A Tale of two Princesses

[scubacruiserx2]

After about 30 minutes in this beautiful area we returned to our dive boat for a second dive

 

 

 

 

Some photos of why we love diving here :

 

 

A nurse shark

 

 

 

 

A sleepy octopus

 

 

 

 

A green Moray

 

 

 

 

The Splendid Toad fish is only found in Cozumel

 

 

 

A Wife fish with a Queen Angel

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

The following are video clips posted on Photobucket . To play just click on the small photo .

 

 

A school of Horse Eye Jacks

 

 

A turtle looking for lunch

 

 

 

A 40' long Whale shark feeding on the surface . Look out for that tail , it's 5' tall from top to bottom !

 

 

2 manta rays feeding , each about 10' wide !

 

 

2 sleeping Nurse Sharks

[scubacruiserx2]

A couple of photos from the dive boat as we return to Puerta Maya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And after a quick gear rinse and shower in the ship , we headed back to Cozumel for dinner , only stopping for a few photos along the way .

 

 

 

 

The Oasis was docked across the way at the International Pier .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CruzinNoony]

Amazing photos!! Thank you! :D

[jennybenny]

Oh My! I had not kept up with the review, but it was so fun catching up now!! Love the photos of the Enclave. Considering it for our upcoming cruise, but we are taking our mom for her retirement and she might not like it (she hates heat, Caribbean cruise, hahaha...poor mom).

 

Also Grand Cayman is my second favorite dive spot. Loved seeing photos of both your GC and Cozumel dives! It's been a while since we've gone, and now I'm missing it.

 

This has been such a thorough review. Thank you for taking the time to do it, post all the patters and share your photos and experiences.

[scubacruiserx2]

Amazing photos!! Thank you! :D

 

You're welcome , we're glad that you enjoy them . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Oh My! I had not kept up with the review, but it was so fun catching up now!! Love the photos of the Enclave. Considering it for our upcoming cruise, but we are taking our mom for her retirement and she might not like it (she hates heat, Caribbean cruise, hahaha...poor mom).

 

Also Grand Cayman is my second favorite dive spot. Loved seeing photos of both your GC and Cozumel dives! It's been a while since we've gone, and now I'm missing it.

 

This has been such a thorough review. Thank you for taking the time to do it, post all the patters and share your photos and experiences.

 

 

Pat loved the enclave and grew up with indoor pools ( Michigan ) but I grew up with the heat , rain and humidity of Florida . So I would rather be in the ocean or go somewhere cool (to visit ) :cool:

 

So where is your favorite spot to dive ?

[scubacruiserx2]

The port was decorated for Christmas

 

 

 

It was evident that Mexico is a Roman Catholic country

 

 

 

 

We made our way out of the shopping area to pick up a cab

 

 

 

And while it pays to share a cab ( 1-4 passengers are the same price ) , we were headed to the boonies for dinner at El Moro .

 

 

 

When our cab driver noticed our interest in the statue in the truck , he explained about an upcoming holiday that has been around since the 1600's in Mexico , Our Lady of Guadalupe coming up on December 12th .

 

 

 

 

http://www.thecozumelsun.com/our-lady-of-guadalupe-holiday-december-12th/

 

 

And he went a little out of the way to show us the Parish .

 

 

 

[jennybenny]

Pat loved the enclave and grew up with indoor pools ( Michigan ) but I grew up with the heat , rain and humidity of Florida . So I would rather be in the ocean or go somewhere cool (to visit ) :cool:

 

So where is your favorite spot to dive ?

 

My favorite spot is Ni'ihau, off Kauai. It's an all day dive so we can't do it while cruising but it is amazing. So beautiful. Clear, unpolluted waters. Deep water dive, think there was also a drift dive on that trip.

 

I would want a refresher for myself before I'd go again because it's been a while, but it truly was the most beautiful dives we've ever done. Nothing else compares to Ni'ihau for us.

 

What's your favorite dive spot? :)

[scubacruiserx2]

My favorite spot is Ni'ihau, off Kauai. It's an all day dive so we can't do it while cruising but it is amazing. So beautiful. Clear, unpolluted waters. Deep water dive, think there was also a drift dive on that trip.

 

I would want a refresher for myself before I'd go again because it's been a while, but it truly was the most beautiful dives we've ever done. Nothing else compares to Ni'ihau for us.

 

What's your favorite dive spot?

 

 

That sounds amazing !

 

We did get to visit Hawaii once on a cruise ship and so we know what you mean . It's beautiful above as well as below . We did get to dive Molokini crater from Lahina and Kona the day before the Ironman in 2001 . We did get to spend a week post cruise in Kapaa but the sea was really rough the whole time we were there , so no diving . But we were really enchanted with Kauai !!

 

 

Our favorite dive spot is Cozumel . It's about 1/2 the price of staying in Grand Cayman and Cancun is only 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Fort Lauderdale Airport . We have made a number of friends who live there and we meet dive buddies there on a regular basis to stay and play .

 

 

 

 

The island is only 15 minutes from Cancun on this plane

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is where we stayed with some friends

 

 

 

 

 

It's easy to see why we love staying here

 

 

 

 

And this is where we had dinner from the cruise ship . But this photo was taken in late October , we we last stayed there .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner for us in Cozumel was at El Moro

 

 

 

It's not fancy but , they have good food , good prices and some of the friendliest people that you will ever meet .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaded conch

 

 

 

Shrimp on a wire

 

 

 

 

Rey removing the wire

 

 

 

 

And if it's a show that you seek , order the Mayan Coffee

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=N0bQnNvUI24&video_referrer=watch

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There was part of us that wanted to stay in Cozumel and join the CB a week later . But we also wanted to finish the cruise , and we were the last ship in Port .

 

 

 

 

 

We had a day at sea on Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We're glad that the Regal has a self serve laundry , which we started before coffee

 

 

 

 

The Atrium was decorated for Mardi Gras , later that day

 

 

 

 

And we took a few shots of the Crown Grill where there would be a British style pub lunch later

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shredie]

Excellent laundromat picture. That should answer a lot of questions around here. You now have me wanting to go to Cozomel which I haven't done yet.

[jennybenny]

Dinner for us in Cozumel was at El Moro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not fancy but , they have good food , good prices and some of the friendliest people that you will ever meet .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaded conch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shrimp on a wire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rey removing the wire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if it's a show that you seek , order the Mayan Coffee

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=N0bQnNvUI24&video_referrer=watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow!!! You make Cozumel look amazing! Only dove on one occasion there and all 3 dives were drift dives (not my favorite). We honeymooned in Cancun, used to vacation regularly in Playa Del Carmen but have only cruised to Cozumel and now that we have kids we've stopped diving as much. Now that my oldest is 13, I think he can get certified. I'm sure we will start diving more.

 

I'll have to ask you in greater detail next time we cruise to Cozumel.

 

If you ever get a chance to dive Ni'ihau, do it! Kauai is beautiful but May to September is probably when you can get good diving in. Maybe even June to August. It is beautiful to watch the waves in the winter too.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[scubacruiserx2]

Excellent laundromat picture. That should answer a lot of questions around here. You now have me wanting to go to Cozomel which I haven't done yet.

 

 

We hope that photo will help others but the dryer sheets and soap are a little pricey . Our day at sea was rainy and we had some damp clothes from diving that we wanted washed and dried , so it was really nice to have that option . :) :D

 

Staying in Cozumel compared to a cruise is like the difference between day and night . After the ships leave and the days work is finished , people relax and slow down . We love Sundays there because there are no cruise ships and there are no crowds at the beach clubs , dining or diving . If love diving or snorkeling Cozumel may be your place ! :cool:

 

 

We did start a thread about our last visit there which can be found here : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=242253

 

Edited January 9, 2017 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Wow!!! You make Cozumel look amazing! Only dove on one occasion there and all 3 dives were drift dives (not my favorite). We honeymooned in Cancun, used to vacation regularly in Playa Del Carmen but have only cruised to Cozumel and now that we have kids we've stopped diving as much. Now that my oldest is 13, I think he can get certified. I'm sure we will start diving more.

 

I'll have to ask you in greater detail next time we cruise to Cozumel.

 

If you ever get a chance to dive Ni'ihau, do it! Kauai is beautiful but May to September is probably when you can get good diving in. Maybe even June to August. It is beautiful to watch the waves in the winter too.

 

 

 

 

As you have noted , most of the dives in Cozumel are drift dives . The currents here keep the water moving and clean and can also be used to cover a lot of ground and see a lot . Some dives have little or no current like Paradise Reef which is near to the port and where snorkeling is popular . Also Columbia shallows in the far south is calm and shallow and a good second dive because you don't need a SI there . There are a couple of ways to minimize the currents like hiding in the eddies created behind rocks or walls , or swimming through the many caves here , as seen in this video clip :

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=242253

 

 

Our grandson learned to dive in Cozumel when he was 12 by completing the PADI course on line and doing the water work with our dive provider in Cozumel .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Before the pub lunch we went to the Cast Costume Showcase in the Piazza and the purple lights were back .

 

 

 

I had envisioned showgirls in elaborate costumes , in character - a perfect photo op . However , it was a little different than I had imagined .

 

 

 

I didn't remember this dress from Fiera .

 

 

 

 

To be certain the cast was very nice , answering questions and posing for photos !

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was just different than I had envisioned , having never attended anything like this before .

 

 

Edited January 9, 2017 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

The queue as they say in the UK . There is no charge for the lunch but we paid for a couple of beers .

 

 

 

The witch has landed

 

 

 

Pat's Scotch egg

 

 

 

 

and Fish and Chips

 

 

 

 

My chicken curry

 

 

 

 

and we split a Sherry Triffle

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The day at sea started out overcast

 

 

 

 

 

and we wish that we could say that the weather improved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

maybe if I turn the camera sideways

 

 

 

 

the NCL Getaway

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Choosing some treats to go with afternoon tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With our choices made we returned to our cabin and to get ready for dinner

 

 

 

 

 

[Bill B]

scubacruiserx2,

 

I'm enjoying cruising vicariously on this thread through your pictures. Good work!

 

I must say - the fish & chips at the pub lunch looks like an appetizer. Is there a potato famine?

[MisterMet]

Great review! Loving it so far. Keep up the good work[emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[scubacruiserx2]

scubacruiserx2,

 

I'm enjoying cruising vicariously on this thread through your pictures. Good work!

 

I must say - the fish & chips at the pub lunch looks like an appetizer. Is there a potato famine?

 

Thanks Bill , maybe there was a shortage , after all , we were on the last day of the cruise ! ;)

[scubacruiserx2]

Great review! Loving it so far. Keep up the good work[emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Thank you , thank you very much ! Heading home for round 2 . :) :D