Instant Reader Report
on Blue Bubble Divers / Cabalitto Rojo, Cozumel MX in
Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan / [N/A] on
2002/08
by
Dean Knudson , MN, USA
Report Number 030209165154534

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 Bahamas, Florida, Mexico, Midwest 

Dive Conditions

One divemaster was fairly rigid about all returning with 600psi, and with
the group staying together.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

[None]There are two divemasters currently working Blue Bubble. Rauol is a
cheerful and energetic fellow who is much more likely to leave divers to
themselves and watch from a distance. He does point out marine life, and
gives an excellent all levels tour of the wreck at cozumel. He is an easy
individual to like, and is as competent as any divemaster on the island.
Pedro Pablo is the other divemaster and has a different approach,
decidedly more regimented. He has special stainless steel tank-banger, and
by the end of the week had earned the nickname "senor
clang-clang". He is rigid about the group staying together,
descending together, and surfacing together, with the same 700 psi in each
tank. Quite different than Rauol, who will identify experienced divers and
largely leave them alone. Blue Bubble has several boats, one large enough
to hold ten divers. They will occaisionally pair inexperienced divers with
experienced ones. Rauol handles this by sticking near the inexperienced
group that hovers above and shadows the experienced group, allowing for a
good quality experience for both, Pedro Pablo handles the same mix by
"dumbing down" the dive, somewhat shortchanging the experience
for the intermediate to advanced group. Ask for Raoul, if possible, or
talk with Pedro before the dive about your wishes to dive in the 90 to 130
foot range, perhaps somewhat away from the main group, perhaps even hinting
that part of the divemaster's tip could be influenced by the decision. Blue
Bubble maintains a telephone number, toll free, that's good from the U.S.,
a convenience for scheduling. I spent an evening talking with a free-lance
divemaster on the island. It can be a bad job, dealing day to day with some
boorish and demanding clients, putting up with monotony, and dealing with
the inconsistent flow of income. Many are young men with families and
young children, and when tourism slides, it can be frightening. Many of
the divemasters have logged in excess of 5000 to 8000 dives. A suprising
percentage have chronic ear disease (frequently a career-ending injury),
and some have chronic back pain. All of this takes place in a country with
few social service supports and pervasive poverty. Moral of the story: be
understanding of less than perfect boats and equipment, treat the
divemasters with kindness and dignity, and tip the guy, he's raising kids
in a third world economy, and you don't need that extra two cases of beer
as badly as he needs the money. 

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