benfish Posted October 22, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Has anyone tried this excursion? From the description it really sounds great but that's what sometimes scares me, that it sounds great but is a real dud and waste of money. Please post your thoughts.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IslandJim Posted October 23, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Jacqueline at Cozumel Insider has done this with her daughter. She posted a nice review some weeks back. Get in touch with her http://www.cozumelinsider.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted October 23, 2006 #3 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Just got back today from visiting Cozumel on the Enchantment of the Seas and I did the Helmet Dive. IT WAS THE BEST!!! I did not book with the ship but booked privately. It was $59.00 and worth every penny. After we booked on-line my husband broke his arm and they refunded our deposit. They also refund your deposit if the ship can't get into port for any reason. It was a wonderful adventure and I would highly recommend it. I think you can contact lupe_diver@hotmail.com for more information. I booked through an agency but this is his direct email. I think the place is called Sea Space and the facility is right next door to the Hotel Barracuda. You see the Pearl Farm, feed the fish and see underwater life. I was in a group of 4 and there were 2 guides with us and a photographer as well....and of course you can buy the tape of your dive or pictures....but that's Cozumel. Enjoy. Cruzin'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted October 23, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 23, 2006 There's a _ between lupe and diver. Didn't think you could see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHP Posted October 25, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Thanks for the update. We have some friends who are thinking about doing this when they go in November...but like you they were not certain it was worth it. I will forward your experience to them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigfishinn Posted October 27, 2006 #6 Share Posted October 27, 2006 We did this excursion (booked on our own) in August this year and LOVED IT!!!!! There were 4 in our group and 5 on the helmet dive. There were 2 divers plus the photographer, plus the person that took care of the air lines. We had a snorkeling part after the helmet dive part and the other person didn't stay for the snorkeling part so it was only the 4 of us. Much cheaper ($59 pp) than booking thru cruise ship (and same excursion). I would recommend this to anyone. And we bought the video because it included pictures and the video and it was so well done and a great memento of our helmet dive. I would recommend this to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheelbelle Posted October 28, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 28, 2006 We did this excursion (booked on our own) in August this year and LOVED IT!!!!! There were 4 in our group and 5 on the helmet dive. There were 2 divers plus the photographer, plus the person that took care of the air lines. We had a snorkeling part after the helmet dive part and the other person didn't stay for the snorkeling part so it was only the 4 of us. Much cheaper ($59 pp) than booking thru cruise ship (and same excursion). I would recommend this to anyone. And we bought the video because it included pictures and the video and it was so well done and a great memento of our helmet dive. I would recommend this to anyone. How deep do you go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted November 1, 2006 #8 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I think we went down around 20 feet. Walked down a ladder of about nine steps and there was a slight incline on the ocean bottom. They provide "sea shoes", a changing room, locker to keep your stuff in while you dive, and bathroom facilities. There's a restaurant to buy food and drinks as well if you want. They let you snorkel after the dive but since my husband had been waiting for me (because his arm was in a cast) decided I would do a little retail therapy instead. It was an easy 5 minut walk into town. Hope this helps Cruzin'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanditoes4 Posted November 2, 2006 #9 Share Posted November 2, 2006 How much was the DVD and/or the pictures they took?? How did you get it, right away after tour or did they mail it home to you?? Did you take your own pictures?? did you see tons of creatures?? I am really thinking I would like this more than I loved my snorkel trip last time...it was hard to get over the "face in the water, now breathe" thing!!! Is there a web link you could post??? Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigfishinn Posted November 2, 2006 #10 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I think it was about $15 or $20 I don't remember exactly - it was cheap. And the DVD included all the pictures they took. Which were really good. You got it right after the tour. They show you it before you buy it. They bring fish to you by letting loose fish food. They also brought us a star fish to see. I wouldn't say there were a "ton" of creatures, but enough that it made us happy. It was really great. This is who we went thru http://www.sanddollarsports.net/sd_seatrek_CH.php But you can also reserve from these people http://www.cozumelinsider.com/Seatrek?From=Snorkeling Don't be confused from the pictures on these website because there is no railing to old onto when you are underwater. We really enjoyed and would do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted November 2, 2006 #11 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I think there may be a couple of places for the helmet dive. I can only tell you about the one I used last week. The email address is lupe_diver@hotmail.com. Fish were attracted to us by the feeding.We were each given a chance to feed. We also saw the tiniest sting ray that they held and sea spiders that we held. An octopus was hiding amongst the rocks and even though they tried so hard they could not coax him out, but we peeked in. I took an underwater camera that I bought at Costco with me. We held hand as we walked and luckily I was last in line so I sort of snapped and turned the film with one hand. They all came out and are great. Once we dropped hands it was no problem. I even took a self-photo by extending my arms as far as I could. We saw the underwater pearl farm too. I know I have seen more reefs and assortment of fish when I went snorkeling a couple of times but this was a great adventure and I loved it. There were 2 guides with us and an underwater photgrapher. The pictures were $20 and were put on a disc and the video and picture package was $50.00. I bought the disc with the still pictures. It took about 10-15 minutes. They were ready by the time I changed and would have been ready in plenty of time if I had snorkeled.(That was Included in the price of the dive. Hope this helps. Have fun!! Cruzin'd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted November 2, 2006 #12 Share Posted November 2, 2006 As I said before there's a _ between lupe and diver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NbrCrnchr Posted November 4, 2006 #13 Share Posted November 4, 2006 Once you arrived at the pear farm did you have to take a boat out or do you go into the water right from land? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigfishinn Posted November 4, 2006 #14 Share Posted November 4, 2006 You walk a few yards to the beach and then are on a platform where you descend the ladder. Personally I was soooo looking forward to this excursions then got a little scared when we got there (because a man was walking UP the ladder and saying I can't do it) Apparently he had problems getting his ears to pop. The secret to that is going down the ladder slow and popping your ears often (many ways to pop your ears - holding my nose and blowing thru it worked for me - there is room to put your hand up inside the helmet to accomplish this). After descending the ladder and getting used to the noise of the air and breathing "canned - hot" air underwater, I LOVED it. I would definitely do it again. The pictures they took and the pictures with an underwater camera we took with us were great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzin'd Posted November 4, 2006 #15 Share Posted November 4, 2006 They gave us instructions before the dive. We also walked down a ladder from a platform. They told us that every third step down to equalize the pressure by holding our nose and trying to make our ears "pop" It was easy because you could put your hand up into the helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigfishinn Posted November 4, 2006 #16 Share Posted November 4, 2006 The Helmet Dive/Pearl Farm is at the same place irregardless if how you book it (thru a cruise ship or on your own thru different sources). There is only one place in Cozumel that does the helmet dive and that is Sea Trek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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