Cozumel is always like a trip to visit a long time treasured friend… As soon as we walk through Scuba Club Cozumel's gates, time melts away and it is as though we never left. While there have been some cosmetic changes, the essence of that sheltered paradise has not changed in the 24 years we've been taking groups there. That is part of the allure - we know we are in friendly, competent hands and we can truly relax… Everything about Cozumel invites us to slow down and savor the moment… hammocks rocking gently in the breeze, smiling waiters bearing refreshing beverages to quench the tropical heat, the lazy drift of our dives along the spectacular walls and reefs - what's not to love?

Our most recent trip was fantastic. Perfect weather and diving with a fun group made for an especially memorable vacation. My favorite dive was a twilight dive on El Paso del Cedral where the muted lighting provided the perfect backdrop for photo opps. A 6 foot moray eel free swimming among our group was probably the highlight of that dive, although the turtles, groupers, huge lobsters, puffer fish, rays, and nurse sharks certainly added to the fun. Our wall dives were also fascinating; there's just something breathtaking about drifting along enveloped in the indescribable deep blue of a drop off - someone likened it to flying - with nothing but endless blue water visible below you. The shallow reefs with their busy and brightly colored inhabitants, the eerie mystery of wreck dives, and the stark contrast of fresh water cavern diving in the cenotes, the hustle bustle of a shopping spree downtown, discovering new restaurants, and experiencing a motor scooter tour of the island, all provide the perfect antidote to the stressful lifestyles we left behind…

Inevitably, I'm left wondering, "Why did it take me so long to come back?" Our next trip is already scheduled! Join us April 11-18, 2009 for another edition of "Underwater Fiestas in Cozumel!"

~ Ginny Barry

Congratulations to our newest PADI Advanced Divers: