I learned a new definition for it recently when diving Cenotes with Dive Adventuras near Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Our host was wetpixel’s Karen Doody and it was her photos of the Cenotes that brought me there. We arranged our schedule so we would not miss Karen, whom I had missed by one day in N.C. last Sept. and nearly missed again.
All our arrangements were made through Karen and Dive Adventuras. We were picked up after our ferry ride over from Cozumel for our day trip. The 15 min ride south of the ferry went by quickly and we found ourselves treated like long lost family at a reunion the rest of the time with Dive Adventuras. The hotel connected to the dive shop is quite impressive and perhaps more than my paycheck is prepared for…but no matter – we were only day tripping. The pool area of that hotel is striking and staying there would be quite the treat.
Karen spent considerable time telling me about the Cenotes and what to expect. She had plenty of suggestions for shot setup, exposure control, strobe use – and those suggestions made all the difference. Since I had only one day, and this was my 4th day using the DSLR underwater (2 days in NC last Sept, one day in Cozumel the day before), I needed all the help I could get! And Karen arranged for us to have the same guide (Mario) she used as a model for her famous Cenote shot last yr. She instructed Mario to show me the places she likes to be for taking pictures. How do you beat that?
My wife headed off to Tulum for her trip and I to the Cenotes along with another couple and Mario. The drive was short and the adventure was quick to start. The diving just kept getting better and better, and Mario suggesting places to take photo’s from time to time. Once I was in place, Mario would glide back and forth posing at various angles.
The woman of the other couple got uncomfortable in the closed spaces and she ended her dive. While large spaces, they are enclosed and not for everyone.
We dove Chac Mool and Kukulkhan with both being great. Also had the good fortune for another group to pass through at good times for using them as models as well. Mario is a hoot to be with which made the above water times great as well. After a while, the other diver started posing with Mario and this was most gracious since he was a paying customer, just like me.
Jane and I met back at the dive shop, arriving within minutes of each other and both delighted by the day. At Karen’s suggestion, we tried SiSiSi for lunch. I had Karen’s recommendation of the beet salad with goat cheese. I am not much for beets but it was GREAT. Alternating very thin slices of beet and mango, mango sauce and goat cheese. I never really knew beets could be so tasty. Then back to the ferry for the trip to Cozumel for tomorrow’s diving.
While the Cozumel diving was very nice, the Cenotes were the highlight of the trip. Wished I had more time for Cenotes diving and may have to make that work in the future.
If you look in the right lower section, you can see 3 divers in the distance, providing size perspective.
dave
