Cruising the Caribbean on the Re_al Princess : A pictorial review

[scubacruiserx2]

I just returned from the Regal, but it will take me a few months (probably) to go through all my photos and get them edited.

 

She was a beautiful ship, and your review helped me get excited about the trip.

 

I went diving (first time in four years) in Cozumel and it was fabulous. At least 100 ft. visibility, and we saw so many interesting fish. My biggest thrill was seeing a spotted eagle ray with two remoras attached to it.

 

We hope that you enjoyed your cruise and we're glad that the review helped !

 

 

The dive sounds great and we are envious , because the spotted eagle is one of favorites and we haven't seen one in awhile . For the readers who haven't seen one , here's a photo and a video clip .

 

 

 

 

Notice the 3 sharp barbs at the base of the tail . If alarmed they stand upright and can be lethal as was the case for Steve Irwin , "The Crocodile Hunter " .

 

 

 

 

 

Normally docile , they appear to fly underwater as seen in this video clip that we took :

 

:) :D Edited April 20, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[lovevacadays]

We hope that you enjoyed your cruise and we're glad that the review helped !

 

 

The dive sounds great and we are envious , because the spotted eagle is one of favorites and we haven't seen one in awhile . For the readers who haven't seen one , here's a photo and a video clip .

 

 

 

 

Notice the 3 sharp barbs at the base of the tail . If alarmed they stand upright and can be lethal as was the case for Steve Irwin , "The Crocodile Hunter " .

 

 

 

 

 

Normally docile , they appear to fly underwater as seen in this video clip that we took :

 

:) :D

 

 

Wow! Pretty Amazing.

[dforeigner]

Freaking awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[trystran72]

Great shot! It almost looks like its spots were drawn on!

[scubacruiserx2]

Wow! Pretty Amazing.

 

We love them !

 

 

Freaking awesome. Thanks for sharing!

 

 

We're glad to share and there's more when we get to the dive site ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Great shot! It almost looks like its spots were drawn on!

 

 

Thanks Kim , they surely do ! :cool:

[scubacruiserx2]

Looks like an Eagle Ray

 

 

 

Looks like a Stealth Bomber

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We were meeting some friends who own a house on the island , at the dive boat . I would be diving with Mike , and Pat and Kris were going shopping since Pat wasn't cleared to dive yet . Because of the cold fronts the smaller , fast boats had not been able to go out all week , so Mike put us on one of the larger cattle boats , with a sun deck .

 

 

 

 

 

In February schools of Eagle Rays are sometimes seen in Cozumel - and so we had high hopes of seeing some . We would be heading South , past the cruise ships , to get to the reefs which we were diving on . Here's a map of the reefs and the Regal was near the ship on the map . We would be going further South to Palancar .

 

 

 

 

First we would pass the International Pier and the RCI ships .

 

 

 

Before reaching the CB and the Regal .

 

 

 

 

Here's the video clip:

 

 

 

 

Looking Regal !

 

 

 

 

A sun deck for photos !

 

 

 

And in this video clip you can see why we prefer fast boats . They are 3 times faster !

 

 

Edited April 21, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Here are some of our favorite critters seen when we dive in Cozumel .

 

 

The Scorpionfish is venomous .

 

 

 

 

This Lizardfish is about 4 inches long

 

 

 

 

A Queen Angel has a round crown on it's head .

 

 

 

 

The Burrfish is a puffer that will ball up and extend it's spikes when alarmed

 

 

 

 

A French Angel

 

 

 

 

 

And here's my Princess with a Queen Angel . My Princess is sometimes called a Wifefish .

 

 

[avlski]

Wow! Thank you so much for such an AWESOME review! Your pictures and stories made me feel like I was there! Appreciate all your hard work! Thanks again, Take care, annie

[scubacruiserx2]

Wow! Thank you so much for such an AWESOME review! Your pictures and stories made me feel like I was there! Appreciate all your hard work! Thanks again, Take care, annie

 

 

You're welcome Annie , and we're glad that you like it ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Some more critters from down under in Cozumel

 

 

Mr and Mrs Whitespotted Filefish

 

 

 

 

 

A Red Lionfish with it's spines erect , is both venomous and invasive

 

 

 

 

As such , they are hunted . Here's a Lionfish skewer .

 

 

 

 

 

From the dangerous to a cute and cuddly seahorse

 

 

 

 

And a flying turtle on the sand flats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that's a Moray !

[emmak8]

Loved all your amazing pictures!! Thank you for sharing.

[nursedibdob]

These photos are fabulous. Thank you so much for posting

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[perfect match]

You know I'm loving the dive pictures! :D

 

Nice shots of both the RCI and Princess ships in port, too! :cool:

[scubacruiserx2]

Loved all your amazing pictures!! Thank you for sharing.

 

You're welcome , we're glad that you enjoyed them and thank you for writing . :) :D

 

 

These photos are fabulous. Thank you so much for posting

 

 

These critters , and dive buddies are why we like to dive ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

You know I'm loving the dive pictures! :D

 

Nice shots of both the RCI and Princess ships in port, too! :cool:

 

Super , and hopefully you and Pat will be in the diving picture soon ! We were supposed to stay in Cozumel in May with some friends , but we booked the Baltic cruise instead when the opportunity became available . And unfortunately , one of them had knee surgery this week and now they may not be able to go in May . :(

 

But , until we dive again we will enjoy our dive memories with our photos . In this photo we are sandwiching a large Great Southern Stingray .

 

 

Edited April 24, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

My Favorite dive buddy

 

 

Pictured on a deep dive with Gorgonians

 

 

 

 

And ready for a night dive with Pat and Karen

 

 

 

 

Martin with a Slipper Lobster

 

 

 

 

 

I'd like to be , under the sea

 

 

[perfect match]

More great dive pictures! Would you mind sharing the name of the dive shop you use in Cozumel? We will be there in November on our Oasis cruise, and I do plan to be diving before then. I would prefer not to do the ship tour like I did the last time I was there .

 

I'm still trying to decide if I want to dive on our Freedom cruise next month, but I'm waiting to see how well I do in the gym for the next couple of weeks before I decide. Some days I feel like I'm ready to go, other days not so much. The desire to dive sure provides great motivation for me in the gym! :D

 

I apologize for the hijack - now back to your regularly scheduled dive pictures! :D

[scubacruiserx2]

A camouflaged Peacock Flounder

 

 

 

 

Another master of camouflage - the Stonefish

 

 

 

 

Swimming overhead - a turtle

 

 

 

 

and a Nurse Shark ( with a Remora attached )

 

 

 

 

A Honeycomb Cowfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally , a fish found only in Cozumel - The Splendid Toadfish .

 

 

 

[nursedibdob]

These photographs are just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[scubacruiserx2]

These photographs are just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

You are welcome . It really is another world down there ! Sometimes it's better seen in the video mode , and here's a few to choose from :

 

 

A Loggerhead Turtle

 

 

 

2 Nurse Sharks swim away from us

 

 

 

 

Swimming through a cavern

 

 

 

 

We hope that you enjoy them . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

More great dive pictures! Would you mind sharing the name of the dive shop you use in Cozumel? We will be there in November on our Oasis cruise, and I do plan to be diving before then. I would prefer not to do the ship tour like I did the last time I was there .

 

I'm still trying to decide if I want to dive on our Freedom cruise next month, but I'm waiting to see how well I do in the gym for the next couple of weeks before I decide. Some days I feel like I'm ready to go, other days not so much. The desire to dive sure provides great motivation for me in the gym!

 

I apologize for the hijack - now back to your regularly scheduled dive pictures! :D

 

 

 

We like Dive Paradise and have used them for many years . Our favorite DM is Martin Matu and favorite Captain is Smiley :)

 

 

 

 

 

We only took a couple of photos on our last trip as I just wanted to take it all in and relax . A great Barracuda swam along with us for awhile .

 

 

 

 

Toward the end of the dive we saw the telltale sign of Spiny Lobster - antenna sticking out , and looked under a ledge .

 

 

 

 

11 keeper size that we would have gladly invited to dinner at our house if we were in Florida !! My friend shot a nice video clip on our first dive of a large grouper and a green moray swimming along together . But alas , it was lost , along with his Go Pro camera which flooded . :(

 

Keep up the good work on PT in the gym Nancy as it be well the effort in the long run ! We do have a visit with the surgeon tomorrow and we hope that he will allow Pat to return to more exercise in preparation for our next cruise !

[perfect match]

Thank you for the dive shop info! I will definitely look into Dive Paradise once I start my actual planning for Oasis trip. I am holding off on that at least until after we get back from our Freedom cruise because I have enough to keep me busy for now.

 

I hope Pat's appointment on Thursday goes well. Pat, I'm sending positive thoughts your way.

[scubacruiserx2]

While Mike and I dove , Pat and Kris decided to drive to the other side of the island , the East coast . The West coast is where the cruise ships dock and is the side where most of the population and diving takes place . But on the East side few people live and the sea is usually rough .

 

 

 

 

 

 

And at the southern tip is a lighthouse

 

 

 

 

with a great view !

 

 

 

 

There are several restaurants on the other side

 

 

 

And one makes a great burger that both visitors and locals enjoy .