My Cruise Adventures

Costa Maya

We didn't do any ship excursions here, because the selection wasn't that appealing. However, someone in one of the online forums had mentioned the Tequila Beach Club, and it sounded interesting. I ended up booking parasailing for Melissa and I, and a 1-tank dive for Ryan. However, they didn't have the parasailing when we arrived due to a variety of reasons, so I joined Ryan on a dive.

When we docked in Costa Maya, there was already one ship there, the Carnival Liberty. This is the only Carnival ship with a movie screen on the upper deck. It was about the size of the Grand Princess, but a little newer. A smaller, older Carnival ship docked shortly after we did.

There's quite a nice little shopping center, with bars and a pool, right by the dock, but the town itself is unremarkable. The Tequila Beach Club was on the other side of the harbor, $3 each by bus. When we arrived, we all grabbed sodas and ordered some nachos. Ryan and I then scrambled to the little pier to meet our divemaster.

We left soon thereafter, and went about a half-mile off shore. We all went off the side of the boat and headed down. The reef was between 35 and 45 feet deep. Unlike reefs I remember from my teenage diving years, there was not much color here.

We did see a shark, but that was about the only excitement. Others saw a turtle in the distance, but it was moving swiftly away. The divemaster later said sharks were rare in that area.

Near the end of the dive, I went to equalize my sinuses again and there was a little 'pop' followed by a stream of bubbles from my left ear. I had punctured my eardrum. I went to the ship's doctor upon my return, and was told not to dive or swim the rest of the trip. Fortunately it healed within the next two weeks and doesn't seem to be a problem for future dives.