dates

Dates:  May 4-11, 2019* (Saturday - Saturday)

*These are the primary dates for the group, some people will come early, leave late or not staying the whole time.

estimated finances

Trip Estimated Costs:  

Hotel (all inclusive, food, drink and alcohol included) & Dives (~15 dives, 2 morning, 1 afternoon most days and 1 boat night dive)  $1,077 double occupancy/person, $1,427 single occupancy/person. 

Flights:  ~$450-$600 

booking suggestion

Hotel & Dives - Call 011 52 987-872-0700 ext 3466 or ext 3467 (international number) and tell them the group code "Phil19"  (Please note, it's critical you give them the group code so we stay together and keep our block).  On the call they will confirm with you the dates (5/4-11/2019), single or double occupancy, number of people, number of divers vs non-divers and they will book your hotel, food AND dives.  If you want to come early they can book your at $140/single, $90/double occupancy per additional night.  Once you get your confirmation number, download this form, fill it out and fax it back along with a photocopy of the credit card (both sides) duly signed and a photocopy of an ID of the card holder as noted on the form to handle the payment (Remember, NEVER put your CC info in an eMail)  That will take care of booking your room/food - including WiFi, In-room Safe, and dives, now go book your flights!

PLEASE NOTE:  We ALL need to have this done and booked by March 1st, 2019, so don't delay. 

hotel

The Grand Park Royal Hotel is an all inclusive hotel, so all food and drink (including alcohol).  The Grand Park Royal Hotel - Cozumel, MX

dives

When booking hotel, they will also book the dives ($400 for at least 13 dives).

certs

During the trip we also have the option to do some specialty certifications: Underwater Navigator, Search & Recovery Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Deep Diver, Drift Diver (which specialties, still to be confirmed - if you are interested in getting some of your specialty certs let SCUBA Phil know by emailing him @ phil@scubaphillv.com )

before we go

We need to do the classroom portion of the PADI specialties here

• Group Meeting TBD @ Phil's

• Also in March/April we will do a group dive @ Heritage Park Aquatic Complex Pool (300 S. Racetrack Rd, Henderson, NV) to ensure everyone is ready - DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR SAFETY SAUSAGE & REEL

gear

DO bring:  

• Wetsuit - 5mm suit or 3mm with vest - the water temp is 82 degrees, but with this many repetitive dives your core temp will drop

• Bring your gear or rent  

• MUST bring - Safety sausage and reel (recommend the small)

• Dive logs and ePDML

• Passport (make sure you passport does not expire within 6 months of the trip)

• Rain Poncho 

• Your Diver Certification Card (Advanced Open Water at least)

• Chem/Glow Sticks (ex: Amazon)

• Dramamine (if you think you could get seasick)

• Small Lock for dive lockers 

DO NOT bring:

• Weights and tanks 

• Dive knives or gloves (since this is a protected reef, they will not be allowed)

prerequisites

• AOW is required

other

Other interesting Dive Links:

Dive Computer Buddy - Kickstarter project to enable dive computer to phone/tablet sync without a PC

MyBlueBuddy - Wireless Bluetooth Dive Logger

iDive (iOS) - Dive and computer simulator

flights

Ideal flight:  We know United, Frontier, American and US Airways all fly direct.  

Note: Also consider flying to Cancun and taking the ferry to Cozumel.

schedule

Saturday - TBD

Pre-Trip Group Meeting @ Phil's

March/April

Pre-Trip Group Dive - 300 S. Racetrack Rd, Henderson, NV 89015

Saturday - 5/4/19

Travel / Checkout Dive (optional) / Meet up (Agenda) PM LL

Sunday - 5/5/19

2 morning / 1 afternoon dives

Monday - 5/6/19

2 morning /

Tuesday - 5/7/19

2 morning dives / 1 Night dive

Wednesday - 5/8/19

2 morning dives | OR | Cenotes Dive (Playascuba)

Thursday - 5/9/19

2 morning / 1 afternoon Dives - Group Lionfish Dinner

Friday - 5/10/19

No Dives / XPLOR @ Playa (optional)

Saturday - 5/11/19

Travel

Shore dives available anytime

cenotes dive

Do two, once in a lifetime dives - Dive the Cenotes in Playa del Carmen (sites and days to be determined).  If enough people want to go a few days early we can do the Cenotes before we kick off our week in Coz, OR as some folks have suggested, we could take a low dive day, like Tuesday, take the ferry over and spend the day on the mainland doing two Cenotes. 

We estimate about $150 for the dives ($80 for 2 tanks plus $10 park entrance fee, plus $25 for the ferry ride round trip).  Plus coming a day or two early but what amazing dives.  (Extra days @ Park Royal are $xxx per day, or you could stay in Playa del Carmen, or downtown Cozumel)

let us know

Let us know your interested in coming on the trip

Here is a quick survey to help us plan better.  Please take a minute and click this survey and let us know.  (This is not a financial commitment, just gauging interest).   

http://goo.gl/forms/0eWSIFFRUX

tips

• Potentially save money by going through eBates.com, then booking through cheapcaribbean.com from eBates.com

• Bring a large plastic glass (saves you time)

• Make sure you have your passport and you have AT LEAST 6 months before the expiration based on the trip date

• Get DAN insurance

• A lot of us on are the same flight so we will probably get  van from the airport to the resort.  If not, we suggestion you do not book transportation - if you walk 50 yards from the airport you can get a taxi for $10

• Check with your cellphone provider for international coverage (it's crazy pricey if you don't add international BEFORE you go)

• Load up the Viber app so we can stay in touch while on the Hotel WiFi (Android or iPhone)

• Remember to tip $5 per person per dive, bring cash 

• A good estimate is bring $300 in cash for tips/incidentals ($50+ in singles)

• Remember there is a $2.50 per day park fee we will pay for the whole week in cash the first day we dive  

• Call your credit card company and let them know the dates you will be in Mexico (to ensure your card is not declined)

• Bring a second pair of flip flops or some moleskin in case you get blisters

• Bring a travel pack of laundry detergent (in case you need to do some sink wash of your favorite clothes)

• Don't forget we plan to go into Town Thursday night for 2 for 1 Lionfish dinner

• For those of you with new dive computers, make sure you set your dive computer to the least most conservative setting before we get to Cozumel

  Current estimate of divers signed up in our group - 20