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Photos by J.Sitchin
SCUBA SIG DIVES COZUMEL DECEMBER 2006
Join the SCUBA SIG in Cozumel for the third year in a row. We’re going to have even more fun than last year! Yes, last year, in spite of hurricane Wilma disrupting our travel arrangements, in spite of delayed flights, canceled flights, missed connections and lost (only temporarily) luggage, our group had a great time! The divers were rewarded with virtually private diving and eagle rays every day! You won’t want to miss the fun this year, so make your plans now. Like last year, this will be a do it yourself trip, but with all the fun and camaraderie of a typical Mensa dive trip. The basic plan: Arrive Cozumel Wednesday December 6, depart Monday December 11, stay at Casa Mexicana, dive with Dive with Martin. Book your own air and hotel, and Ann Faget will coordinate the dive arrangements with Dive with Martin. You are welcome to arrive earlier and stay later if you wish, but the core dates for the group are 12/6 - 12/11.
The details:
Airfare – Round trip air on Continental is currently $389 from Houston Intercontinental – that’s a $25 decrease from ticket prices last year. Check the Continental web site for fares from other cities, connecting through Houston http://www.continental.com/. American Airlines offers connecting service through Dallas http://www.aa.com/. US Airways offers connecting service through Charlotte http://www.usairways.com/. Or use your frequent flyer miles. Another option is to fly into Cancun, take a bus to Playa del Carmen and then take the ferry to Cozumel. (See http://www.cozumel.net/1maps/ferry.htm for the schedule. Our group tried this perforce last year, and it was inconvenient enough that I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are saving a lot of money on your airfare this way.)
Hotel – Casa Mexicana – "http://www.casamexicanacozumel.com/eng/default.asp. Casa Mexicana is one of Cozumel’s newest hotels and it’s been completely restored since the hurricane. It’s conveniently located just on the southern edge of downtown, directly across from the ocean and within easy walking distance of the central plaza. We will be able to walk to our choice of fine restaurants each evening for dinner. There is a second floor pool, perfect for relaxing with a beautiful view of the ocean. The clean and modern rooms are well appointed, and the room price includes a full breakfast buffet. Right now, the Casa Mexicana web site is advertising a rate of $123/night for our period. Funjet http://www.funjet.com is currently offering a land only package of $418 for two adults for 5 nights at the Casa Mexicana (which works out to $41.80/person/nt). Add $120 for an ocean view room. This package includes round trip airport transfers (normally around $8/person each way) and a full breakfast buffet each morning.
You may be able to find a cheaper combination air/hotel package by using a travel agent or by doing your own research. Sidestep Hotel http://www.sidestep.com/hotel/ and Kayak http://www.kayak.com/?tab=hotels will search multiple sites for the best deals. Trip Advisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g150809-d226297-Reviews-Casa_Mexicana_Cozumel-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html is currently rating Casa Mexicana 4½ out of 5 stars.
Schedule - Those of us flying Continental will arrive in Cozumel at 11:38 in the morning on Wednesday. After checking into the hotel and unpacking, we’ll take taxis over to Casa del Mar for lunch and an optional shore dive. If Ernesto’s has re-opened, we’ll have lunch there; if not, we’ll eat at Casa del Mar. Either way, we’ll have a leisurely lunch overlooking the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean. After lunch, we'll check out some tanks from the Del Mar dive shop for an optional beach check-out dive to the sunken airplane, still one of Cozumel's best shore dives, although there’s very little of the airplane left. Thursday through Sunday we'll do a two tank morning dive with Dive with Martin; then we’ll have the afternoon at leisure. I’m hoping a few other hard core divers will want to do a third tank at least one day. Other options include sun bathing, shopping, a trip to beautiful Chankanab Marine Preserve for snorkeling (the lagoon has re-opened since Wilma), Mayan ruins, and many others. Excursions to the mainland to see Tulum, Xel-ha or Xcaret can be arranged for non-divers or those who don’t want to do four days of diving. Friday or Saturday evening we will do a boat night dive (included in our dive package). Each evening we will visit one of Cozumel's many fine restaurants for dinner. Monday morning we'll head back to the airport for the 12:15 Continental flight back to Houston.
Diving - We will dive with Dive with Martin http://www.cozumel-diving.net/martin/. Martin Aguilar started his business over ten years ago, and his dive operation is one of Cozumel's finest, offering fast boats and personalized service. His shop is located at the International Pier. The rate is $205 for four days of two tank boat diving (no increase from last year’s prices). The four day dive package includes a free boat night dive. Nitrox is an additional $9 per tank. Dive with Martin offers FREE gear to all divers; just let me know what you need so I can reserve in advance.
For those of you interested in getting certified, Dive with Martin offers a full SCUBA School, including PADI Open Water certification, and Open Water Referral (do your class work at your local dive shop, complete your open water check out dives in Cozumel). Please let me know in advance if you would like to arrange this.
Questions? - Post any questions you have about Cozumel (or anything about SCUBA diving) to the scubasig-talk list. See http://lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/scubasig-talk for details. For specific questions about this trip that you don't want to share with the rest of us, email Ann at mailto:Cozumel2006@scubasig.us.mensa.org.
Caveat – The prices quoted in this announcement are current as of 8/22/2006, and are, as usual, subject to change. With rising fuel prices, air fares may go up at any time. Hotel rooms may sell out. The SCUBA SIG has NOT reserved any spaces. Trip participants will need to book their own air and accommodations.
Review - Let's review why this trip will be great.
In summary - Great diving with great friends! It just doesn't get any better! You know you wanna go! So what are you waiting for? LET'S DIVE!!
Obligatory disclaimer
What the SCUBA SIG does for you:
What the SCUBA SIG doesn't do for you:
DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT AND YOUR C-CARD!!