dive # 939-944 Nov 2014 cenotes

I finally did it.
Another 'tic' off the ol' bucket list.
I made the plunge down to Mexico "Puerto Aventure" in Mexico to dive the cenotes. I got a bit overwhelmed  planning the trip since there were so many things to factor in so I opt for jetblue's all inclusive package .
 The trip went remarkably smooth with a greeter at the airport in Cancun to dive us to our hotel which was about 50 miles south of the airport.
 The hotel, Catalinia Riveria Maya was spectacular.
It was true resort catering to your every needs. It was very clean and luxurious. I didn't know what to expect by booking an all inclusive but it exceeded my expectations. (I did something like that in Barbados and it was the pits.)
My room even had it own jacuzzi on its porch over looking the beach and pools.
The food was fantastic.
 I am the fussiest person in the world and there were multiple vegetarian choices. You could NOT drink the water from the faucet but there was plenty of water at various stations(and other beverages including "adult" beverages for your consumption) You didn't need to speak spanish but I did (or at least tried to) at every opportunity. I am sure the natives got a good laugh my fractured grasp of the language.
The first dives scheduled were reef dives. You were not allowed to dive the cenotes unless you first did a reef dive and had at least 200 dives under your belt. I figured I was all set in that department until the boat was ready to leave. They pulled me off the boatat the last minute  because I had checked off "migraines" and "over 45 years old"on the medical report. I thought to myself "are you f#cking kidding me?" as I looked around on the jammed boat with over- weight people and people much older than me who couldn't even carry their gear, plus there was a guy chain smoking while settting up his tank. I literally ran  1/2 mile back to the dive shop and "corrected" that "misprint". Enough said.
I got a little lost running back to the boat. Thank God I knew enough spanish to ask some of the workers there how to get back to the boat.
The reefs there were OK, on par with diving Florida reefs. Nice, but average with not a ton of fish. I did spot two large lion fish, eagle ray and a free swimming large green moray.
However, the cenotes were in a league of there own.
We went to four different ones. They were all inland in the jungle. The water was colder at about 73F. I wore a thin shortie over my 3M suit. I generally use 12lbs in the ocean but in the fresh water cenotes I could actually get away with just 6lbs. The cenotes we went to were: red jaguar, kukukul, ponderosa and taj majal.
They were all spectacular. It is hard to describe what they are like.
It's a bit scary, wicked cool, and alien (like you are on mars).
You enter a water cavern and descend down tunnels underwater. Some parts are pitch black , narrow and someplaces the light comes through.
It felt like you are being kissed by God.
You also swim through parts in a phenom called "halo cline".It a mix of salt/fresh water and sulphur creating this blurry effect. You can't see shit. It is scary stuff but you try focusing on the light of your dive guide leading you through.
Oh yes, you absolutely need an experienced dive guide along with using halogen dive lights and you follow the thin rope line.
There were some fish there. Under the mangrove roots that reach, I would say, at least a 100 feet down you saw some unusual fresh water fish. I beleive some of these fish were cichlids and mollies.
Back at the resort there were lots of stuff to do other than swimming and water sports. I took up archery one afternoon and one day we took a tour to the Tulum ruins -which was pretty cool. Even in our gated resort community the area was fantastic to go jogging in the morning with all it's beautiful birds and wildlife.
Would I go back to explore more cenotes ?(I believe in this area alone there are 18 cenotes)
Absolutely.
It was "las pelotas"

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 108

The tourists are gone and most of the nosey busy bodies don't get up when I get up to go running.
The pigeons still recognize me and follow me when I run on the beach. I've found a few dead ones on the board walk.
I'm not sure why but it is troubling.
There are certainly less of them.
I do know they are hungry and pizza, french fries, and left overs are no longer available.
 Soooooo I've been bringing a small bag of seed to 'help' the pigeons to get through the winter. I place the seeds away from any of the buildings not to cause issue. I spotted Brownie and Galok in the fray.
Two days ago, before dusk, as I about to hit the beach jogging. A white van sped past me nearly hitting me. I thought to myself, "a$$h@le!!!.. slow down!!"
At the corner of the sidewalk I found a seaside sparrow on his back with his legs up in the air. I thought, "oh crap, I think that van hit this little guy". I  presumed the sparrow was dead.
And then his little legs started to move.
I picked him up cupping him in my hands.
He was still alive.
I took him home to access the damage to see if he could be saved.
I looked him over and did not see blood spots nor any obvious breaks or disfigurements. I placed him in a small covered cushioned aquarium to rest.
I wanted to wait til midmorning to call Jody from the Cape Ann wildlife for her advice. If he was merely dazed or in shock the warm comfortable dark aquarium would provide the rest he needed.
At about 10:00 I opened the lid of the aquarium to check on the sparrow and whooosh! out he flew. He flew around my house without any problems.
He appeared to be OK.
I caught him, put in back in the small aquarium and brought him back down to beach. I released him and he flew off with another sparrow sitting on the wire fence.
Hooray!