COZUMEL TRIP
LA BUFADORA, BAJA MEXICO
Trip Report
SEPTEMBER 12 - SEPTEMBER 16
This trip to Mexico was my first trip down with Rich and the group. The plan was to have upwards of 15 people from
(SouthCoastdivers.com) caravan down to La Bufadora to spend a few days camping and
diving.
Thursday night 9/12/2002: We had 8 people (Rich, Matt and his wife Lori, myself, Michele, Jeff, Mike (aka. Shrek), and Rick)
caravan down in three cars. Each car had a CB radio in it for group communications. The drive down took about 5 hours including
a stop at Outback in San Diego for dinner. The group decided at dinner that a 'Snipe hunt' was needed in the 'HONOR' of
our two rookie hunters: Michele and Lori. More on the hunt later. We finally arrived at the camp area, Camp La Jolla at around
12:30 am. We quickly setup our area and called it a night. NO drinking or diving on this night.
Friday, 9/13/02: We started our day when the local stray dog community ran by our camp site at around 8am, chasing after a
police car. I not sure I understand WHY the dogs where chasing after the Cops (Maybe the doggies wanted some fresh bacon?).
After breakfast, the group drove to Arbolitos Cove
where we did our first dive. The
water temperature was a balmy 55 degrees. The water WAS warmer, but Mike complained that the water was TOO warm. Therefore,
we prayed to the mitty scuba diving God in the sky to turn down the temperature in the like spa-like cove. Rich took Matt and
Lori off to the side to "teach" Matt how to use his new dry suit. The rest of use explored the reef structure and cove to the
east. (FYI, Skrek was wearing a 3/2mm wetsuit). Dive #1: Dive Buddies: The entire group. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz:
25-30ft. After our 1st dive of the day, the youngest member of the group (I think it was Rich????) decided to return us to camp
for a morning siesta. After about an hour of twiddling our thumbs Rick and I decided to do a second dive. Everything went 100%
according to plan, including our navigation. (Yes, we planned to exit at the OTHER cove, remember this is MY story!). Dive #2:
Dive Buddies: Rick and I. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ?? Viz: 25-30ft.
After lunch in La Bufadora,
we recessed back to camp
for another
siesta. We decided we NEEDED to do a night dive.
Again, Mike was having trouble staying warm, so Mike decided he would show off
his celebrated swimming skills and swam laps around us. After the dive Mike had a 'NEW' understanding of the term 'Blue Balls'. Dive #3:
Dive Buddies: The entire group minus Rich and Lori. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 25-30ft. Well with 2-3 dives for almost
everyone in the group, we called it a night, after some dinner in town.
Saturday, 9/14/02: Again, Saturday started off with the now famous Mexican alarm clock. The group made its way over to the local
breakfast joint for some nourishment. We swapped stories/lies with the local Americas for about an hour. John finally arrived
from the States and he decided to join us for some hard core diving. All nine of use headed back to Arbolitos Cove. This time
the local land owner/manager was not real happy with us because we were interrupting his workers with their sea urchins and
lobster harvesting. Rich imparted some of his considerable knowledge on the manager and we were able to dive the cove again.
This time we all headed to the east and had a great time exploring the "Marina". The highlights of the dive was the "rock chute"
and the giant green anemones. Dive #4: Dive Buddies: The entire group plus John, Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 25-30ft.
After a quick lunch in La Bufadora and a trip to Dale's stunning dive shop for air and souvenirs, we got ready for our first and
only dive in La Bufadora prime.
The entire group minus John (It seems he had something better to do.) entered the water directly
in front of Dale's shop. This was the worse DIVE of the trip. Nothing UNDERWATER to see, just sand dollars and a few stocks of
kelp (Right Michele?). The dive was called early for various reasons from boredom to sickness. After collecting all our gear
and the hard working divers we headed back to the camp site for a quiet evening of checkers and chess. Or something like that,
I can't seem to remember, Matt do you remember how the night went? Maybe we will ask Geoffrey. Dive #5: The entire group minus John
Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 25-30ft
Sunday, 9/15/02: Sunday morning, got off to a late start as most of the group felt the need to attend church services after
a quiet evening of checkers and chess. It seems Rick had gotten directions to Kennedy Cove, so we decided to explore for it.
When we followed these directions to the best of our ability, we found that we would also need rock climbing and/or parachutes
to work our way to the beach. So we voted to try another spot. We worked our way east of Arbolitos Cove along some simple 4x4
roads. (Great job of driving by Michele). Wow, we discovered heaven, or at least a group of manly-men pretending it was heaven.
Never the less, we had found an excellent dive site. We named the site, Camp Rhino Cove
after the group of guys we discovered.
Again, the site was put to a vote and the entire group of eight minus Lori and Rick, took the "elevator" down to the beach and
did a "Top-10" dive.
Lots of color and sea life. Dive #6: The entire group minus 2. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 40+ feet.
Before the dive
Rick got an early start on his return trip back to the US. After the dive, the remainder of the group headed back to
La Bufadora for lunch. Michele discovered that Mexicans cook with their form of Limburger cheese. This place is a definite
"NO-GO", "A Never Again" kind of place. Well, it was time for Michele, Jeff and Shrek to leave for home. Lori, Matt, Rich and
I, were left to our own accords. Yes, we were good, just like little Angels!
Monday, 9/16/02: As a going away memento to our favorite Mexican, "Marco" we tried to donate a � used bottle of "Apple Juice".
Well, we tried at least. It was back to Arbolitos cove for more diving. We worked our way around the small island to the West
of the cove. The highlights of the dive were a giant bat ray and some excellent team work. Dinner was found in Escenada. Matt
found a Puerto Nuevo lobster. It turns out Matt was the only member of the group that had the privilege of lobster on the
trip. Sorry Rich!
It seems Michele decided to look for the Snipes in the ocean, she just keep looking and looking and looking. Lori, decided,
she would have Matt look for the "Snipes" for her. For some unknown reason, he kept looking at the bottom of plastic cups.
I knew "Snipes" we small, but not that small. Well, it was interesting to see Matt doing his searching.
The trip is dedicated to Rich's dry suit who gave it life in the honor of some great diving. Again, Sorry Rich!!!!!
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we recessed back to camp
for another
siesta. We decided we NEEDED to do a night dive.
Again, Mike was having trouble staying warm, so Mike decided he would show off
his celebrated swimming skills and swam laps around us. After the dive Mike had a 'NEW' understanding of the term 'Blue Balls'. Dive #3:
Dive Buddies: The entire group minus Rich and Lori. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 25-30ft. Well with 2-3 dives for almost
everyone in the group, we called it a night, after some dinner in town.
The entire group minus John (It seems he had something better to do.) entered the water directly
in front of Dale's shop. This was the worse DIVE of the trip. Nothing UNDERWATER to see, just sand dollars and a few stocks of
kelp (Right Michele?). The dive was called early for various reasons from boredom to sickness. After collecting all our gear
and the hard working divers we headed back to the camp site for a quiet evening of checkers and chess. Or something like that,
I can't seem to remember, Matt do you remember how the night went? Maybe we will ask Geoffrey. Dive #5: The entire group minus John
Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 25-30ft
after the group of guys we discovered.
Again, the site was put to a vote and the entire group of eight minus Lori and Rick, took the "elevator" down to the beach and
did a "Top-10" dive.
Lots of color and sea life. Dive #6: The entire group minus 2. Time: ??, Depth: ??, Fish: ??, Viz: 40+ feet.
Before the dive
Rick got an early start on his return trip back to the US. After the dive, the remainder of the group headed back to
La Bufadora for lunch. Michele discovered that Mexicans cook with their form of Limburger cheese. This place is a definite
"NO-GO", "A Never Again" kind of place. Well, it was time for Michele, Jeff and Shrek to leave for home. Lori, Matt, Rich and
I, were left to our own accords. Yes, we were good, just like little Angels!