on a bad day but it was VERY crowded. Not only divers but lots of swimmers as well. Our best day and the dive site that had NO people, was a "secret location" that required a 50 minute ride back in the jungle. Quite a price to pay for solitude! I'd tell you the name but I don't have your security clearance on file!!!!! ( joke )

[patpicos]

Feel free to pm the name

[cavedivingwoman]

Brent, did you have any experience using c card photocopies? These have worked for me over the last few years. But everything's changing rapidly, as you note.

Car rentals: I've had several very fine rentals from Isis in Playa (http://www.rentadoraisis.com.mx/301.html). It's a local family-owned business, very friendly, punctual). Edgar is the manager. Much less expensive than America's Car Rental and much better run).

[Brent]

Brent, did you have any experience using c card photocopies? These have worked for me over the last few years. But everything's changing rapidly, as you note.

Car rentals: I've had several very fine rentals from Isis in Playa (http://www.rentadoraisis.com.mx/301.html). It's a local family-owned business, very friendly, punctual). Edgar is the manager. Much less expensive than America's Car Rental and much better run).

Barbara
Photocopies sounds like a good idea. Bottom line today is that you need proof of cave training at "some" of the dive sites, but not all, so carry "something" to show the locals.
I never mentioned car rentals ( forgot actually ) but some of my crew did in fact get a car from the company you mentioned and I was really surprised at how cheap it was.
Good recommendation!