Blue Angel Night Dive

Cat, Cynthia, and I descended down the algae covered ramp into choppy seas at sunset.

“Urchins and fire coral on both sides, so watch out.”

Cat pointed to the trough through a rocky underwater cliff that we used to make it to deeper water.

The dive boats headed north from the park to the ports in San Miguel for the evening, racing to make it before dark. Cruise ships left the docks, on to the next port of call, leaving behind smoke and waves.

Cat’s our friend from Southern Louisiana and Texas. She’s been diving in Cozumel forever and seems to know everyone on the island. I met her during our first trip here on Rene’s boat. Last time we were in town, I was reintroduced to her by another diver who liked my shots with the Olympus TG-6, a beast of a little camera that has no business taking such good photos for under $500.

She invited us out to our first dive to Blue Angel. She wasn’t going to go tonight, but we talked her into it through WhatsApp. Next thing you know, right around 6:30, we were back where we were on Saturday, looking at the night shift on the reef. At night, different fish come out, and crustaceans get down to business combing through detritus. Nudibranchs and sea slugs patrol their domains in search of their daily meals.

We stayed down for just over 100 minutes on our single tanks. The ramp to re-enter the dive area at Blue Angel is just below a bar/restaurant where other divers spend their evenings. When you get out in the dark, with all of the camera gear and lights pointing to the shore, people are excited to see you and want to know what you found down there.

Each night, the catch is different. But tonight, here’s what I saw.