I must point out that I do not have any business connection whatsoever with Adora Divers, only very good memories that I would like to share with others, so please go on to get to know more about diving Cozumel and in particular with Aldora Divers.
If you like to know more, you can also send me an Arne D. Thronsen or send an e-mail to David, Aldora Divers
In the summer of 1995, I was too busy working to do any diving at all. After considering for a while (and encouraged by my wife), I decided to go "somewhere" for about a weeks diving. I asked around with travel agents in Norway (I was not a member of any dive clubs then) and one of them said COZUMEL!
My first question was: Where is Cozumel and is it worth the expense and long travel time?
I had just joined the Internet-craze and started to search around if it was wortwhile going there. I posted a message in a newsgroup (now I have no clue which one), but I received a few answers. One in particular was very useful, it came from Ramon Pirez Lopez. After my week's stay in Cozumel, I realized how lucky I was getting the message from him and thus had decided to go to Cozumel and particularly diving with Aldora Divers.
By maintaining these pages, I hope that someone else can have the wonderful experience I had a year ago (I also tried a cattle boat then, but would like to forget about that, no names mentioned).
I have been back with Aldora again both in April and November 1996, April 1997, it is really worth the long trip from Norway! Now I am planning my 6th. trip in April/May this year and am really looking forward to it.
The first of the Aldora boats coming to pick me up at my hotel
For those that only count the number of times their face has been in the water, probably not. Or for those that enjoy the social aspects of diving with large groups, the same is true. And for those that are on a very tight budget it may not be...but the semi-private charter operation can do the following:
First off a comfortable and safe boat is needed. A good choice is a Marbot 28 which is manufactured in Cancun to an American design. It is 28 feet overall and has some similarity to a panga but has high freeboards, a lateral side door, tuna tower, and twin 150 hp Yamaha engines. The hull is ideally set up for the waters of Cozumel and it is the fastest boat on the island. (fast is an important issue when traveling to the sites of the far south and wanting to get there first and see the large animals). Also with twin 150s it can achieve planning speed and near normal operation with just one engine! For navigation a state of the art satellite navigation system (GPS) is onboard to make sure the right drop site is found. The dive boat should be equipped with all USCG, PADI and DAN recommended devices including an O2 Rescue Pack. While many other operations cram 10 divers into similar hulls a semi-private operation can economically live with a 6 diver limit.
In selecting rental gear the semi-private charter should first look to safety and quality. The equipment of choice should be of first class quality and condition and equal to or better than Zeagle Ranger BCs, Oceanic Delta II regulators, and the standard console should include a dive computer, similar to an Oceanic Prodigy. The gear used by the group is important in Cozumel because it is all drift diving--when one in the group has to come up everyone has to.
Now most people don't think too much about their console-- until the whole group has to come up earlier than needed because one person is diving the tables. Also, most people don't think too much about their tanks--until they have to start their ascent 20 minutes into a dive because one person in the group has run out of air. A quality oriented semi-private charter operation must find ways to equalize air supply and no-deco time for their divers.
At Aldora Divers of Cozumel all divers are required to use computers and if they don't have one then it will be provided. For most divers Aldora uses hi capacity steel 102 cf tanks that have 25% more air than the standard 80s, are smaller and weigh less...and they never become positively buoyant, even when empty. For the heavy breather Aldora straps on a 120cf tank that is just slightly heavier than the 80 but again is not positively buoyant and provides 50% more air. For divers that just go on and on with no air consumption at all we have tiny steel 80s that are about half the size of aluminum ones. Or if desired alum 80s are available.
By equalizing divers in a group with both computers and air supply, divers frequently get double the bottom time than from other operations. No operation on the island, other than Aldora Divers, is capable of doing this at this time.
The semi-private dive charter deals with small enough groups that it can make certain that all divers in a group have nearly the same dive experience and interests. A wide divergence would dictate the use of a second boat. By pre-planning the trip the divemaster can equalize divers with air supplies and computers. They can also be very particular about the drop site and make sure every dive is the best it can be.
While in the water the divemaster should be a guide and naturalist, not just the guardian of safety. With groups limited to 6 he can take the time to personally show many of the wonders of the Cozumel Reefs that others will just never know about. But safety is important and all divemasters are PADI instructors that can also help hone diving skills during the dive. In addition, even though drifting, all ascents should be made using an ascent line attached to an inflatable marker buoy. This is done to warn other, perhaps high speed boats, in the area. This also gives the captain a much better chance to locate the group quickly.
Service above the surface is important as well. Surface intervals should be long so that world class second dives can be made. And if they are to be long, then they should be enjoyable rather than bobbing along getting seasick. The best way is to spend a leisurely stop on the beach at one of the day beaches near the dive sites. One can enjoy a nice sit down breakfast or early lunch while listening to music and watching volleyball matches and the beach scene. If the group so desired fishing during the interval is also possible.
Ready for the second dive of the day
The second dive is usually at Santa Rosa Wall or Palancar, or wherever the group wants to go...even a second pass at Punta Sur. The two hour surface interval opens the door to many possibilities denied those diving with other operations. The semi-private charter operation cannot schedule afternoon trips, as that would create a rush to get back for the "cattle". Without that pressure another long leisurely dive can be enjoyed. It is common for the semi-private charter operation to provide over an hour of bottom time each dive.
With personalized service, semi-private charter divers do not have to touch their gear after the dive. The operation should clean it, store it overnight and then rig it to a tank the next morning. All the diver has to do step on the boat and go. That is the quality dive experience.
Currently there is but one operation on the island of Cozumel that is offering such semi-private charter operation--but there should, and will be, more as the diving public becomes more understanding of the issues that contribute to quality dives in Cozumel. That company Aldora S.A. de C.V. is American owned and all employees speak English. All employees, even the ones who wash the gear, are rescue diver trained and also DAN O2 provider trained. If given the opportunity, Aldora picks up their clients at the airport to spare them the indignity of dealing with the shuttle bus mania! Aldora does everything it can to let their clients "dive like millionaires" for just a little more.
I highly recommend Aldora Divers in Cozumel, they give wonderful diving for small parties (max. 6 per boat).
If you like to know more, please send me an e-mail or send an e-mail to David, Aldora Divers.
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