Cozumel - Advanced Padi Certified!

I just got back from a week long dive trip to Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first time being anywhere in the Caribbean area, and only the second time I have gone on a trip to dive. Back in May, I received my Padi certification to dive in Hawaii. This time, I was going for my advanced certification. Because of my short experience with diving I decided to go through a dive company for the trip so that I could be around other AZ divers. All in total, I did 13 dives in the week there. Cozumel is known for some of the best diving in the world, and it is not unusual to have 100-200 feet visibility underwater. Also, the water is warm - when we were there about 82, but as cold as I get I still wore a wetsuit. (see my new wetsuit just for the trip!).

Getting to Cozumel is not quick, and we had to fly to Denver then back to Cozumel. Cozumel is more like what I would think to be authentic Mexico - locals, not as commercialized from what I saw. The cruise ship dock was right outside the hotel, so when they were in tons of sunburned tourists engulfed the streets. The benefit of that location though, was that it is right next to the dive shop and dock so less of a trip carrying all of the gear!

To get the certification for advanced, you have to do a total of 5 dives that are all different. I did 2 night dives, a wreck dive, deep dive (over 60 feet at least), underwater naturalist (basically identify fish and corals) and navigation underwater with a compass. It is one of the most peaceful, surreal experiences I have ever had which is why I keep wanting to do it. Underwater, there is no talking just dancing though the water, going into areas seeing every type of fish and coral it seemed. Every time I jump in I still get little butterflies in my stomach, knowing that you are going into this underwater world that few get to experience and know that it was a place that humans have only been able to be in for a short period of time relatively. It still seems strange that you can be under for 50 minutes and still keep breathing! In Cozumel, there is something called drift diving. It is where there are currents that take you around and can change. In some cases, they can help you so you do not have to swim much. In other cases, it can make it difficult to stay where you want to be!

The dives that got my blood pumping the most were the deep dives, the deepest I went was to 110 feet. You can get this thing called Nitrogen narcosis, check it out online. People react differently, and it feels like I am sensitive to many things including this! I got sick to my stomach, freaked out alittle and then came up too fast (if you know, I did not use the BCD to pump air so I did not shoot up like you see on TV). It is easier to do than I thought - you can get the bends if you do that but I was fine. Lesson learned for next time. When I went deep again for a couple more dives, I discovered it was about 80 feet that I felt this. It probably did not help though, that with the drift at that point I was over a 3000 foot wall and it was talking me out over it! It take your breath away to look down and know that is how deep it goes. I plan to try again in an area without a drift, and more of a slow slope to see how the depth affects me.

The dive that turned out to be one of my favorites was the night dive - and I was apprehensive to do so. Not being about to see, and with a flashlight?? But it turned out to be awesome! We all had lights and there were 12 of us in the water. It was no deeper than 40 feet. All the creatures come out of hiding at night, so I saw eels, crabs, big lobster and octopus! See everyone floating though the water is like seeing fireflies glide in the sky, swooping down to see something on the bottom. Wednesday, we had the day off from diving so a group of us went across on the ferry to Playa del Carmen, then onto Cancun! Took a Mexican bus. :) In Cozumel, I stayed away from the shops and Americanized areas for the most part. Cancun is another story though - white sandy beaches, big luxury hotels. Looks like the Caribbean that you always see pics of. Cozumel does not have too many beaches, just a couple that have the typical white sandy beaches (but it is one of the best diving places in the world). I ended up crashing the pool and beach at the JW Marriott there. Since it is the slow season, they did not seem to mind. I definitely want to take a trip back to Cancun. Of course, we did partake in some nightlife. LA Choza was one of my favorite retaurants, authentic and unairconditioned. They had some of the best lobster kabobs I kept going back to! Also, what is Mexico without Senor Frogs and Carlos and Charlies!! Though, I will say that diving takes ALOT of energy. I only went there one night before we left!

Diving is one thing I never thought I would do - I was afraid of deep water and never jumped into AZ lakes. But here I am - Padi advanced certified. I am finding with each item I do that challenges myself, whether it be professionally, personally or emotionally - allows me to succeed in other areas. Overcoming fear in one area allows you to believe that you can overcome other fears. This week , I start another area I never though I would do - triathlon swim training. Keep dreaming big! :)