smokinmike

Interesting to see more and more cartel violence impacting the heart of tourist sites like Cabo, Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel. I was in Guadalajara over the weekend and we were talking with our some locals about how the tourism industry goes out of its way to somewhat hide the true nature of violence in the area to avoid scaring tourists. The conversation was triggered by my wife receiving a message that someone we knew had been "sequestrado" - kidnapped by one of the local gangs/cartels. The person was released after a spayment was made, but it is an incredibly unnerving and frightening experience. Fortunately, "extranjeros" foreigners are largely ignored as it is just easier for the cartels / gangs to prey on the locals.

There is no drug cartel violence affecting Cozumel. Will you please stop this!

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It's really almost impossible to talk people out of their fear. Folks will be afraid or they won't. People will travel or they won't.

I do know this - when fear rules your life, you have quit living and you may as well BE dead.

Travel to Mexico or not - that's a decision people make on a daily basis but this hyperbole serves NO purpose.

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"The bombing of the ferry was done by a highly organized drug cartel that is doing its best to destroy Mexico- big difference!"

. . . and exactly how do you know this?

Unless you can back up wild speculation like this, you should stop with the hyperbole. You've "cruised 30 times since 1989" - how much time have you spent on the island in that timespan other than an eight hour port visit? Maybe you are too afraid to to travel but please, keep your fearfulness in it's proper place - with you.

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Wow - will you lighten up Francis!

We'll be on Coz for a month in November and December - if we get killed, we'll let you know.

. . . and if you are too afraid to travel there - just don't go. Other folks who go there quite a bit have a different opinion of the place than you.

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Well - we'll be on Cozumel for a month in November and December. If anything happens, we'll let you know.

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Hey - if you don't want to go to Mexico, don't go.

. . . but you can stop all the scarifying. Most folks who go to Cozumel on a regular basis know that it's one of the safest places around. My only concern while I'm on the island is being run over by a Jeep driven by a drunk American off a cruise ship.

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I would say Money Bar is your best bet. Get out along the buoy line - the water is 20-30 feet deep there but there are a few small coral heads there with critters.

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Money Bar - 2 for 1 Happy Hour, decent food, and a real good place to catch a nice sunset.

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Was this explosion an accident?

Oops - I may have misinterpreted your question. Sorry - it's early for me.

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Was this explosion an accident?

No. There have been numerous accidents involving the SIF over the years, mostly crashing into docks. Most involve injuries and some involve deaths. My point is that stuff can happen at the intersection of the interaction between large machinery and human beings. Safety on ships is a paramount focus - for passengers AND crew. Remember - the crew wants to go home to their families too.

. . . and I love the Staten Island Ferry - it's the best ticket in town!

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. . . and then there are accidents involving the Staten Island ferries . . .

Stuff happens.

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It depends on the point of view...

Perfect!

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You are correct - my bad. Should have known b/c we've done the America's Cup 12 meter race a couple of times and their office is very near M'ville on the International Pier. Sorry about that!

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Wow! Human beings behaving badly!

Two things . . .

1. Folks on vacation being angry.

2. Cruise ship employees beating on passengers.

Mass market travel at it's finest!

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Margaritaville is at Puerto Maya - right where the Carnival ships put in. You don't even have to go out to the street - walk off the ship, walk down the pier, and walk into the joint.

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First of all - to each his/her own. If you like having the stuff, by all means, take it.

Having said that, after spending the best part of four decades hauling cases of various photo and television gear all over the world, I'm very happy with the pictures I get from my iPhone. I learned early on that if you know it's limits and don't push'em, you can do good work with the device.

I would encourage anyone to look a Dave Kennerly's work with an iPhone in order to see what's possible with that thing in your pocket.

Of course I do make an exception when I go on dive trips - then I lug a Pelican on board with all my stuff. That's enough reminder of the old days!

. . . and to those folks who talk me about the limits of my phone I usually say to them "You've never used a Speed Graphic or a Filmo have you?"

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I've been hauling my old stuff in a Pelican 1510 case as a carry-on for years and that's no problem for me. This new system seems smaller physically with less weight and therefore easier to deal with on small dive boats. I always wanted a second strobe but didn't want the bulk of another Substrobe. I'm hoping somebody has used this gear so they can give me a rundown - especially in the areas of sensor performance, shutter response, continuous burst performance, and strobe performance such as syncing issues, key/fill or power settings, degree of wide angle coverage, power usage, and distance performance.

I've read a bunch of reviews and seen some YouTubes but just looking for more feedback.

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Canon G11, Ikelite housing, and Ikelite 160 Substrobe. I want something smaller with a couple of strobes. This seems like it - everything I want is less than $1600 at Leisure Pro.

. . . and this cam has a 1" Sony sensor which is a big upgrade from my old Canon.

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I'm thinking about replacing my old Canon/Ikelite housing & strobe with the Sealife DC2000 Pro Duo system and a couple of Flex Arms. Anyone have any experience - good, bad, or indifferent - with this gear?

Thanks

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I need lighting but thanks.

. . . although I have been thinking about getting a Go Pro as an adjunct b/c of it's ease, compactness, and simplicity.

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I'm thinking about replacing my old Canon/Ikelite housing/strobe system with a Sealife DC2000 setup with a couple of strobes and flex arms. Anyone have any experience - good, bad, or indifferent - with this gear?

Thanks.

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Rolandi's for sunset dinner then a walk around San Miguel maybe stopping for cocktails - plenty of places.

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Best thing about Castries is - leaving. To appreciate St. Lucia, one must get out of Castries and that happens successfully with some pre-planning.

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You could walk there in about 45 minutes from Puerta Maya but I wouldn't do it - no sidewalks and the walk isn't particularly scenic. We stay at the Park Royal and while I walk to San Miguel occasionally, I've never walked to the MB - especially since 120 pesos buys you the cab ride.

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Most boats are salvaged, repaired, and put back into service. Fortunately no one was hurt in this unfortunate accident but from everything I've heard, Sand Dollar is a reputable dive op with hard-working crew and DMs. I dive with another local shop but I would hesitate to dive with Sand Dollar - I've seen their boats and crew at work.

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