It’s that time of year again. The annual dive trip to Mexico!
Most of the guys are driving down to San Carlos this time. Personally, I think it’s crazy to spend 16 hours driving across the featureless desert when America West offers daily (though spotty) service to nearby Guaymas. And right out of John Wayne, too! No getting up at 3 am. No fighting the congestion at LAX. No overloaded flights.
I don’t even have to lug my dive gear around. The guys were kind enough to stop by on their way out of town and schlep it down there with them, just as a precaution. None of us has forgotten how America West lost all our dive gear a couple of years ago.
Despite the hassles of air travel, I’m glad to be going this way. It figures that the only two people to insist on flying just happen to be pilots. Arnie and I are going to meet up in Phoenix and plan our Mexican mayhem on the flight down to Guaymas. Hopefully he’ll keep the max depth to less than 200 feet this time. Note to self: next time, get the DAN membership.
Anyway, I’m outta here! See ya next week…
It was truely a great time as always. You really should look into that DAN thing. Two deco dives on a recreational trip?!!? Jeff and I caught a early flight back to “el D.F.” a.k.a. “the pit of dispair”. We didn’t even get bent! Good times. Peace Out!!
Yep, two deco stops on a single dive! I’m starting to wear it like a badge of honor — apparently Arnie’s having a detrimental effect on my diving judgement…
Glad to hear you two made it back to Mexico City in one piece! More than I can say for those of us who decided to fly.
The Dash-8 was four HOURS late getting to Guaymas. Then thunderstorms forced us to hold over Phoenix for an hour, followed by a landing at Tuscon. It took an hour to get through customs, followed by a long trudge to the America West reservation desk. Which was deserted!
When we finally got someone from America West to show up, they told us that we were effectively stranded. Oh yeah, and they weren’t going to arrange for a hotel room. Arnie put the kibosh on that and firmly ‘requested’ the presence of a supervisor who thankfully hooked us up with lodging.
Our flight was 45 minutes late departing PHX this morning, but that’s early by America West standards.
We finally arrived back in California, only 24 hours after checking in at Guaymas. It doesn’t top your 36 hour bus ride from hell, but considering the fact that our conveyance travels ten times faster than yours, I think it’s almost more egregious.
Thankfully, the diving, housing, company, and especially that memorable dinner on Sunday night more than made up for it. Good times indeed!
what does it mean two deco stops on a single Dive?
It means the dive computer wanted me to stop at 20 feet for 6 minutes, and 10 feet for 3 minutes in order to let excess nitrogen work its way out of my body.
There are two things in life I will NEVER try.. Scuba Diving and Parachuting..
.I’ll try anything else though
Deco Stop = Fun times with Arnie!!