How Could It Be The Best Dive and The Worst Dive
Scuba diving in Puerto Rico from a cruise ship is somewhat difficult. There is one operator whose schedule will allow you to fit in a dive – ScubaDogs at Escambrón Marine Park. It’s about three miles by car, through busy streets. This is the story of how sometimes the very worst dive becomes one of the most memorable ones. It’s the human factor that makes it work.
To get to Scuba Dogs, it’s about three miles by car, over some difficult busy streets. We had been to Puerto Rico the year before, by cruise. We planned a dive with Scuba Dogs, but the seas were too rough. So, we did what anyone would do who did not have a plan. We walked to the end of the pier and looked at all the vendors waving laminated tour information.
There were loads. Tours to this fort or that attraction. We chose a tour that looked like it would go everywhere. And it did – Old Town, New Town, and even by Escambrón Marine Park. It was an amazing day full of historical sites, brief stops at each. There even was a stop at the beach by Escambrón.
We sipped a drink in a fresh coconut as we looked at the area where we were supposed to dive. It was choppy. It made us all the more determined to return, and enjoy that dive.
A year later, we were back, and with a new cell phone plan that allowed for calls and texts abroad.
Our dive leader Manolo already had contacted us with pertinent information.
When we said we were headed to the end of the pier to catch a taxi or Uber, he said he’d come get us. And he did.
He picked us up, gave us a rundown of the sights along the way. Jeff Bezos’ enormous sailboat was in port. It was huge.
Originally, Manolo made arrangements for us to ride the bus. The rest of the cruise passenger who were snorkeling were gathering.
Then he decided to make it even faster and easier for us and pick us up!
Once at Escambrón Marine Park, at Sea Dogs, our guide Manolo showed us where the entry point would be. He showed us where we would put our gear, and how we would get down to the beach.
Then he took us to the dive shop. It wasn’t like a dive shop elsewhere; no big room selling merch. It was more like a walk-up window where you would order a hot dog.
Into the back we went, for a sort-of tour of the back end.
We were shown where we to leave our dive bags, and chose weights for the day.
Quickly, we got our gear all set up on a wall. We were ready to get in the water!
But then, Manolo took out his phone and proceeded to show us what we were going to see. Now, if that sounds anticlimatic to you – it did to me, too.
But then I understood. He showed us all the fish we would see. This was so that when we saw them, we would know what they were.
Manolo showed us the hand sign for each fish. He explained and showed the juvenile stages of each fish – at least three stages per fish.
Then he went over very carefully the area where we would dive, in great detail.
He spent probably a full hour detailing fish then location. There were several obstacles to navigate, and strong currents.
Also, the wave action was high, so timings around impediments was crucial. He described where we would be subjected to tidal surges, and where we could rest or brace ourselves.
Then we went for the dive.
And you would have called it an awful dive. There were waves, there was current, it was cold, and it was murky. Visibility was just as bad as he said it would be – feet. Maybe five or six feet at times.
We slowly worked our way around all the concrete piers, metal debris, and other obstacles.
We saw all the fish. For the first time every, I could recognize what I was seeing and name it. Amazingly, I also could identify the same fish in the juvenile stage. There were dozens of fish.
When Bill and I dive, we always say we can just sit on a single coral head all day. The longer you watch the fish, the more you notice. You will see their movements, their interactions with other fish. The opportunity to observe their reaction to their environment is so special.
This dive in San Juan, the beautiful old city, it was special too. The reason it was special was totally because of Manolo. I suspect he has to go through that routine almost every dive. He has to build up the anticipation, then deliver those fish. Luckily, those fish are somewhat predictable and will be in their usual spots.
But he did a masterful thing. He took that bad day, and made it great.
I had a similarly bad day recently sailing. We never even got off the mooring. But, the learning curve was high, and everyone got something out of the failed day of sailing. They learned a lot, and will retain a lot from that experience.
That day, we learned a great lesson. Slow down. Look. Watch.
We’ve had other incredibly bad dives. One was in the Florida Keys on a stormy day. No dive operators were operating, so we went to Jules Verne Undersea Whatever. You could see about a foot in front of you. But we were with our dive group, with some special friends. That is what made that day special; just blowing bubbles with friends.
Manolo took a really bad day, and made it great. That’s a great instructor. That’s a great leader.
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