Question for expierenced divers/world travelers

[MikeS]

Yes, everything that Matt said.  Also, many places, like Cozumel offer the opportunity for a shore dive before the boat dive.  This gives the inexperience ocean divers the opportunity to get their weighting established (and other things)  before taking the boat plunge.  It also helps settle their pre-ocean dive nerves.  If fact, on our next Cozumel  group tripe, we are doing just that:  a group shore dive the day before our week of boat divesl