Photo friendly op in Cozumel?

Looking for a photo friendly dive op in Cozumel. I recently dove with one of the more popular boutique dive operators in Cozumel and while their customer service, attention to detail and safety was exemplary their divemasters were overzealous in their interpretation of reef protection. Any touching, even two fingers on barren spots or rubble, is considered "damaging the reef." Anyone have any experience with a dive operator who knows how to work with and understands the needs of the pro or serious amateur photgrapher.

I'm not looking for an operator that harrasses marine life, just one who recognizes the difference between a diver that is out of control and grabbing on and the carefull approach of an experienced photographer working close to the reef.

Larry

I can't help you with the information you directly ask for but I can tell you that working in the industry it is not always the fact that divemasters are reef protection enthusiasts but that they are accepting of divers they have gotten to know and so very often the best thing you can do is return to the same operation time and time again with staff that stay at the company (always a good sign of a good company when staff stay the same) and let them get to know you .. and talk with them about what you are doing and maybe even gently educate them as to live and dead coral and then they will be more leanient towards you especially allowig you to be more of an UW photographer than a diver.

Giles

(ps but yes a photo dive shop would be ideal)

(pps ... you could always come to cayman .. there's loads of people who take uwp seriously here)

Thanks for the comments Giles. It's always informative to get opinions from from the flip-side of the coin since you work in the dive industry. It may seem glamorous but I know you guys have a difficilt job.

Unfortuneatly, I don't often return to the same operator or destination, again and again. I like to try diffferent flavors so it would be difficult for me to develop the kind of relationship you refer to. Perhaps it's time to give GC another try.

Larry, I'm hesitant to make recommendations like this, but Gerb and I use Deep Blue.....dozens of trips for Gerb and 6 or 7 for us....small boats aren't great for cameras, but they have good divemasters...ask for Gabriel

Karl

Hey Larry!

I've stayed at both Scuba Club and the Occidental Allegro. Scuba Club was MUCH more diver friendly in and out of the water, though their boat rides to the better southern destinations was longer. The Allegro was more of a resort that offered diving as an activity and their dive outfit treated you as someone who only dove once or twice a year. It was a bit frustrating when I just wanted to hang out and watch some of the macro life or wander along the other side of a coral head out of the divemaster's view.

I would return to Scuba Club and recommend them to anyone asking. I cannot say the same about the Allegro.

Marty

I dive with Emerald Dolphin Dive Service, and they are very photo friendly.

Try Christi with Blue XT Sea. Fast boat, 6 people only, great DMs, and her boat captian is the best.

http://bluextseadiving.com

I second the recommendation of Blue XT~Sea Diving. Christi runs a great operation in Coz. Fast boats, great DMs and a great captain. Once they see that you're comfortable in the water and can negotiate the currents without any problems, they pretty much let you run your dives and do their best to find things for you to photograph or just appreciate. A bunch of photographer and videographer friends and I dove with them last year, and we all came back with lots of great images and clips. The only drawback is that Christi's boat, Shamu, has no room on it for camera tanks or rinse buckets. We all just compensated by keeping our cameras covered with damp towels during surface intervals. The boat crews were very careful with our cameras onboard, making sure that tanks and other heavy items posed no threat, and handling them carefully.

I just recently got back from a long weekend at the Scuba Club. On the boat dives, I had no problems stopping to take pictures, but I was always the straggler who brought up the rear. Also, if a shot was going to require me to wait for an animal to move somewhere or get into a certain position, or if I was going to have to do a lot of bracketing or strobe movement, I wouldn't have time to set it up. That said, the boats all have camera rinse tanks or buckets, and I never had a problem finding a relatively dry spot on the boat to change out batteries and memory cards when necessary. The shore diving in front of the Scuba Club provides lots of opportunities for great shots, too, and the entry and exits are very camera friendly.

If you don't have one I suggest going to Costco or any sporting goods store and picking up a soft, insulated, cooler. Like you would take on a picnic. My housing fits inside and strobe arms hang outside. Easier for crew to handle and protects your camera on small boats.