SCUBA SIG of American Mensa - Cozumel, Mexico, December 9-16, 2013

SCUBA SIG DIVES COZUMEL DECEMBER 9-16, 2013

Greetings Mensa Divers - Here is the full announcement for the SCUBA SIG Cozumel trip in December. If you've been on one of our Cozumel trips before, the details are basically the same. No need to read through everything, you already know how much fun it is. And this year the fun is extended to a full week! So just go ahead and start booking your air and hotel right now. If you haven't been with us before, and you're interested in joining us this December, the announcement below should fill you in on all the details. So get on board and let's dive!

Ann Faget

Join the SCUBA SIG in Cozumel for the tenth year in a row. We have a fabulous time every year, but it will be even more fun if you join us this year! You won't want to miss the excitement, so make your plans now to be part of our group. As in previous years, 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 Monday December 9, depart Monday December 16, stay at Casa Del Mar, 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 certainly welcome to come only for the usual 5 nights/4 dive days (or to stay longer), but the core dates for the group are 12/9 - 12/16.

The Details:

Airfare

Round trip air on United (formerly Continental) nonstop from Houston is currently $444. If you have enough frequent flyer miles, this would be a GREAT time to use them. Also, you may be able to save money by booking an air/hotel combination package.

Check the United web site for fares from other cities, connecting through Houston. For other airlines/departure cities, American Airlines, US Airways, and Delta all offer connecting service.

Another option is to fly into Cancun, take a bus to Playa del Carmen and then take the ferry to Cozumel. (See the Ferry Schedule here Ferry Schedule) I have tried this before, and it was inconvenient enough that I wouldn't recommend it unless you are saving a LOT of money on your airfare this way.) Commuter flights between Cancun and Cozumel have been available in the past, but I cannot find any in a current web search.

Bottom line: it pays to research all options and be willing to put up with a little inconvenience.

Hotel Casa del Mar

This will be the fifth year for the Mensa group to stay here and there's a reason we keep returning: super hospitality. By staying at Casa del Mar, we're trading the convenience of staying in town for the convenience of being picked up at the hotel dock each morning. We will share taxis into town and back for dinner each evening; those feeling in need of exercise after dinner may elect to take a peaceful stroll back along the seawall. Casa del Mar is a charming property south of town, and it's been completely restored since 2005. The staff here is exceptionally friendly and hard working, they are genuinely happy to welcome us back each year. The hotel has a swimming pool (with the requisite swim-up bar and hot tub) in a beautiful garden setting, perfect for après-dive sunning and relaxing while enjoying a gorgeous Caribbean vista. There is a bridge over the road which allows access to their beach with palapas and hammocks, and a roped in snorkeling area. The clean and modern rooms are well appointed. WiFi is available only in the lobby if you bring your own laptop, or you may use the workstations in the lobby at no charge. Each morning we will enjoy a delicious full breakfast, either from the menu or buffet style, while seated under the spacious palapa of their ocean view restaurant. Trip Advisor is currently giving Casa del Mar 4 out of 5 stars, and it is rated #26 out of 58 hotels in Cozumel .

Casa del Mar is offering us a group rate of $79/nt, single or double, for a superior (ocean view) room and $62/nt for a standard room. Split level cabana suites with kitchenette are available for $109/nt. Breakfast is included! The Cozumel hotel tax is an additional 14%. To reserve, send an email to Sandra Arreguin, dive@casadelmarcozumel.com, the Sales Manager at Casa del Mar; she will confirm your reservation by return email. You can call her on her direct line at 011-52-987-872-1381, or you can call toll free to 800-235-5892. Ask for the Mensa Group to get our group rate.

Please note that it is not required to book through Casa del Mar. You may be able to find a better deal for an air/hotel package by checking United Vacations, Expedia, Travelocity, etc.

Schedule

Those of us flying United will arrive in Cozumel at 11:10 AM on Monday. After checking into the hotel and unpacking, we'll stroll across the street to Ernesto's for a leisurely lunch overlooking the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean. After lunch, we'll head over to Dive with Martin to check in and pick up any needed equipment. For those who haven't been diving in a while and want to get comfortable underwater again, and those who just can't wait to get in the water, a check-out shore dive the first afternoon is the answer. We'll get some tanks for an optional dive to the sunken airplane, still one of Cozumel's best shore dives, although there's very little of the airplane left.

Tuesday through Sunday: more diving! Each morning we'll head out for a two tank boat dive; then we'll have the afternoons at leisure (translation: lunch and a siesta). The hard core divers may want to do a third tank at least one day. Other options include sun bathing, shopping, a trip to beautiful Chankanaab Marine Preserve for snorkeling or the Dolphin Encounter, Mayan ruins, and many others. We may be able to arrange a dive in one of the fresh water cenotes if there is any interest. Excursions to the mainland to see Tulum, Xel-ha or Xcaret can be arranged for non-divers or those who don't want to dive every day. We will do at least one boat night dive. 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 12:05 PM United flight to Houston.

Diving

We will dive with Dive with Martin. I have been using Dive with Martin for well over twenty years; it is one of Cozumel's finest dive operations, offering fast boats and personalized service. The shop is located south of town at the International Pier, within easy walking distance of our hotel. The DWM boat will pick us up at the Casa del Mar pier each morning. The rate is $235 (+ $65 for Nitrox) for 4 days of 2 tank boat diving, $285 (+ $75 for Nitrox) for 5 days, and $342 (+ $85 for Nitrox) for 6 days - still the best bargain in Cozumel. That includes a free video of one of our dive days. We will add an optional boat night dive for $30. In addition, Dive with Martin offers dive gear at no extra charge; just let me know what you need so I can reserve in advance. This is ideal for new divers who don't have their own equipment yet; DWM can provide everything you need. Afternoon or night shore dives may materialize if we have enough interest (i.e., one other diver besides me). One of the advantages to staying at Casa del Mar is that some of Cozumel's best shore diving and snorkeling can be found right in front of our hotel, and DWM offers tanks for shore diving at no additional charge.

For those of you with a friend or family member interested in getting certified, Dive with Martin offers a full SCUBA School, including PADI Open Water certification, and Open Water Referral (do your class and pool 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.

Diving in Cozumel is as easy as doing a back roll off the side of the boat. No strenuous swimming needed - just drift along with the current through crystal clear turquoise depths while marveling at the colorful marine life. No worries about trying to navigate back to the boat - the capitan follows the group from above, and the boat will be waiting to pick us up when we surface. For our first dive of the day, we will normally descend to one of Cozumel's world-famous walls, floating among towering coral formations formed over the centuries. Our second dive will be a more leisurely shallow dive, with plenty of interesting fish and critters. Awesome coral, colorful marine life, clear azure waters - this is diving at its best!

Questions?

Post any questions you have about Cozumel (or anything about SCUBA diving) to the SCUBA SIG 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 Faget at Cozumel2013@scubasig.us.mensa.org.

Caveat

The prices quoted in this announcement are current as of 6/23/13, and are, as usual, subject to change. With rising fuel prices, air fares may go up at any time. Hotel rooms may sell out. Although Casa del Mar is offering us a group rate, the SCUBA SIG has NOT reserved a block of rooms. Trip participants will need to book their own air and hotel accommodations.

Review

Let's review why this trip will be GREAT!

We will dive the world famous reefs and walls of Cozumel, home of the elusive Cozumel toad fish (and also, unfortunately, the ever increasing lionfish). We will see turtles, eels, sharks, sea horses, lobsters, and (if we're lucky) spotted eagle rays, plus a wide variety of colorful corals and marine life, all while drifting blissfully through the gin clear azure waters of the Caribbean. If you've been to Cozumel before, you know what I'm talking about. For Cozumel first timers, get some basic info at http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/index.htm and Cozumel Diving
Dive with Martin will cater to our group - we will have our own dedicated dive boat (or boats depending on the size of our group) and dive masters, and choose our dive sites every day. In addition to unlimited tanks for shore diving, our dive package also includes FREE dive gear. That's right - no need to rent gear; if you don't have your own, DWM will supply everything you need including regulator and BCD. As far as I know, DWM is the only dive operation in Cozumel to include gear at no extra charge with their dive packages, which are still the most reasonably priced on the island; this is a primary reason why I keep bringing my groups back there.
Our charming hotel offers spacious ocean view rooms in a garden setting south of town. Excellent shore diving and snorkeling are available right in front of our hotel.
Our trip leader, Ann Faget, will be happy to offer the benefit of her extensive experience with Cozumel travel and diving. After falling in love with Cozumel on her first Mensa dive trip back in 1987 (wow - has it really been over 25 years?), Ann has been returning to Cozumel 2 or 3 times a year ever since. She will be able to recommend a wide variety of excellent restaurants for lunch and dinner, and assist with suggestions for shopping, sightseeing, etc.
Finally: What better way to get the best out of a dive trip? We will enjoy the inestimable pleasure of the company of our fellow Mensa divers. Catch up with old friends and make new ones!

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:

Suggest a time and place for diving.
Facilitate communications to help you find a roommate and discuss this trip (or any other).
Provide updates on the SCUBA SIG Announcements Email List: http://lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/scubasig-announce

What the SCUBA SIG doesn't do for you:

Make any reservations.
Handle any money.
Accept any liability for your health, wealth, or personal happiness in life.

DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT AND YOUR C-CARD!!

Email your questions to Ann Faget at Cozumel2013@scubasig.us.mensa.org.

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Photos by J.Sitchin