The Cozumel Drift
 
Your E-Newsletter from Scuba Shack, Blue Bubble Divers,
Dive ECO-cozumel & the Village Tan Kah
Cozumel, Mexico 
September 2006
 
Welcome to the 14th edition of The Cozumel Drift,  brought to you by
everyone here at Blue Bubble Divers, Dive ECO-cozumel, Scuba Shack & Village Tan Kah on 
the island of Cozumel.  For newbies, a big welcome.  For all of the rest of you, we sure have
been busy, thanks to all of you who have come and visited since the hurricane.  Speaking of 
hurricanes, with 2/3 of the hurricane season now behind us, and only 9 named storms,
everyone is really enjoying this lack luster year.  Even though the weather professionals
predicted an even worse year than last !  Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers !
 
 
IN THIS EDITION: 
Summer Diving Delights... There has been alot of great things going on. 
Blue Bubble Blurb / Scuba Shack Skinny ... 
    How rebuilding and things are going !!!
Island Info...  what's news, what's hot, and what's not ! 
DAN... an interesting article that pertains to women and diving.
Sad Departures...  and some nice returns !!!! 
Travel News...  look at these new travel routes !!!! 
Low Season Specials... What great deals you can find and where !!!!
 
* Summer Diving Delights 
It is summer, and you know what that means... trips to Holbox to go and snorkel
with the whale sharks and the manta rays.  And this year, again, has been exceptional. 
I know, you guys are probably getting tired of hearing me say that it is getting
better, but really... it has.  And in honor of this past summer, we have made the whale
shark the background for this newsletter !
 
For anyone unfamiliar with the whale shark trips, we organize an overnight adventure
to the tiny island of Holbox, located on the northeastern part of the Yucatan
Peninsula.  From there, we go out by boat to snorkel with both whale sharks and,
when they are around, the manta rays.  And boy, they are magnificent.  We also see
flamingos when they are close, dolphins..........  it really is quite the adventure, especially
when you get to swim with the largest fish in the ocean !
 
It was am amazing year, with 8 trips and over 100 snorkelers taking on the challenge.
Many people think that the trip is too long, especially since it is over night.  But, the
island of Holbox really is magical - the boat ride during the sunset to get there, the
hotel room, sitting out on the beach under the stars with no light pollution.......  it all
makes the trip.  And, you do NOT loose any days of diving, if you don't want to since
we can depart after the morning dives.  And the drive, it sounds like it is long, but
boy is it interesting !
 
I am attaching some of the best pictures that were taken this summer, thanks to Robert
Tapper.  They are so good, this should definitely entice you to plan a whale shark snorkel
into next summer's trip !
 
In addition, the baby black tip sharks are back.  And Abel knows exactly where to
find them on Palancar Point.  We were just out there today, and they are still being seen.
So make sure you ask.  This is not the 3rd year in a row where we have found the
baby sharks hanging out.  Does that mean that "mom" is also in the area???
 
       **** Octopus Sex
 A special report from you - the divers - Pat and Mary Bray of North Dakota !
 
Recently while night diving out of Scuba Shack, several of us had the experience of
a lifetime.  Here are the details:  Monday April 10th, night diving on Paradise Reef
Cozumel, Mexico.  The group consisted of; Juan Avila Divemaster, Pat and Mary
Pray, Pavel and Bolek from the Czech Republic, and Bill and Candy from Minneapolis. 
About half way thru the dive, Juan spotted an octopus resting on top or a small coral
head.  He excitedly motioned for the rest of the divers to come and look.  Octopi are
always a nice reward for diving at night, especially when they are fully exposed, and
nice sized.  This one had a head about the size of a small melon with arms a couple
feet across.  As we moved in for a close look we failed to see its partner resting on
the sea floor.  Suddenly the partner moved up on the coral head, and what entailed
can only be described as a psychedelic street fight, there were arms writhing
everywhere as both animals formed a tight ball and eventually rolled off the coral
all the while flashing colors like a neon light.  Then, after what seemed like an eternity,
(maybe a minute) they broke apart one returning to rest on the coral head, the other
jetting off in clouds of ink.  What a show, we aren't biologists, but we know that we
had just witnessed something spectacular and special, and wouldn't you know, like it
always happens with special events, not a camera or picture in sight.  The images
however are forever etched in our minds.  And when the images become dim it only
means that it is time to do it again.
 
*Blue Bubble Blurb/Scuba Shack Skinny
Well, this has definitely been an interesting year.  Lots and lots going on with us. 
Everyone here is doing very well.  Here is some of the more interesting news.........
 
1 - Everyone is familiar with one of our divemasters - Abel, and have at least heard
often about his girlfriend Katherine.  Well, they are both moving to a different level
in their lives.  Katherine is pregnant !  Can you believe that Abel is going to be a dad
now !?!?!  Great news for them, and they are looking forward to it.  If anyone wants
to send and congratulations, please send it to me and I will make sure that the happy
couple receives them !
 
2 - And our other divemaster, Juan Avila, has made a couple of changes now in his life.
He, along with another beloved divemaster that we all know, Servando, have decided
to take a leap and return to their home town to live for a while.  They both grew up
together in Sonora, which is located on the northeastern part of the Sea of Cortez. 
They both moved their entire families there and are pursuing careers there.
Unfortunately, due to Hurricane John and I think another one that traveled through
that area, it has been very difficult for Juan to find work, especially during the low
season.  So, he has already returned here to Cozumel and is back working with us.  His
other good news is that his oldest son returned with him as well, along with his wife and
2 kids.  So, grandpa Juan is a very happy camper right now !
 
3 - Well, Robert's talents are being requested again in Holland.  He is heading back
for about 6 months to take on a big job that they are requesting him for.  But no
worries, he will be here at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Carnival... just to name a few.
 
3 - Robert's mom has been to her quarterly check-up and the cancer is still in check. 
So, no worries there !  Yeah, that is a big relief.
 
4 - The building is coming along, slowly but surely.  We are having a hell of a time
getting all of the supplies in.  We have been waiting for 2 months for some of it.  But,
things are looking really good.  We have the rinse tank and the locker room almost done. 
Probably another couple of weeks of work.  And the we have been waiting for 2 months
now for some of the supplies to arrive on the island STILL.  So, we are learning the
meaning of the word patience.  Hmmmmm.....................
 
5 - Some of you are familiar with the girl who does the accounting for us??  Well, she is
pregnant as well.  So many new additions here. 
 
*Island Info - Hurricane Update
Much of the island has done a great job of getting up and running.  But there is still
lots of things going on here.  Here is a brief list of the newest happenings:
- The Navy base, that was severely damaged during Hurricane Wilma has been completely
torn down, and the new building has been started.  We will have to wait and see what
it will look like.
- Wed, Sept. 27, President Vicente Fox was here to inaugurate the opening of the Punta
Langosta cruise ship pier.  Both sides of the pier are operational now.  Along with the 1
side of the International Pier, that makes 3 docking locations.  There are going to be 37
ships per week visiting the island in the upcoming season.  Up from last years 24 per
week but way down from the previous years +/- 50 ships per week.
- The Aquario restaurant has been demolished.  Rumor (and this is ONLY a rumor), is that
the new restaurant is going to be a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville.  AGAIN, this is only
a rumor !!!!!!!!!!
- New hours for Manati - the original owner and chef is back - YEAH.  Great food again.
They are open for lunch from 12 - 6 pm, and then from 6 - 11 pm are the dinner hours.
This is nice because they were open from 9 - 5, and that was really limiting for getting
any of their great food !
- The No Name Bar has moved.  It is now located at the Barracuda hotel.  Really nice
now that it is on the beach and is right in/on the pool as well.  Great sunsets !
 
*DAN - an interesting article for you.........
Here is an interesting article that I just happened to come across.... for all of us
women out there.

Decompression illness presenting as breast pain.

There is an interesting article in the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Journal
relating two reports of decompression illness presenting as painful breasts. This is
in Volume 33, #2 by A.J. Trevett, C. Sheehan, Y. Forbes.
 
They present two cases of decompression illness in women in whom the initial symptom
causing distress after completion of the dives was breast pain. Both women were also
subsequently found to have a patent foramen ovale, or a persistent opening in the
wall of the heart which did not close completely after birth.  They postulate that
breast pain may be an unusual under-recognized manifestation of decompression illness. 
 
For more information and the complete thread, you can go to -
 
 
*Sad Departures..... for the diving industry.
The diving industry is mourning the losses of a number of key people in the industry.
Ralph Erickson - cofounder of PADI.   And, interestingly enough, he was my instructor
for all of my certifications, from Open Water (he taught for many years at Loyola
University) through my Instructor course (except divemaster).  He was a very well
respected man in the diving industry.  As NAUI Instructor # 35, he wrote his own
scuba diving manual to be used in his classes, since none were available in the early 60's.
Dissatisfied with the program, he and John Cronin founded PADI, where Ralph wrote
11 of the original PADI Training manuals.  One of his favorite passions was bringing
down the students from Loyola to a diving vacation in .....  Cozumel, Mexico.  Thanks to
him, I get to know all of you lovely people !  He is going to be missed by many.
 
Dick Anderson - inventor of the scuba harness, single hose regulators, as well as
Scubapro's first single hose regulator with an O-ring.  He also worked on the set of
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jaws - the Revenge, as well as Baywatch ! 
 
* Travel News...........
With both of the hurricanes last year, much of the travel options for flying into
Cozumel have greatly diminished this year, creating a limited seat option which then
over inflated the prices because there was such a high demand for the limited seats.
Meaning - you paid more to get here.  But, this coming Dec, there is a plethora of new
options.  So, let's begin:
 
September and October -  Everyone has reduced their flight schedule. 
Continental - Houston to Cozumel
        - Sep and Oct - 3 days a week - Wed, Sat and Sun
        - Oct 30 - Add Monday flights 
        -  Dec 15 - daily flights from Houston to Cozumel
American - Dallas/Ft. Worth to Cozumel
        - Sep and Oct - 3 days a week - Wed, Sat and Sun
        - Dec will expand flight schedule but not clear which days and when.... sorry.
        -  Dec 15 - daily flights from DFW to Cozumel
Delta - Atlanta direct to Cozumel
        - Sep and Oct - 3 days a week - Tue, Sat and Sun
        - Dec 15 - daily flights
Frontier - Denver to Cozumel direct
        - Sep, Oct and Nov - Sat only 
        - Nov 18 - Sat, Sun and Wed
Frontier - to Cancun now from : 
        - St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Salt Lake City
Alaska Airlines - Los Angeles to Cancun direct
        - every day of the week 
US Airways - Phoenix to Cancun direct
          - every day of the week
 
Now, everyone from the west coast is going to have an easier time getting to us !!!!!!!! 
Here is a list of the new flights and the schedules that I have found.     
Frontier - San Diego to Cancun - DIRECT - beginning Oct 27 !!!!!!
Alaska Airlines -
        - Seattle to Cancun Direct - beginning Oct 27 - Tue, Thu and Sun
        - San Francisco to Cancun Direct - beginning Oct 29 - Mon, Wed and Sat
       
                      
Also, thanks to Marcy, there is a new webpage out there for checking flight prices.  If
you go to www.farecompare.com , they will list the numerous different low fares for you.
I do knot know of anyone who has used it, but it sure does come up with some great
fares.  So try it out !
 
* Travel Specials...........
Here is a list of some of the specials that are out there right now !  They came from 
the various newsletters and webpages that have been sent in the last 4 days.  This is
just cut and pasted - so some of the links might not come through.  But, you have to
purchase most by OCT 3 - TUESDAY !
 
Another note - when you are talking with your travel agents, you have to be a bit
knowledgeable as to what is going on.  If you only give dates, they will just plug them in &
tell you what the computer tells them.  And that may or may not be the best price.  BUT,
if you tell them that you know there is this special fare on a certain airline, they can then
go out into the airline data base and find the correct code for that special fare, then
check the fare restrictions to know which days of the week the fare applies, and then get
back to you with more information as to how you can better plan your trip in order to take
care of these listed specials.
 
Spirit Airlines Red light specials -  To get these special deals, book your coach fare
between 4:00 PM ET on Friday, September 29, 2006 and 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, October 3,
2006 for travel on the dates below. Other restrictions apply.
Cancun, Mexico  To: FARES FROM DATES AVAILABLE
Fort Lauderdale $59* Each Way 10/11, 10/12, 10/19, 10/24, 10/25, 10/26, 11/1, 11/2, 11/8
Detroit $99* Each Way 10/7, 10/14, 11/4
And their returns.  Check it out.

American Airlines and AmericanAirlines VacationsSM are offering special sale fares to
some of our popular destinations. With 11 Caribbean islands to choose from as well as
destinations in Mexico, it's your ticket to eternal summer. Hurry, the clock is ticking on these
great deals. Book both air and hotel online at www.aavacations.com by October 3, 2006 for
travel through November 10, 2006. Here are some examples:
- Boston - Cancun ... $205
- Chicago - Cancun ... $218
- Denver - Cozumel ... $268
- Los Angeles - Cozumel ... $298
 

Mexicana Airlines anniversary fares

Great rates to Mexico

Now’s the perfect time to plan a relaxing vacation to the white-sand beaches and colonial
cities of sunny Mexico. Mexicana Airlines is offering great anniversary fares to celebrate 85
years of uninterrupted service. Terms and conditions:  Booking requirements: Fares above
are based on required roundtrip booking for economy travel. Tickets must be booked by
March 31, 2007.
- Miami Cancun 207+
 
Round-Trip Flights From $181+
AMERICAN AIRLINES: Toasty sand under your toes. Frosty beverage in your hand. Sound
nice? This fall and winter you can get to sunny destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico for
as little as $181+ round-trip. Think of it as an excuse to go diving--even if it’s just into that book
 you’ve been meaning to read. Book your getaway today!
  • Tickets must be purchased by October 11, 2006.
  • Travel is valid through December 15, 2006.
  • Minimum stay required is two days; maximum allowed is 30 days.
Albuquerque Cancun, Mexico
$390+
Baltimore Cancun, Mexico
$344+
Bloomington Cancun, Mexico
$390+
 
Boston Cancun, Mexico
$210+
Dallas/Ft. Worth Cancun, Mexico
$248+
Dallas/Ft. Worth Cozumel, Mexico
$278+
Denver Cozumel, Mexico
$273+
Fort Wayne Cancun, Mexico
$390+
Key West Cancun, Mexico
$390+
Madison Cancun, Mexico
$390+
Memphis Cancun, Mexico
$322+
Miami Cancun, Mexico
$183+
Washington, D.C. Cozumel, Mexico
$283+


 
* Low Season Village Tan Kah Specials...........
Thanks to everyone for coming and visiting these last few weeks and the upcoming
weeks as well.  But, I need more people here for certain weeks.  So, we are offering
the following specials.  Please note - THIS IS A CASH ONLY PRICE.  Please don't
arrive here and ask to pay with a credit card. 
 
Village Tan Kah hotel plus diving - 
- 7 Nights hotel / 5 days of standard 2-tank diving - $ 399 per person double occupancy
- 4 Nights hotel / 3 days of standard 2-tank diving - $ 345 per person double occupancy 
 
Diving Only -
- 5 days of 2 tank diving - $ 275
 
Prices are good ONLY for the following dates: 
- Oct 11 - 28 
-  Nov 5 - 17 
- Dec 16 - 23
 
Final words........ 
We are almost through the worst of it - this has been a slow year and an every
slower slow season.  So, come on down for a visit.  We have more than enough time
to spend with you.  And I know that all of the boys would just love to show you all
of the splendors of Cozumel !
!
 
Thanks !
Hasta Luego, Amigos!!!!  
Robert and Roberta 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 !
 
 
================================================================================
 
SCUBA SHACK  (011-52-987) 872-4240
 
On the beach between Casa del Mar & Park Royal Hotels
 
ROBERTA'S DIVE ECO-COZUMEL  (011-52-987) 872-4187
www.RobertasDIVEECOcozumel.com
roberta@RobertasDIVEECOcozumel.com
Calle 3 between the waterfront and 5 Ave.
 
BLUE BUBBLE DIVERS (011-52-987) 872-1865 and 872-4526
www.bluebubble.com 
info@bluebubble.com
Calle 3 between the waterfront and 5 Ave.
 
VILLAGE TAN KAH   (011-52-987) 872-6142
info@VillageTanKah.com
In the south hotel zone, directly across the street from Scuba Shack 
 
TECHNICAL STUFF:
This newsletter is produced by Roberta Cwiertnia, sponsored by Blue Bubble Divers, Roberta's Dive Eco-Cozumel, Scuba Shack & Village Tan Kah. We welcome all contributors, although we reserve the right to cut and paste.  To be removed from this mailing list, simply send an e-mail with "Remove From Mailing List" on the subject line to: roberta@robertasdiveecocozumel.com