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(713) 523-3483 (dive)
5808 Newcastle Drive
Houston, TX 77401

Cozumel

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Dreaming of Cozumel

Dreaming of Cozumel

Ok, we have all been at home too long!  Spring and summer are finally arriving and it is time to start thinking about getting back in the water.  I know that the Twilight Zone episode is continuing and its effects can still be seen and most of the islands are not open to tourists right now.  But, that doesn’t mean you can’t start dreaming of being underwater!

One of my favorite spots to dream about is Cozumel.  Because of its relative location to Houston, it seems more like a local dive spot than a foreign destination.  In two hours, I can be there and in four hours I can be checked it, changed into dive equipment, and jump in the crystal blue water just off the beach at the El Presidenté Intercontinental.  Or better yet, I can be racing off in a boat with our friends at Scuba Du to do a dive further down the reefs.

Diving in Cozumel is a real treat.  No matter what you are looking for, they have it.   The reefs offer a wide variety of marine life and formations.  There are vertical walls at Palacar and coral bommies in twenty feet of water nearby at Columbia.   There are gently sloping walls at Chankanauub and fast-moving fun at Passo Cedral.  For snorkelers, there are sites up and down the coast with beautiful fish and healthy corals just out of reach but easy enough to swim over.  For the hard-core diver, you can do four dives a day plus a night dive right off the beach or off a boat with your own guide. 

Eric & Ann Keibler
Eric & Ann Keibler

I have been going to Cozumel for over thirty years and I never tire of the diving or the island.  My home away from home is now the El Presidenté.  The staff at the hotel make me feel so welcome when I arrive and they are truly happy I am there.  But it is not just me; they go out of their way to make everyone who visits feel welcome.  Last December, Ann and I spent our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with a group of divers at the hotel and it was a very memorable experience. 

Beachside Anniversary Party Set-up

Another of the things I love about the island is the food.  I know, I am supposed to be there for the diving but you have to eat.  Cozumel is fast becoming a foodie destination with a number of well-known restaurants serving creative dishes that draw on all of the senses.  But there are also some hidden gems serving very traditional Mexican and Yucatecan dishes.

Because things are still a little in flux, I can’t hop on a plane right now but we can sit back and dream.  I can also try and recreate a little magic myself by making a special dish or two from my favorite hotel.  Chef Sergio Turriza, the Executive Chef for El Presidenté sent me a couple of suggestions that I could make to bring Cozumel to Houston.

Sergio Turriza is the Executive Chef.
Chef Sergio Turriza, and the team at El Presidente Cozumel

So my suggestion is to make one or both of these recipes and sit back and imagine yourself having just completed a beautiful dive and relaxing at the Palapa bar and watching the sun slip slowly under the horizon with its vivid reds and yellows dancing across the blue sky.  Think of the day dives and the joy of anticipating more diving soon…

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The Making of a Scuba Diver

Scuba Diver Susan Long Relaxing in Fiji
Susan Long Relaxing in Fiji

I have been scuba diving for over two years – since December 2012. Not only that, I had 100 dives within 10 months, and I had another 100 dives within another 10 months. I LOVE it! I am 59 years old, a retired IT professional, not athletic or mechanical in the slightest. How did I get here?

When we got married in 1992, my husband and I made a deal. He would not buy a Harley, and I would not go scuba diving. That way, we thought we could keep each other alive for a good long time. I have always had friends who scuba dived, and I have long been intrigued by it.

I swam for exercise in college – or more precisely, struggled through maybe 10 lengths a session. It was awful and so difficult, but for some reason, I did it. I did not enjoy it at all. Fast forward 25 years, and we went with some diving friends to the Yucatan for vacation. They did some diving, and we all snorkeled one day. I was terrified! I did not understand how I was supposed to breathe underwater. But I made myself jump in and try it, and within a minute or two, I was having a great time! There were lots of glamorous fish! Who knew? And I really enjoyed being in the water – which was also a surprise, after my college swimming experiences.

Scuba Divers Susan & Larry on a motorcycle trip
Susan and her husband, Larry on their last motorcycle trip.

After I retired in 2005, I decided to go to graduate school in Spanish Linguistics at the University of Houston. The parking is horrible! (The classes were great!) I soon realized if I had a motorcycle or scooter, I could park in the designated areas much more easily. So I bought a Vespa scooter! When my husband got over the shock, he got himself a Harley! So now I had permission to scuba dive! (We now both really enjoy our motorcycle trips together!)

I had permission to scuba dive, but on the other hand, I knew it was an expensive habit. I was reluctant to get a lot more “stuff”. We already had plenty of stuff. Being overweight, I didn’t think there would be enough weight available to keep me down (seriously). I also knew myself it could be dangerous – I had looked at some books detailing scuba diving “incidents” and they are pretty scary. You wonder why anyone comes back alive!

In the fall of 2012, my friend Donna Collins (another scuba diver, and Oceanic Ventures, Inc. denizen) and I were planning to go on a cruise to Costa Rica and Panama. She suggested that we could go snorkeling, and she might try to go diving. I was enthusiastic – I had not had a chance to go snorkeling in years! She took me to Oceanic Ventures to look into getting my own mask, snorkel, fins to take on the trip.

My First Trip the the Dive Store

Ann, Alex and David Morris were in the shop, and I will never forget the warm welcome. David took me under his wing and explained everything I wanted to know about masks, snorkels, fins. I could not believe how expensive they were! But I was sold on the part of getting good equipment so I could really enjoy the experience. I left with the mask, snorkel, fins, a bag, a skin, and maybe a few other goodies. David offered to give me a snorkeling class for free, which I gladly took him up on, since I was certainly not an expert snorkeler, having only done it once.

At the snorkeling class, I learned quite a bit, especially how to “duck dive!” David offered to give me a Try Scuba session, and I was, well, OK, sure! If he’s offering, I sure will try it. Within a few days, I was trying out the scuba equipment in the West U pool, and learning the first rule of scuba. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but the next inevitable step was signing up for Open Water Scuba classes so I could go on the Cozumel trip that December. And buying all my equipment. Oceanic Ventures made it so easy. I could not have chosen (and still can’t) between Buoyancy Compensaters, Air Delivery System’s or computers. I trusted their advice, and I really liked the idea that they had a lot of experience with the equipment they sold, and they believed in it for all levels of diving.

Open Water Scuba Training with Oceanic Ventures

I had a great time in the Open Water Scuba training with David and Alex. It was hard for me to clear my mask, but eventually I figured it out. It was hard remembering all the steps for sharing air, or the out-of-air ascent. But I did it! The Cozumel trip was fantastic. I did my open water dives there with Alex as my instructor, and it was so much fun! He was so calm, and knowledgeable, and encouraging. I could see it was going to take some time for me to get really comfortable with my buoyancy, and the breathing, but I was plenty comfortable enough to enjoy the diving, and the Oceanic Ventures group was so wonderful. All those experienced divers were so encouraging and helpful to the brand-new,” baby diver.”

Scuba Diving in the Solomon Islands Susan Long and Ann Keibler
Scuba Diving in the Solomon Islands with Susan Long and Ann Keibler

David had let me know in the  Open Water Scuba training that he was the first Oceanic Ventures student to get 100 dives in a year. That sounded like a challenge to me, and I like challenges! Also it was quite clear after the Cozumel trip that the more experience I had, the more fun I could have as a diver. So I set myself the informal goal of getting 100 dives in a year. In order to keep diving through the winter, I started drysuit training and bought a drysuit. I started Advanced Open Water Scuba training, if for no other reason that it was more diving experience! I went with Oceanic Ventures to St. Croix, Belize, Cozumel, and then to Grand Cayman in August! (Donna and I did get to do a few dives on our trip to Costa Rica.) By the time I got to Grand Cayman, I had achieved the 100 dives, between the trips, the training, and being a fun diver at Blue Lagoon and 288 Lake.

Where I Am Now…

So what about all the concerns I had, and my husband had? Well, first off, safety is obviously the first priority at Oceanic Ventures. Now that I am diving, I wonder how people got themselves into those situations in those scary dive books. Of course, mistakes can happen, but most of those incidents are inconceivable on an Oceanic Ventures trip. Yes, diving is expensive, and I have a LOT of stuff. I am still dealing with how to organize it and where it all needs to go between trips. Oh well! The experiences I have had as a diver, and the friends I have made, have been more than worth it.

Scuba Diver Susan Long Diving in Fiji
Susan in Fiji

I love being a part of the Oceanic Ventures “tribe.” It feels like home. I am very impressed with the emphasis on safety and professionalism at Oceanic Ventures. Ann and Eric Keibler run a tight ship, with little room for error, but lots of room for fun. It is easy to have fun when you have confidence in the trip leader, the dive location, the divemasters, and the choice of dive sites. And you get to go play with your dive peeps!

My husband has put up with all this graciously, taking me to the airport and kissing me goodbye as I go off on my next diving adventure. I am so happy to report that since his retirement last August he has become a certified scuba diver, and we are going on our second trip to Cozumel with Oceanic Ventures next month!

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Trip Report – Cozumel Birthday and Anniversary Trip!

First day in Cozumel was great! A little delay while they worked on the aircraft, but with some tailwinds we made it on time. We went out on the boat with Jose Luis and Danielle to Paradiso (Paradise Reef) for our shake down dive, and for Susan’s very first Open Water Dive! She did great! We saw a Spotted Moray, Yellow Stingray, Scorpionfish and more Arrowhead Crabs than I could count. After a great 70 min dive we all got back and we’re headed to Casa Mission to celebrate Stephen’s Birthday.

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New Technical Divers

David & Steve
David & Steve Getting Ready for a Dive

Recently, I had the opportunity to teach a new group of Technical Divers.  They were excited to expand their diving knowledge and learn some new skills at the same time.  We spent the summer Side Mount diving, and learning the Principles of Technical Diving.  Needless to say, I spent a lot of time at the lake.

When it was time to go on the deeper dives required for their Advanced Recreational Trimix Class we were scheduled to go to Lake Travis.  However, they decided that it would be more fun and a better experience if we went diving in clear water.  Now, for people who know me, I don’t particularly like teaching technical diving in Lake Travis because the reduced visibility limits the swim distances and the entire diving experience is shackled.  So, when they decided that they would like a better experience, I immediately began putting something together for Cozumel.

Cozumel is an ideal choice because you can get there easily with almost daily flights direct to the island from Houston and because the diving there is spectacular.  Additionally, the infrastructure for technical diving is there with mixed gas, bottles and sorb readily available.  Additionally, the food and lodging costs are reasonable.
We arrived on Friday afternoon and were boat-diving that afternoon – a 130’ tune-up dive.  Over the next two days, we ended up doing five decompression dives to depths in excess of 145 feet and still had time to enjoy the sun and Pepe’s world famous guacamole.  Our dives were joined by turtles, large groupers, moray eels, schools of snapper, huge lobster, crabs and plenty of crystal clear blue water.
 

David, Eric & Steve
Finished & Celebrating!

David and Steve found out that technical diving is more than minimal visibility, slow swims and brown objects.  Here they had sunlight penetrating all the way down, enough room to swim while keeping track of the team and decompression in clear water, with a reef sliding by underneath.  They also got to experience how nice it is to have the boat pick you up at the end and deal with the equipment after the dive.  This was a whirlwind trip – arrive on Friday, Leave on Monday but it was a better experience than the dives in Lake Travis they had originally planned.
I feel they are now better equipped to deal with the diving environments most technical divers will face.  They have a lot of experience in low visibility locations but clear water is also important and these divers have experience in both environments.

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Dive Diva Trip October 2012

Divas in Costa Rica
The Dive Divas in Costa Rica

Dive Diva/Rock Beauty Semi-Annual Weekend Adventure to Cozumel Mexico El Presidente Intercontinental Hotel

October 19-23, 2012

Join us for a weekend of fun, sun, diving, spa, touring, beverages with beach umbrellas, snorkeling, and rest……. Friday thru Tuesday. The dive staff at SCUBA Du will offer valet dive service and beautiful fast boats so that we can be back in time for lunch and umbrella drinks on the beach. Or spend the afternoon in town shopping for Holiday gifts for friends and co-workers. One afternoon Ann will organize a trip to tour the Mayan Ruins and a visit to the beaches on the East side of the island. The spa has offered our group a 15% discount on all services booked in advance for our group. Night dives and night snorkeling available.

  • Package includes: RT Air from Houston to Cozumel via Continental Airlines, 5 days/ 4 nights El Presidente Intercontinental Resort Hotel, 3 days of two tank boat diving, plus a boat dive the day of arrival, air taxes on base fare, welcome cocktail, American breakfast buffet, transfers to the hotel, beach cylinders, weights, water on board, hotel taxes/resort fee, trip brochure and packet, trip shirt, and travel leader….Ann.
  • Fare: $1595 per person for Club Aquarius Members ($1545 dfc and club). $500 deposit due January 1. Final payment due on April 1, 2012. Trip insurance recommended, diving insurance required.
  • Not Included: Nitrox, extra boat diving, tips for the local staff, marine park fee, shopping, increases in air taxes, tours and entrance to the Mayan ruins. Space is Limited.

Dive Mom. Sign Me Up; I want to go diving!

 

Club Aquarius is an International Diving Club. Oceanic Ventures sponsors a local chapter. Membership is $75 pp family for a year and $65 for individuals.

Membership benefits include travel discounts, discounts on classes, monthly equipment specials, meetings, door prizes, a card and a gift.

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Price and availability subject to change until booked. Trip insurance is recommended as all deposits are non-refundable unless the trip runs full and replacement found.

 
 

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Eric's Cozumel Winter Get Away January 13-17 2011 Announced

Yeah!!! Eric’s January trip details are completed!!!
We are holding air, boats and space; so,  join us for an escape from the cold to Cozumel. We will be staying again at Casa Mexicana, located in town, close to shopping, dining, and activities. We  have a full diving schedule starting with a boat dive the day we arrive, then one day of three dives, two days of two tank diving with lunch on the boat each day. Opportunities to add additional afternoon or night dives as desired. Recreational equipment can be rinsed and stored at the dive shop. Breakfast buffet is included each morning.
This trip is open to recreational, technical and rebreather divers.  For rebreather and technical divers, the run times for each dive will be two hours.
This trip promises to be a fun trip and a great time to escape the cold in Houston or wherever you live.  Dive Mom is holding space so you need book onto the trip in a hurry becasue we have to release the air seats we are holding.  You can find out more details about this fun trip to Cozumel by calling Ann or reviewing the detail trip sheet.