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In November 2022 some friends asked us to go to Ayampe for a week in December. We accepted and I reached out to a couple local communities about diving in Ayampe/Puerto Lopez. I was told Mares and another were the best dive centers. I sent out communications to both and Paula (aka Susy) from Mares contacted me almost immediately. She stated there was a dive to Isla De La Plata leaving at 7am, but it was full. She would keep me updated if there were any openings available. In the mean time she brought to my attention a couple local dive’s and I could join them for those. We went back & forth, she was amazingly through and really worked on getting me into either dive. An opening became available for the Isla De La Plata dive. I considered the options and opted for the local 3-6pm dives. Paula had me all set to go for them.
Dive day came, I got to the Mares dive shop early and met with Gabriela who immediately got all the paperwork, requirements and box checking I needed. She then introduced me to the Instructor/Dive Master Lucio who prepared me for my first dive in approximately 5-6 years (COVID etc..) Lucio really knows his stuff and is meticulous about the equipment and our safety and that’s what I look for in a dive master.
I met the other divers: Christian who’s learning to become a dive master himself and wants to start his own dive center and a family/friend group that were just wonderful people-I wish I could remember their names, we all hit it off immediately!
After we were all sized up with our equipment we went to the pier & mounted the boat. There we met Captain Ariel and his two crew members- I again wish I could remember their names-they were really on the ball and were prepared for us and anything that might need attention. We also met Martina the other instructor/Dive Master who took charge of the “not trainees”, she too was very observant. She impressed the hell out of me, during our 2nd dive Martina found a snapped fishing line, dove to the bottom to retrieve the hook, line etc. and brought it back up to the boat at the end of our dive. No one saw the line and she could have just kept going. She’s obviously eco conscious and that’s the kind of people I want to support and dive with!
Thank you: Paula for all the help, Gabriela for getting me aboard, Lucio, Martina, Captain Ariel and crew for taking great care of us, I hope to see you all soon & next time-Isle De La Plata!!! - via 