After all these wonderful solo trips where I challenge myself, I always say that I'm going to conquer one of my fears. I felt so impowered after each trip. So, one day I decided to get my scuba license. I can bike, hike, kayak, snorkel, fish, zipline and much more, why can't I scuba dive, right? I had just met a new friend at a networking event and her family owns a dive shop in Mahahual, Mexico (also known as Costa Maya for those that cruise a lot). She said that if I get my license that we would go on a trip to Mexico together for my first couple of dives. Sounded great to me because having people I know take me diving (and being dive masters and owners of the shop) is better than trusting strangers to look out for me when diving.
I started my scuba journey at Sea Hunt Scuba in St. Augustine, Florida. The book work and test to get the PADI certification were quite easy. The hard part is the going underwater with a mask and oxygen tank. My first time in the pool was very scary. You push the button to deflate your vest and down you go into the water. We were in a heated pool, but still. The next super scary item was to take off my mask and put it back on under water. Oh man, my heart was racing but I still accomplished it. Next up, diving in "real" water outside of the pool. I had to complete four checkout dives. The dives were at Devils Eye and Little Devel in Ginnie Springs, Florida. If you know anything about this place, the water is freezing. So, it was my first experience in a wet suit as well. The dives were a max depth of 33 feet deep. The longest of the dives was 45ish minutes. I thought I did great, I didn't freak out too much, and passed my course. Yippee!! Seeing the fish under the water was the coolest (no pun intended). I was so happy that I faced my fears of being underwater and my ears popping. The upcoming experiences in Mexico are going to be so amazing.
A few months later, my friend invited me and several other individuals to go diving in Mahahual, Mexico located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Mahahual is a tiny town that is 2 roads, about a mile long; one is paved and the other is dirt. First, I had never been to Mexico before (except for a few hours on a cruise ship). I was very excited to try speaking Spanish (since I had multiple years of it in high school and college). We flew into Cancun and boarded a large group bus to drive 4 hours to Mahahual. One of our stops was in Tulum. It is a small town but has one of the best panaderias(bakeries). I can't remember then name, but if you are traveling through downtown on the main highway south, it is on your right. You can't miss the red trays of all kinds of bread (pan in Spanish) and baked goods. We also stopped for lunch at a restaurant in downtown Tulum. Also, on the main highway, there are local vendors of fresh pineapple. The side of the roads have tons of pineapple farms. Stop and buy a bag of pineapple from the vendors/farmers. They are so sweet and taste nothing like they do in the US. If you are being bold, get the pineapple sprinkled with chili powder. I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy foods so I didn't try it.
After our 4 hour drive, we pulled up to the city. It was quaint, a little run down, but looked like a nice place for me to become a "true" diver. We checked into our hotel. It had cute little towel swans on my bed and a nice bathroom. I soon learned that "C" on a shower handle in a Spanish speaking country meant 'caliente' (aka hot) and not 'cold' like in the US. The water on the beach was crystal clear blue. The hotel had these great swings that were seats to the bar. I spent a lot of time in those swings (not to drink at the bar but because they were super fun). I also spent a lot of down time in the beds on the beach. Yep, you heard me right...BEDS on the beach. The streets of Mahahual were super walkable (only being 1 mile long) and had fun places to eat, shop, and do yoga. This town is so amazing and welcomed me 2 more times after this trip.
Unfortunately, due to the weather the week we were in Mahahual, we only got to dive two times. A tropical storm was passing us by and it was so windy it was hard to get out on the boat. Fortunately, we had other excursions including a trip to the Mayan ruins in Chacchoben, fishing, and ziplining. Chacchoben had human settlements at around 1000BC and by 360AD it became the largest Mayan community in the region and a prestigious ceremonial center in the area. The ruins were quite neat. We ziplined through a jungle canopy and saw the Laguna Bacalar ("Lake of Seven Colors") using BioMaya zipline tours. The views were spectacular and the zipline had its own braking system so that was quite nice. We trolled out in the ocean and I caught one barracuda. The fish in the picture below was not the one I caught. We had to throw mine back in. When we did get to dive, it was magical. We got to one site that most people cannot go to when the cruise ships are in port. At the bottom we saw huge manta rays. I could float down there for hours watching those majestic animals. Our second trip to drive was great as well but started out pretty rough. The seas were stirred up and luckily, I got down pretty quickly. My friend, however, was not so lucky. She chummed the water at bit at the top. I felt so bad. But she said once we got down, she felt better. We followed a sea turtle around a bit just swimming behind it. Beautiful creature. We also saw several barracuda and I was concerned because I forgot to take my necklace off and supposedly, they are attracted to shiny objects. I was not bitten and one didn't come that close, thankfully.
I think the best part of the trip was the food. I didn't get many pictures but believe me, it was so good (and the one picture I got is dark and blurry). One evening we bought fresh lobster from the dock and cooked up the fish we caught at a local restaurant next door to our hotel. It was a feast fit for a queen. Everything was so fresh and seasoned to perfection. One of my favorite items in Mexico is the chorizo. I like it with eggs for breakfast and on top of queso fundido for snack, dinner, or anytime. Yum, yum, yum!
This trip to Mexico was so great in many ways. I got to experience a country that I have not been. I was able to practice my Spanish speaking abilities (still needs some work). I ate so much yummy food. The excursions got me out of my comfort zone. But biggest of all, I conquered my fear of scuba diving. I'm still timid and get knots in my stomach when we go diving, but it is so worth it to be in a different world under the water watching the animals and being one with nature.
What did I learn this trip:
Face your fears. You may realize that it wasn't as scary as the stories in your head. It is very freeing.
People outside of the US do live differently than we do. Don't take things for granted and be grateful for what you have.
Fresh fruits, veggies, and meat are the ultimate feast. Always try to eat local and fresh. Your body will love you for it. P.S. I really like authentic Mexican food.
Nature and the weather may have different plans for you. Take it day by day and be flexible. The trip may turn out even better than you imagined.
What will I bring to Glamp GVL:
We will clearly mark hot and cold water handles. Don't worry, you won't get confused.
Swings and hammocks are the bomb. We will have then all around the resort for you to unwind and relax after your adventurous days.
We will have so many adventures and things to do on and off resort. Try something out of your comfort zone. You may realize that you love it and it wasn't so scary.
Comments