MISSION SCUBA PEOPLE - PHOCEA MEXICO - H2O VOYAGE: ESPADONS, CENOTES, BOULEDOGUES… & CROCOS

From 31 January to 8 February 2015 (Paris / Paris)
with optional: a "Crocos" extension 8 days / 7 nights
from 7 to 15 February.

We offer you an exceptional and exclusive trip: “swimming among sailfish and bulldog sharks” in Mexico. It is in the warm and clear waters of the Caribbean, north of Cancun, that we invite you to come and participate in one of the most extraordinary underwater encounters that it is possible to see.

This trip is open to a maximum of 7 people, not one more… in addition to the local guides, this trip will be accompanied by Manuel Lewin, creator of scuba-people.com

Off Isla Mujeres - the Island of Women - we have an appointment for an exceptional and rare event. Usually solitary sailfish gather together for a breathtaking hunt. As a group, these blazing-fast predators gather a compact ball of sardines below the surface, for an extraordinary banquet. Imagine dozens of these elegant and awe-inspiring fish extending and retracting their majestic sails, turning, tacking and knocking out sardines with their rostrums before quietly feasting on them. Unforgettable show guaranteed!

During this trip, our partner "Phocea Mexico", will make you dive in Playa Del Carmen with impressive bulldog sharks:

In the Cozumel Marine Reserve:

and in cenotes, these natural wells where fresh water and sea water mix in an underground maze and a fairyland of lights and backlights. The lucky ones may even come across a crocodile ...

STAY PROGRAM

Day 1 : Paris / Mexico City (Saturday 31 January 2015)
Meet at Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2E. Direct flight Air France, Paris / Cancun (12:40 p.m. - 16:40 p.m.).
Arrival in Cancun, reception at the airport and transfer to Playa Del Carmen.
Installation in your room at the Plaza Hotel.
Dinner free. Overnight in Playa Del Carmen.

Day 2 : Playa Del Carmen (Sunday 1er February 2015)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Go to 8h15 at the diving center.
2 dives in Playa del Carmen.
Between the 2 dives, break on the beach (water and cakes included).
Return to 12h30 at the diving center.
Then by boat for an 3th dive on Playa del Carmen to meet the bulldog sharks on a sandy bottom at 20m. Diving return to 14h30.
Rest of the day free.
Dinner free. Overnight in Playa Del Carmen.

From 3 Day to 5 Day : Sailfish Swordfish (from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 February 2015)
A typical day Swordfish Sailboats
Departure at 6h00 from the hotel towards Punta Sam north of Cancun. Boarding the fast boat (privatized for our group). Head off Isla Mujeres looking for sailfish (about 2h of navigation to arrive on area). As soon as a bench is spotted thanks to the birds, put in water in fins, mask and snorkel. The swordfish that hunt on the surface, are not frightened by our presence and pass regularly within a meter of us. Once in the water, the larger the sardine ball, the more mobile it is, requiring frequent boat rides. The smaller it is, the more the sardines come to take refuge around us and the less you have to swim. Time at sea with sailfish will depend on meetings made (on board, drinks and snacks). Back to 15h-16h00 on Playa.
Dinner free. Nights at the Plaza Hotel.

Day 6 : Playa Del Carmen / Cozumel Thursday 5 February 2015
After breakfast, go to 7h30. Boarding the ferry and drive to Cozumel Island. You will be carried by the current along the beautiful falls of the island during 2 dives. The reefs are famous for their reliefs and their coral formations as well as for the visibility, often extraordinary. Back to Playa del Carmen for 17h. Lunch on board the boat. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 : Playa Del Carmen Friday 6 February 2015
After breakfast, head south to Playa and its unique underground water network, for 2 dives in cenotes. Between 2 dive a snack will be proposed.
Back to 15h in Playa Del Carmen.
Dinner free. Overnight at the Plaza Hotel.

Day 8 : Playa Del Carmen / Paris Saturday 7 February 2015
Breakfast.
Day and free meals.
Transfer to the airport.
Air France flight direct Cancun / Paris (19h00 - 11h20)

Day 9 : Paris Sunday 8 February 2015
Arrive Paris Charles de Gaulle at 11h20.

For sailfish outings, the boat will be privatized for our group. Launching is planned in apnea. Nevertheless blocks of 6 liters will remain on the boat available and may be used if conditions permit. The time at sea will depend on the meetings made.
The boat that will welcome us during sailfish sailboat outings to Isla Mujeres has a capacity of 15 people. However, we reserve it for a small group of 7 more accompanying divers (s), in order to have enough space for the photo equipment and for our comfort during the day trips.

Pratical information

Baggage allowance: on international flights Paris / Cancun, 1 baggage of 23 kg each in the hold per person. Information given as an indication, the airline may change its terms at any time without notice.

Time difference: -7h

Formalities: passport with optical reading or biometric valid more than 6 months after the date of return and return ticket.

Health: no compulsory vaccine. However, it is preferable to be vaccinated against tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B.

Currency: Mexican pesos

Electricity: 110V, American plugs (2 flat plugs).

Climate: mild in winter, hot and humid in summer.

Water T °: 26-27 ° C

Equipment to be provided: 3 or 5mm combination, to envisage a rainwear on the boat (site in open sea which can be a little agitated)

Case: Cancun and Playa Del Carmen

TARIF

2 825 € * Air taxes included based on 7 participants

CROCOS EXTENSION PROGRAM

Day 8 : Playa Del Carmen / Xcalac Saturday 7 February 2015
Breakfast at the hotel. Go to 11h at the diving center to take the road south to Xcalac.
Stop in a cenote to take pictures and refresh.
Typical Mayan lunch. Arrival at the beginning of the evening in Xcalac at the hotel Costa de Cocos (www.costadecocos.com) Dinner at the restaurant and night at the hotel.

Day 9 : Banco Chinchorro / Sunday Cabanas 8 February 2015
Breakfast at the hotel. Boarding a fast boat to go towards the Banco Chinchorro nature reserve, landing on a “cabana” in the lagoon.

Croco Day: Once the crocos are baited, we go in the water with them. Maximum depth 1.50 meter and there is only happiness for photographers. One person will be in charge of the security and will alert the group as soon as crocodiles approach behind or on the sides. The day will happen so that everyone can get out his shots.
Dinner and overnight in the “cabana”. Dinner based on grilled fish prepared on the barbecue.

ATTENTION rudimentary comfort, night in hammocks in the “cabana”, no private corner, no electricity.

Day 10 : “Cabana” Monday February 9, 2015
Breakfast at the “cabana”.
Day with the crocos.
Dinner and overnight in the “cabana”. Grilled lobster dinner.

Day 11 : Banco Chinchorro / Playa Del Carmen Tuesday 10 February 2015
Breakfast at the “cabana”.
Day with the crocos.
Back on the continent then Playa Del Carmen to 18h.
Dinner and overnight at Plaza Hotel.

Day 12 : Playa Del Carmen Wednesday 11 February 2015
After breakfast, meet at 7:30 am. Boarding the ferry and heading to Cozumel Island. You will let yourself be carried by the current along the magnificent drop-offs of the island during 2 dives. The reefs are famous for their relief and their coral formations as well as for the visibility, often extraordinary. Return to Playa del Carmen for 17 p.m. Lunch on board the boat. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 : Playa Del Carmen Thursday 12 February 2015
After breakfast, head south to Playa and its unique underground water network, for 2 dives in cenotes. Between 2 dive a snack will be proposed.
Back to 15h in Playa Del Carmen.
Dinner free. Overnight at the Plaza Hotel.

Day 14 : Playa Del Carmen Friday 13 February 2015
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day and free meal.
Overnight at the Plaza Hotel.

Optional (with extra charge): visit of Tulum and Coba
Departure at 7:30 am first by ferry then by private minibus. Visit of the ancient Mayan city of Coba buried in the forest. It shelters the highest pyramid of Yucatan (42m) which dominates the immensity of the jungle. It is the most important site of the peninsula with 70 km². Possibility to rent bicycles, for a very pleasant shaded ride with the program, visit to the pyramids, the Maya ball courts and the many stelae… Departure for Tulum, where we will have lunch in a typical Maya restaurant. Visit of Tulum, the only Maya site located by the sea. On the cliff overlooking the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea, this archaeological site is highlighted by a grandiose landscape. Return to the hotel around 17 p.m.

Day 15 : Playa Del Carmen / Paris Saturday 14 February 2015
Breakfast.
Day and free meals.
Transfer to the airport.
Air France flight direct Cancun / Paris (19h00 - 11h20)

Day 16 : Paris Sunday 15 February 2015
Arrive Paris Charles de Gaulle at 11h20.

TARIF

1560 € based on 5 participants

                  
ATTENTION: At the beginning of the year, the weather conditions can be difficult. If this were the case, the on-site visibility is of the order of one meter making any immersion impossible from a safety point of view ... If this extension Crocodiles should not be feasible, it would be replaced by an extension " Cenotes of Merida »

PROGRAM OF THE EXTENSION CENOTES DE MERIDA

This extraordinary adventure takes us to dive into the most remote cenotes of Yucatán, incredible and original cenotes lost in the middle of the jungle through machete-cut paths. A total immersion in the Mayan world, meeting extraordinary people, who speak only Mayan, but who have the heart on the hand and will communicate to you their love for their land, their culture, and their cooking.

Day 8 : Playa Del Carmen / Merida Saturday 7 February 2015
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Merida, with a stop along the way to cool off in the cenote Samulà, then we go to Dzonot, a typical restaurant near the cenote, to then resume the path of civilization and arrive in Merida at the end of the afternoon; Merida, capital of Yucatán, a bustling and lively city, which offers itself to you for visits - its cathedral, its main square, its artisan market… - and which will contrast with your adventures of the previous days.
Overnight in Merida and dine in a restaurant that will allow us to taste all the dishes Yucatec, 4 different dishes to begin to learn about the local culinary art.

Day 9 : Merida Sunday 8 February 2015
Departure for a first dive at the cenote of Kankirixche. Its underground galleries will delight all divers.
Then another dive in Yaalutsil, on the same network as Kankirixche.
Lunch at the typical Hacienda of Ochil then drive to the Cenote Dzombakal for another dive in the same day. Access is through the jungle by stairs, to arrive in a water of extraordinary clarity.
Then return to civilization, for a night in Merida, and a restaurant with 4 dishes to choose from for dinner.

Day 10 : Merida Monday 9 February 2015
After 2h00 on a surveyed path, arrived at the Cenote Noh Moson, a dive with abseiling and sherpas to carry the bottles, this gives an idea of ​​the accessibility of the site, to arrive at a clear water well where plunge the roots of the trees!
Then a well deserved meal that we have prepared our Mayan friend.
2th day dive in Nahya, a cenote accessible by a small staircase and a wooden pontoon, this one is much darker than all the others, and gives you the impression of entering the den of darkness. This is not the time to forget his lamp!
Then, return to Merida for a well deserved night, but beforehand a good little restaurant will help to regain strength and share emotions of the day.

Day 11 : Merida / Playa Del Carmen Tuesday 10 February 2015
Visit the Mayapan site. The city of Mayapan, fortified city, is considered as the great Mayan capital by the Indian and Spanish chronicles. His name, it seems, means "The flag of the Maya". During his heyday, during the Postclassic, between 120 and 1450 ap. BC, the population reached twelve thousand inhabitants according to archaeological estimates.
Mayapan was the seat of the Mayapan League, a confederation that united the caciques of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá during the glory period of the Mayan civilization. Then we will take the road to Playa del Carmen. Dinner free.
Overnight in Playa del Carmen.

Day 12 : Playa Del Carmen Wednesday 11 February 2015
After breakfast, go to 7h30. Boarding the ferry and drive to Cozumel Island. You will be carried by the current along the beautiful falls of the island during 2 dives. The reefs are famous, for their relief and their coral formations as well as for the visibility, often extraordinary. Back to Cozumel for 15h. Lunch on board the boat.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel Villablanca in Cozumel.

Day 13 : Playa Del Carmen Thursday 12 February 2015
Breakfast.
Meet at the dive center at 8h30.
Boat departure for 2 new dives, lunch on board and return to Playa for 17h.
Dinner and overnight at the Plaza Hotel.

Day 14 : Playa Del Carmen Friday 13 February 2015
Breakfast at the hotel. Day and free meal. Overnight at the Plaza Hotel.

Optional (with extra charge): visit of Tulum and Coba
Departure at 7:30 am first by ferry then by private minibus. Visit of the ancient Mayan city of Coba buried in the forest. It shelters the highest pyramid of Yucatan (42m) which dominates the immensity of the jungle. It is the most important site of the peninsula with 70 km². Possibility to rent bicycles, for a very pleasant shaded ride with the program, visit to the pyramids, the Maya ball courts and the many stelae… Departure for Tulum, where we will have lunch in a typical Maya restaurant.
Visit Tulum, the only Mayan site located by the sea. On the cliff overlooking the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea, this archaeological site is highlighted by a grandiose landscape. Return to the hotel towards 17h.

Day 15 : Playa Del Carmen / Paris Saturday 14 February 2015
Breakfast.
Day and free meals.
Transfer to the airport.
Air France flight direct Cancun / Paris (19h00 - 11h20)

Day 16 : Paris Sunday 15 February 2015
Arrive Paris Charles de Gaulle at 11h20.

TARIF

1560 € based on 5 participants