The Cozumel Drift 
 

Your E-Newsletter from Scuba Shack,

                               Blue Bubble Divers, Dive ECO-cozumel
                                               & the Village Tan Kah
                                                      Cozumel, Mexico 
                                                               April 2009
 

       

to the 18th edition of the The Cozumel Drift. To any of our new friends and customers - Bienvenidos (Spanish for WELCOME).  This is our newsletter that keeps you up to date with what is happening in Cozumel, as well as with everyone here at the dive shop and hotel.  Just to give you an idea of what is in store, we try to get the newsletter out every couple of months ..... or so.  Just depends on how busy things are down here !  If anyone would like to see any of the previous newsletters, you can find them on our website - http://www.bluebubble.com/bbd_news.html

 
The first rule of thumb is always a HUGE  to YOU, all of our faithful customers and friends who come and visit us.  You make our job fun !  We are always so glad to get to see you guys again...... and again...... and again
 
As you will have noticed, it has been a while since we have been able to send out a newsletter (our apologies).  So much of this newsletter is going to be dedicated to catching up on what has been happening around here. 
 
IN THIS EDITION: 
The Village Voice... 
        it was a very difficult fall, as well as the New Year fun !
Scuba Shack Skinny... 
        can you believe we have these new residents??
Island Info...  
        interesting ingots of island information - or something like that. 
Ironman Cozumel... 
        we are becoming so International ! 
Travel Specials ...
        look at the specials that you can take advantage of ! 
 
Before we get started on the good stuff, there are 2 issues that we should address. 
1 - the so called "war" between the Mexican Gov and the drug cartels.  This issue has been going on for a few years here in Mexico, although it has only gotten into the US news in the past few months.  And is pretty much contained to the northern border between Mexico and the US.  Everyone is asking if there are any problems here in Cozumel.  The answer is NO !  The Mexican Tourism office has a webpage that was posted via the Funjet website http://www.funjet.com/about/pressrelease.asp?xmlFile=Mexico_Travel_Update&OAC=&plCode=

2 - Swine Flu - No swine flu has been reported any where in the Yucatan Peninsula either.  So we are safe here.  Here is the link to the Mexican Tourism board as well

http://www.mexico-update.com/index.jsp  

 

*The Village Voice.......

- If you have ever stayed here at the Village, and probably even if you have stayed next door at Casa del Mar, you have had the honor of knowing one of very best and most beloved Village Tan Kah employee - Don Fabian.  Probably the hardest thing that we had to endure this past fall (even harder than any hurricane) was his passing in November.  Don Fabian had been battling cancer for about 3 years and it finally metastasized into his brain.  Personally, he was one of the hardest and most dedicated workers that I have ever met in my life.  He was the night watchman - 7 nights a week (we had to fight him to stay home with his family during hurricanes, the flood, etc.)  He was our gardener by day - 6 days a week.  His heart was always and will always live here at this hotel.  He touched the hearts of everyone who had contact with him and he is sorely missed.  1 favor - if anyone happens to have a Click Me! picture of him, could you please send it.  The family would like to have more pictures of him.
 
- As a way to start off the New Click Me!  Year, we went to the Humane Society and Megan Hudson, Ed Wade, and Mike LeMoine helped choose 2 new additions  Click Me!to our hotel -  
   say hello to Slippers and Milky !  Slippers, the Calico cat, is thought to be about 1.5 years old.  Then we found out that she had been at the Humane Society for at least 4 years.  So who knows who old she is, but she looks good.  Milky was about 6 months and is growing fast.  She is the sweetest cat.  We repeated have to make luggage inspections to insure that no one has tried to take her back home in their luggage !
 
- Mar 15 was our honeymoon  week.  We had 3 honeymoon couples staying with us - WOW.  So, a big CONGRATULATIONS to -
- Jessica and Ty Cobb - not a joke, that is his real name !  
   
    -         Tammy and Steve Norman      
   
   
    - Cadi and Gus Angeli         
 
- Cadi and Gus, for some reason, decided that their honeymoon would be better if all of their friends were along.  How many people do you know that invite all of their friends to join them on their honeymoon !?!?!  Well, they did, and their whole gang of friends came down and created a new Village Tan Kah tradition.  They are all from Arizona - Arizona State University to be exact, and they have hung a signed T-shirt for the whole gang.     So, the invitation is out there - anyone else who would like to bring their school/city/state shirts as welcome to as well.  Please do and we will happily hang them up ! 
 
*The Scuba Shack Skinny.......
- As most of you know, since Hurricane Wilma, the reefs here have been coming back BEAUTIFULLY, and Scuba Shack beach  is no exception.  We have a couple of new residents that we would like to introduce you to.  Try to meet them the next time you are diving here !!!
- Seahorse - yes, it is true, we have 2 resident seahorses here diving from the beach.  They are hard to find, but are there and usually can be found.  Just ask either Juan Ramirez, Roberta or Julio how to find them !
- Chain Link Moray -  Picture thanks to Shelly/Joe.
He is out and about right in front of the dive shop.  You just have to take your time to find him.  The funny thing is that in Feb, the Marine Park sent out a newsletter informing everyone that they had found a REALLY rare eel at the Dzul-Ha beach - the chain link moray.  And we have one right here !  According to the Fish ID Bible (Paul Humann book), this moray is common in the eastern Caribbean islands, but rare in the western Caribbean.  Interesting fact - while the book says that all morays forage at night, it specifies that the chain link forages on crabs.  Wow, what a rarity! 
 
- Everyone has at some time or another seen a little fish that reminded them of a bumble bee, right?  Do you remember which one that is?  Of course - a juvenile trunkfish.  Well, we recently sited a juvenile honeycomb cowfish.  You know, the trunkfish that are bluish, greenish in with the 2 horns that stick out from the top of their forehead.  But this was a juvenile.  You can find a picture on page 391 of the "bible" (3rd edition) or just look under the boxfish.  What an amazing sight - it looks like those little "bumble bees" but it is bright yellow, with many tiny blue/dark spots.  This one had just begun to develop it's horns, both on the top of it's forehead and well and in the back rear.  It was just hiding on the sandy bottom in between the flat top bristle brush sea grass.  That was a first !
- And, last but not least, Juan Ramirez' first time to see a .......
can you name this fish???  It is a Guitarfish.  Can you believe that it was this close to shore.  In the skate/stingray family, this ray can EASILY be identified by it's pointed head.  Just head straight out from the sand chute and it resides more on the open sandy part than anyplace else !
- Face lift for the boats - Since Oct, each one the 4 boats (Briana Jean, Hatza Ha II, Nina, Orca) have been taken out of the water and been worked on !  New Paint, new fiberglass, new engines..... all of the boats now have the exact same engine on them - Yamaha 150 HP 4 strokes.  Quiet, clean, no smoke.  Makes for a nice ride now to the reefs !
 
*Cozumel Capers....... 
Here is some news and updates with what is happening on the island. 
- Almost everyone has heard of the invasion of the lionfish into the Caribbean waters.  Now Cozumel has added it's name to the list of lionfish sighting.  Since Jan, 3 different lionfish have been extracted from the reefs here in Cozumel.  
The first one was located on Palancar.  The 2nd at Punta Sur.  And the 3rd one was retrieved right by us here at Sunset Beach, that little bar area that is located between the Casa del Mar and Villa Blanca hotel, by Anna Quinn, one of our customers.
                                       
This species natural home is in the Indo Pacific waters, where divers for years have traveled there to see them.  Unfortunately, it seems that they have been able to "jump" oceans and is now rapidly invading the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. 
 
The first sighting was reported off the coast of Florida coast in 1992, after Hurricane Andrew.   Slowly but surely this species has been spreading all the way from New York to Colombia.  The predominant theory is that this fish was either voluntarily or accidently released into the ocean from personal salt water aquariums.  But since it has proliferated so far south so quickly, another theory being tossed around is that these fish had been living in the ballasts of the big ships that cross through the Panama Canal.  No matter which theory you believe, the fact of the matter is that this fish is invading the east Indies and steps have been taken to keep them under control. 
 
The lionfish have a voracious appetite and can consume 20 juvenile fish, shrimp and other crustaceans in 30 minutes.  The biggest problem is it's predator, or the lack there of.  Experts are not 100% sure what eats them.  In the Red Sea, it has been reported that the coronet fish eats the lionfish there (Pterois miles ). 
                       
Unfortunately, the lionfish that have taken up residence here in the Caribbean is Pterois volitans.  Although they are closely related, it has not been confirmed that the Caribbean coronet fish is a natural predator.  Besides, how many coronet fish have you seen during your dives here in Cozumel.  At best, that fish is rare here.  They are similar to the trumpet fish but have a very long wisp extending from it's tail.  Since there are now so many studies of the lionfish invasion to the tropical Atlantic, experts have discovered remains of lionfish in the stomachs of the Nassau Grouper, large eels, frogfish, as well as other lionfish.  And the Sand Tiger Shark is thought to feed off of them as well.  Anyway you look at it, most of the predators do not reside here in Cozumel.  So, any sightings of this fish are taken very seriously, and the Marine Park will be extracting them as well.  So please help us and keep your eyes open for these fish !
 
- The new park in front of the city hall is FINALLY completed.  Just a few months late of the Sept 15 finish date, but complete and beautiful none the less.  Take a look..
          
 

- La Mission South, that great restaurant that was right next door to the Casa del Mar has moved, but is still close by.  They have now moved to the other side of the Park Royal, right in front of the cruise ship pier terminal.  Same great food, just a different location.

 
- Since the last newsletter, the new MEGA Superstore has opened, right in front of the Barracuda hotel.  It has brought a whole new level of standards for the grocery stores here on the island.  Everything is very clean, and it caused Chedraui to shape up as well.  So, if you are on a quest for Dr. Pepper while you are here, head to Mega.  They have both regular and diet in stock.
 
- PRIMA has finally set a date for it's move.  It is not closing, just changing locations to Albert's other restaurant location.  Wynston's has officially been changed to Prima, and as of May 15, that is where you will find it, including all of the same staff that everyone knows. 
 
- PESO update - Over the last few months, the pesos has taken a slide.  The exchange rate which was about 10 pesos for the longest time went all the way to 15 pesos in March, and has now settled back to about 13 pesos.  When you pay with USD, you need to be aware that not all companies are keeping up with all of these changes.  Many taxies and smaller restaurants are maintaining a 10 or 11 peso to 1 USD exchange.  And that can add up to a substantial loss to you.  Best suggestion is to have pesos for paying, especially taxis.  At the airport, you will find the ATM machine.  It is back towards the check in area, but that is only a 30 second walk once you arrive.  Stop by and get some pesos. 
 
*Ironman Cozumel....yes, you read that correctly.
On Nov 29, Cozumel will host it's first Ironman Triathlon.  This triathlon consists of -  www.ironmancozumel.com
 
- SWIM: 2.4 miles (3.8 km), (1 lap) 
- BIKE: 112 miles (180 km), (2 laps)
- RUN: 26.2 miles (42.2 km), (2 laps)
 
 Most of the race will be conducted to the south side of the island.  Participants will swim at a course set up at Chankanaab Park, then ride to the south past Punta Sur, north of the other side of the island to San Gervacio, then back to Chankanaab via the same route.  Then the run will be from Chankanaab, north through town to the golf course, and back to either town or Chankanaab.  Participant registration is full already, and if you check out the website, you will see that they are taking applications for 2010 - so apparently the island will host this event again next year !  There is some cause for concern.  The routing states that all roads the participants cycle or run on are supposed to be "totally" closed to vehicle traffic.  A question that comes to mind is, how is everyone who live and work on the island going to go to work that day????? 
 
*Travel Specials...
Airline prices are coming down - just in case you may not have noticed.  They are at record lows.  The airlines are trying to get people to travel again in these difficult times.  And the offers that are out there are good for travel beginning with last minute specials, as well as through the rest of the year!  The deals are magnificent ! 
One of the best additions on all reservation sights is being able to check flexible days.  When you are looking at a date, check the little box that says -
- my dates are flexible
- Find lower fares +/- 3 days
If anyone is still dreaming about coming for another visit,  now is certainly the time    to take advantage of these great fares.  Check out -
Continental Airlines - They have slashed all fares TO COZUMEL.  Check out what the fare is from your city.
Mexicana Airlines - they are having huge specials to Cancun, especially from LAX.  $ 310 RT.  But you still want to check it against Continental, although the flight times are actually better using Mexicana.
Orbitz - They have been coming in with great fares as well, so this is always a great starting place.  But remember, not all charter companies list with them, so this view is very limited.
USA3000 - $ 99 USD each way to Cancun from Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and St. Louis for May, Jul-Sep.
 
For any last minute travel, we are still offering through May 20 -  
7 nights hotel at the Village Tan Kah - double occupancy
5 standard 2-tank dive trips per diver
$ 425 USD per person
** Equipment rental, Marine Park/Hyperbaric Chamber Affiliation additional.
*  Closing Captions....... 
As always, it is due to you guys, our special friends and customers, that give us the reason to go to work everyday !  So thanks to much for coming and visiting and diving with us.  We appreciate each and every one of you !    We look forward to showing you the underwater wonders of Cozumel again soon !
 
Thanks !   
Hasta Luego, Amigos!!!!  
Roberta , Robert  and All of the staff of Scuba Shack, Blue Bubble Divers and Dive
ECO-cozumel and All of the staff from the Village Tan Kah hotel !
 
 
CUBA HACK  (011-52-987) 872-4240
 
On the beach between Casa del Mar & Park Royal Hotels
Carr. Costera Sur KM 3.5 # 4
Cozumel, QROO
Mexico
77600
ROBERTA'S IVE CO-COZUMEL  (011-52-987) 872-4187
LUE UBBLE IVERS (011-52-987) 872-1865
ILLAGE AN AH   (011-52-987) 872-6142
info@VillageTanKah.com
In the south hotel zone, directly across the street from Scuba Shack 
Carr. Costera Sur KM 3.5 # 2
Cozumel, QROO
Mexico
77600
 
TECHNICAL STUFF:
This newsletter is produced by Roberta Cwiertnia, sponsored by Blue Bubble Divers, Roberta's Dive Eco-Cozumel, Scuba Shack & The Village Tan Kah.  We welcome all contributors, although we reserve the right to cut and paste.  To be removed from this mailing list, simply reply to this e-mail and write "Remove From Mailing List" in the body portion of the E-mail and do not alter the subject line.