Hi All,
I just returned from my 2nd trip to Cozumel. Unlike last time (2004), I got to do a bit of hunting. I used to think that Coz was a "no spearing" island, like Bonaire. But, in truth, you can spear anywhere except the marine park IF you have the proper permits.
Luckily, I had a Ace in the hole this trip. I found a fellow, online, through Wet Wendy's Bar/Restaurant. His name is Leo, and he's a "gringo" (like me) from Holland. Leo spent most of his adult life working in the fitness industry (in Holland). About a year ago, he gave away all of the fancy "toys", and made off for Cozumel with only the bare essentials and his girlfriend. I'll stop there - afterall, it's Leo's story. Just know that there is no better guide to have if you want to freedive/spear on the island of Cozumel.
To the trip: I don't have the mental strength right now to put this into "story form"; so you'll have to accept a play by play. That'll be easier to read, anyway.
Day 1 - Friday - Made it through customs with my new gun. It was packed with my checked luggage, and I didn't get one word of grief - NICE. Settled in to the Hotel (Cozumel Palace), and headed over to Wet Wendy's for a Margarita, and to start my search for Leo. Chad, the spirited owner of Wet Wendy's was nice enough to call Leo, and tell him that "he had a live one here". Leo showed up shortly after that. From the word go, we were on the same page. Same spearing philosphies; Same safety protocols, etc. I knew this was going to be a great week! We made plans to go out Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday (we added Monday, after going out Sunday).
Day 2 - Saturday - Hung out by the pool and waited for Sunday (seriously).
Day 3 - Sunday - Found out that my hotel forgot to give me Leo's note that said he would be waiting for me at 5AM. Was woken by Jill and 8AM, to "Hey hon, you missed him, the hotel forgot to give you his message". After 10-20 seconds of "French", I called Leo. He assured me that that day was not lost, and that we would head out to a close-by spot at 3PM.
We got in the water, and swam out to 40-60 feet. After a bit of exploring we go out to one of his "hot spots". After a half hour or so, some big (40 lb)amberjacks stroll into our area. I saw them first and signalled to Leo. Leo looks at me and "asks" if I want to go after them. Bug-eyed, I shake my head "no". These things look like torpedos, and in my mind, the only thing worse than missing them would be shooting them. Leo decends on the jacks, but they scoot away. After they had passed, I start to muster up some courage - and decided that if we see more, I would man up and go after one of them. It didn't take long... Within 10 minutes 4-5 more strolled through the area, moving up-current. Leo was 30 feet down-current of me and started to drop on them. I took the opportunity to drop down at the same time, hoping that I could get myself into a sinking path right to them (those who have dove with me in the past know that I prefer to hunt with little-to-no finning). The jacks move up-current beyond Leo's range, and continue to head my way. My strategy paid off, and I drift to within 6 feet of the - yep, the biggest one. I was hoping that my first shot of the day wouldn't wind up getting my gun tore from my hand, but, oh well - this is where the chips fell. I fire my brand new gun at the strongest fish of my life... ...and land the luckiest shot of my life - 40 lb amberjack - dead center behind the gill plate - STONED. With two bands, my little gun put the 7mm spear all the way through the fish. He only twitched a bit as I brought him to the surface. Leo didn't look surprised at all - he just stringed him up, shook my hand, and made his way back up-current to the hotspot. We rounded out the day, adding 3 ocean trigger fish and a little snapper to the stringer.
Day 4 - Monday - 10 AM - Leo picked me up on his bike (yes, you read that correctly). I'm telling you, this guy live "simply". He owns no car or scooter, and gets everything done using his "rickshaw bike" - one of the reasons he's 37, and still built like a 20-year-old.
We biked about 2-3 miles, and jumped in from the shore. We swam out to the dropoff, and I noticed something horrible - my digital camera was GONE. It must have slipped off my wrist somewhere between the shore and our position. As most know, Cozumel has a solid current. I tell Leo that I at least have to give it a shot. I think back to when the camera may have slipped off my arm - when I jumped in? put my fins on? loaded my gun? or maybe it's still on the shore. I assumed the worst (that it came off when I loaded my gun - 100m off shore). I did my best to calculate the amount of drift, based on the current, and plotted an intercept course. As I cranked along at full throttle, I see a big, fat grouper in 40 feet of water. I decide that I can't waste any time, and don't even make a dive. I've now swam downcurrent, past 2 hotels, and spot some floating garbage ahead. It looks like a ziplock bag - NO, it's my freaking camera. The luck continues.
I make my way back upcurrent to Leo, and he's as surprised to see me with my camera as I am to see him loading dinner on his stringer.
We settled back in, and drifted with the current. It took me a while to get my wind back after all the swimming, but I managed to get comfortable just as we bumped into a school of little cuda. Leo gets one more, and I get one, as well. We climb out of the water, and start our hike back to the bike.
Leo cleaned the fish on the shoreline, and taught me how to taste-test the liver for ciguardia (sp?) poisoning (at least, that's his story - I'm still not 100% convinced he wasn't pulling my leg)
.... more tomorrow
I just returned from my 2nd trip to Cozumel. Unlike last time (2004), I got to do a bit of hunting. I used to think that Coz was a "no spearing" island, like Bonaire. But, in truth, you can spear anywhere except the marine park IF you have the proper permits.
Luckily, I had a Ace in the hole this trip. I found a fellow, online, through Wet Wendy's Bar/Restaurant. His name is Leo, and he's a "gringo" (like me) from Holland. Leo spent most of his adult life working in the fitness industry (in Holland). About a year ago, he gave away all of the fancy "toys", and made off for Cozumel with only the bare essentials and his girlfriend. I'll stop there - afterall, it's Leo's story. Just know that there is no better guide to have if you want to freedive/spear on the island of Cozumel.
To the trip: I don't have the mental strength right now to put this into "story form"; so you'll have to accept a play by play. That'll be easier to read, anyway.
Day 1 - Friday - Made it through customs with my new gun. It was packed with my checked luggage, and I didn't get one word of grief - NICE. Settled in to the Hotel (Cozumel Palace), and headed over to Wet Wendy's for a Margarita, and to start my search for Leo. Chad, the spirited owner of Wet Wendy's was nice enough to call Leo, and tell him that "he had a live one here". Leo showed up shortly after that. From the word go, we were on the same page. Same spearing philosphies; Same safety protocols, etc. I knew this was going to be a great week! We made plans to go out Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday (we added Monday, after going out Sunday).
Day 2 - Saturday - Hung out by the pool and waited for Sunday (seriously).
Day 3 - Sunday - Found out that my hotel forgot to give me Leo's note that said he would be waiting for me at 5AM. Was woken by Jill and 8AM, to "Hey hon, you missed him, the hotel forgot to give you his message". After 10-20 seconds of "French", I called Leo. He assured me that that day was not lost, and that we would head out to a close-by spot at 3PM.
We got in the water, and swam out to 40-60 feet. After a bit of exploring we go out to one of his "hot spots". After a half hour or so, some big (40 lb)amberjacks stroll into our area. I saw them first and signalled to Leo. Leo looks at me and "asks" if I want to go after them. Bug-eyed, I shake my head "no". These things look like torpedos, and in my mind, the only thing worse than missing them would be shooting them. Leo decends on the jacks, but they scoot away. After they had passed, I start to muster up some courage - and decided that if we see more, I would man up and go after one of them. It didn't take long... Within 10 minutes 4-5 more strolled through the area, moving up-current. Leo was 30 feet down-current of me and started to drop on them. I took the opportunity to drop down at the same time, hoping that I could get myself into a sinking path right to them (those who have dove with me in the past know that I prefer to hunt with little-to-no finning). The jacks move up-current beyond Leo's range, and continue to head my way. My strategy paid off, and I drift to within 6 feet of the - yep, the biggest one. I was hoping that my first shot of the day wouldn't wind up getting my gun tore from my hand, but, oh well - this is where the chips fell. I fire my brand new gun at the strongest fish of my life... ...and land the luckiest shot of my life - 40 lb amberjack - dead center behind the gill plate - STONED. With two bands, my little gun put the 7mm spear all the way through the fish. He only twitched a bit as I brought him to the surface. Leo didn't look surprised at all - he just stringed him up, shook my hand, and made his way back up-current to the hotspot. We rounded out the day, adding 3 ocean trigger fish and a little snapper to the stringer.
Day 4 - Monday - 10 AM - Leo picked me up on his bike (yes, you read that correctly). I'm telling you, this guy live "simply". He owns no car or scooter, and gets everything done using his "rickshaw bike" - one of the reasons he's 37, and still built like a 20-year-old.
We biked about 2-3 miles, and jumped in from the shore. We swam out to the dropoff, and I noticed something horrible - my digital camera was GONE. It must have slipped off my wrist somewhere between the shore and our position. As most know, Cozumel has a solid current. I tell Leo that I at least have to give it a shot. I think back to when the camera may have slipped off my arm - when I jumped in? put my fins on? loaded my gun? or maybe it's still on the shore. I assumed the worst (that it came off when I loaded my gun - 100m off shore). I did my best to calculate the amount of drift, based on the current, and plotted an intercept course. As I cranked along at full throttle, I see a big, fat grouper in 40 feet of water. I decide that I can't waste any time, and don't even make a dive. I've now swam downcurrent, past 2 hotels, and spot some floating garbage ahead. It looks like a ziplock bag - NO, it's my freaking camera. The luck continues.
I make my way back upcurrent to Leo, and he's as surprised to see me with my camera as I am to see him loading dinner on his stringer.
We settled back in, and drifted with the current. It took me a while to get my wind back after all the swimming, but I managed to get comfortable just as we bumped into a school of little cuda. Leo gets one more, and I get one, as well. We climb out of the water, and start our hike back to the bike.
Leo cleaned the fish on the shoreline, and taught me how to taste-test the liver for ciguardia (sp?) poisoning (at least, that's his story - I'm still not 100% convinced he wasn't pulling my leg)
.... more tomorrow
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