61 Divers, Snorkelers, Bubblewatchers

Travelers: Heather Bloom, Group Leader, Marlene Sawyer, Luci Aley, Laura Murphy, Sharon Aley, Pat Collins, Jerry and Julie Wolff, Dan and Diane Anderson, Lynne Unger, Jennifer Unger, Bob Carter, Rudy Koolovitz, Larry and Dottie DeVries, Nancy Wait, Ben McDow, Mark and Rommyna Deleeuw, Tom and Nancy Jensen, Pat Grega and Tom Olson, Ricky and Tracey Hampton, John and Margaret Steketee, Judy and David Tanis, Julie and Daniel Parras, Dan Christian, Mike Banka, Beverly Lynch, Mark Pitzer, Sam Ciatta, Debbie and Paul Chase, John and Cindy Achterhoff, III, Tom Biros, John Lemke, Chris and Sue Krause, Glenn and Brauen Gustafson, Mike and Wendi Zimmerman, Jean and Ed Moy, John and Valerie Hanson, Greg and Kathy Dahl, David and Jeanne Kops, Rich and Mary Lou Reynolds, and Gordon and Cindy Chapman.

What a wonderful time to get away from the cold and snow of an early Michigan in winter to warm and friendly Cozumel!

And what a fun, relaxing, festive time we had! Heather, Group Leader and Travel Specialitst, booked this trip thru Apple Vacations on sale from Detroit. Then it went on sale again, and became all-inclusive for less than the original price. Amazing! Then, Apple Changed our departure city from Detroit to Chicago, direct charter, and gave us a $200 discount per person for doing so. So the trip, that was originally $999 with breakfast, we got at $729, all-inclusive. Amazing! Needless to say, the trip sold out! We arrived in Cozumel late on Saturday, and Casa del Mar, our home away from home, had a huge “snack” buffet spread with drinks for us after the easy check-in.

This was our 15th straight year at Casa del Mar, only missing one year due to Hurricane Lenny.

Miguel, Katie, Sandra, Lidia and staff treat us like royalty, and we so appreciate their kindness and service! Sunday morning, we arose to a wonderful buffet breakfast with made-to-order eggs and the works. That was every day! Then it was time to visit our friends at Del mar Aquatics dive shop, right across the walkway on the ocean. Alex, Augustine, Renee, Mario, Fernando, David and all the staff were helpful as we checked in, found a locker, weights, tanks and did our acclimation dive, before boat diving. Most needed to do the acclimation, just to be sure equipment was working right and buoyancy was comfortable, before hopping on the boat. A few were already ready to boat dive that morning, having checked in the week before (lucky ones!) or had dove very recently. The rest of us had a nice shore dive, being helped by Glenn Gustafson on shore, always ready to lend a hand getting into the ocean, and handing our extra weight. We even saw a lemon ray on the first dive! This was my first dive after a dry year, recovering from lymphoma. It was a true blessing to dive again!!! After the shore dive, we had lunch off the menu (all included), and a meeting with Rueben, the Apple Representative for Casa del Mar (CDM). Rueben gave us an overview of the island and tours of interest. We had a number of people interested in tours, and Apple does a wonderful job arranging them, professional and insured. Some signed up for island tours, snorkeling tours, dolphin swims, mainland tours of the Mayan Ruins of Chitzen Itza or Tulum. We also received info on the Sunset Pirate Dinner Cruise….more on that fun excursion later! Sunday afternoon, we relaxed by the pool, trying new and old drinks, swapping dive stories. The dinner at CDM was delicious, ordering off the menu anything we wanted! From that point on, we had breakfast buffet in the morning, with lunch and dinner off the menu. Chips and fresh salsa (pico de galo) and guacamole were standard, just for asking. There was an up charge for shrimp, lobster and some steaks, as well as top shelf alcohol. Otherwise, it was all included! Delicious! Sunday night in the town square, downtown San Miguel was a delight, as always. Artisans show their local wares, shops are open, music plays, and Mexican families bring their children, dressed in their Sunday best for the festivities. This year, there was a pre-carnival pageant, where they chose the king and queen of Cozumel Carnival. The contestants were dressed in stunning, brightly colored costumes, dancing and telling us about themselves. I am not sure who won, but any of them would have been perfect!

Monday morning, after breakfast, it was time to boat dive!

We had a big group, enough for 3 boats the first day. We had a regular boat (Big Splash) and 2 “advanced” boats. Fernando and David were our divemasters on Big Splash. After a briefing on the boat, dive etiquette, we were underway to our first sight, Delilah. Fernando gave the dive briefing, and Heather gave the “Fish of the Dive” so we could learn a bit more about fish life. A great first dive! Dive 2 of the day was at Palancar Shallows. We arrived back to shore, in time for lunch and a siesta, sun bathing by the pool, shore diving, night diving, or shopping. It was a vacation of choices, and people chose what they wanted to do. After all, it was THEIR vacation! The week progressed with the same dive itinerary….2 tank boat dive in the mornings with unlimited shore diving. And the marine life, beautiful! Cozumel in the only place have dove in the Caribbean where you will see all 3 types of big angelfish on each dive….Queen, French and Gray. Plus, you may get lucky and spot some of the juvenile babies from each! Our divemasters were very adept pointing out juvenile spotted drums (so many this trip and my favorite!), toadfish, lobster, anemone crabs and tiny shrimp, not to mention seahorses, rays, and the occasional nurse sharks. So many fish species to see, drifting by. Just beautiful!

Wednesday, divers had the choice to either boat dive, take a day off diving, or go to the mainland with Heather, to dive the cenotes. 8 divers took the ferry across to Playa del Carmen and dove with Aquatech at Dos Ojos cenote. The cenotes are an underground and underwather cavern system. A certified cave instructor takes you thru this system, with lines already marked. It is clear, fresh, water, showing off stalactites and stalagmites, rock formation, caves into an abyss, and beautiful cenotes, holes to the outer world. With the light reflection, a rainbow of colors shows thru, surrounding the canopy of trees with dancing light. It was like a painted crystal picture of streaming color. Wednesday was also Chris Krauses 50th birthday. We celebrated at the Cenotes and that night at the Casa del Mar, where they had a delicious fruit covered birthday cake, candles, and gold balloon decorations! Wow!

Thursday was the night for the famous sunset "Pirate Dinner Crusie.”

What a lively, swashbuckling night! The evening began with the pirate show, complete with a near hanging of Mike Banka and birthday boy Chris Krause. It included games (where Paul Chase almost lost his manhood when his energetic wife Debbie flew/pounced on top of him), music, dancing, a bit of drinking, real sword fighting, lobster, as well as a delicious steak and/or chicken dinner. Chris’ yummy birthday cake was our dessert!

Friday's last dive was shallow, long, and beautiful!

Friday was our last dive day for this trip. We ended the dive at Columbia Shallows with an hour long dive off a lively reef! Friday evening, Casa del Mar put on a wonderful dinner buffet and dancing show for us at the resort. (Please Note that CDM does not do this for everyone….only for their special groups!) Prize drawings for t-shirts were fun AND a Grand Prize give away for a week long all-inclusive stay next year was won by John Steketee. Congratulations John and thank you to CDM and West Michigan Dive Travel for that trip! Saturday it was time to finish with any shopping, dry out dive gear, pack, and relax by the pool until ready to leave. CDM graciously allowed us to have one last meal before our departure for the airport that evening.

Newly Advance Certified Diver....

And, we had a Newly Advanced Certified Diver: Valerie Hanson Congrats, Valerie! Valerie and John were on their honeymoon, too! Thanks so much everyone for such a great trip to our Casa by the sea, Casa del Mar with our friends at Del Mar Aquatics.

Heather Bloom, Group Leader, Travel Specialist

Dive and Travel Adventures!

WMDT January Group Trip Slideshow