Skip to navigation

Mark Moxon's Travel Writing

Mexico: Diving Rain

Storm clouds gathering over Playa del Carmen
Storm clouds gathering over Playa del Carmen

When I first tried to sell the idea of this trip to Peta, it's just possible that I might have mentioned the tropics a little bit too much, because if there's one thing she hates, it's cold weather. 'How do you fancy a year in the tropics?' I'd say. 'Don't worry, we can skip southern Chile and Argentina, let's just stick to, you know, all those tropical paradises. The ones with all that warm, tropical weather. Sounds good, doesn't it? Being tropical and toasty all the time? Anyway, turn the fire up, would you, it's freezing out there...'

Learning to Dive... Again

Dive Mex, Playa del Carmen
Dive Mex, Playa del Carmen

Learning to scuba dive in the azure Caribbean Sea was another carrot I dangled in front of Peta, though to be honest I think I probably had her at, 'How do you fancy a whole year of tropical weather?' So before leaving home we tracked down a reputable dive operator who offered the PADI Open Water course and booked a place for Peta; in the end we chose a company called Dive Mex based on their excellent ratings, and they turned out to be a good choice. We also booked me on a refresher course, as it's been some 16 years since I last did a scuba dive, and despite owning my own dust-laden scuba gear (which we didn't bring because there's no way we're lugging that around), I've forgotten everything I ever knew about diving.