Cozumel Trip Report Bob P on 08/06/02, Villa Dzul Ha and El Presidente

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Posted by Bob P on 08/06/02

I have lots of good excuses....late trip report.....imgs

This is WAY overdue, but I thought you’d enjoy some of the pics anyway. We Flew from
Memphis to Houston to Coz without incident. There were six of us and all got green
lights at customs and head for our villa.

This trip we rented Villa Dzul-Ha for the first four nights and then moved to El
Presidente for the last two. This was our first time to go “non-hotel” and we saved a ton
of money and had lots of fun. The villa is located right across the street from Dzul-Ha,
therefore was very convenient for snorkeling and was just far enough out of town to be
very peaceful. The owners don’t rent the place for income and it is very reasonably
priced. Website if your interested.
I’ve already posted our day trip to Puntasur Lighthouse and Reserve.

Our view from our second story bedroom. (The one with the water bed!)

When we first started visiting this board, my wife Gale, was just learning to swim and
would only snorkel with a partially inflated vest. Now she’s hard to keep out of the water
and her highlight of the trip was to teach her daughter, Jennifer, how to snorkel.
Jennifer grew up in the “Free Willy” generation and has always loved whales, dolphins
and animals in general. (She is a vet assistant now). This was, however her first below
surface experience. If we can all think way, WAY back to that first time then you know
what she was like.

Jen’s first lesson from Mom.

Jen and Mom from below.

Jen with Sea Slug (they are much easier to catch than fish!)

Of course I had to train son-n-law Eric how to perform a proper surface interval. He did
very well for a rookie.

One of the highlights of our stay at the villa was meeting Feli (housekeeper / cook). She
cooked breakfast and dinner every day using her Mayan styles and ingredients. It was
truly a delight! We wanted her to come home with us, but the owner had ask me not to
steal her.

Our first dinner!

The next morning we drove the east side with a quick stop at Marley’s. Gale found a
good spot right away.

Eric was really catching on to this “surface interval” thing.

We stop by Coconuts for lunch. The kids were awe struck at the view and Jen loved the
birds and dogs, (Tequila and Margarita, I think). I had some wonderful Counch)

The next morning my sons’, Tim and Scott, and I did a shore dive with a local lady that
wishes to remain nameless. She wouldn’t let them dive under the cruise ship! Bummer!

We later took a boat out with Dive with Martin to Palancar Gardens and Chankanaab. I
was excited to be using my new (to me) camera, but the currents kept me from doing
much macro stuff. (I’ll just have to go back).

Tim and “nameless friend.”

Tim at Palancar Gardens.

Scott with another easy to catch sea slug. (They will pose for you too!)

Palancar Gardens has sponges galore. All types and colors.

Fish weren’t bad either.

One Macro shot!

The boys with a (sheesh I can’t remember what they are called). Burrowing Star?

The Boss (and photographer) was a happy camper.

Jennifer and Eric at the North Marina.

Of course the trip included much more. Mini-Golf, real golf, Casa Langosta, Sonora Grill,
Capi Navigante, delivering lots of supplies to the humane shelter (compliments of
Jennifer’s animal hospital), Laker’s beating Sacramento, Volkswagon van from Alamo
that barely had first gear, and more. More pics can be seen here!
Club Photo Album Site

I know this is disjointed, but it all blends together over time.

PS Thanks to Chas (again) for your img help two years ago!