On Day 7 of my trip to Ecuador, my daughter, Sierra, and I went scuba diving near Ayangue.
Montanita to Ayangue
The fishing village of Ayangue is approximately 30 minutes south of where we were staying, in Montanita. Ayangue is one of the few towns on Ecuador's west coast that isn't directly on the bus route. And, since it was pouring rain in the morning, Sierra and I chose to take a taxi. Taxis are relatively inexpensive and we didn't want to risk walking the 2+ miles of muddy roads between the bus stop and the dive shop in Ayangue.
Diving near Ayangue
Soon after we arrived at the Ray Aguila Dive Center, Sierra and I began questioning their credibility. It's an official PADI dive center but the equipment and staff lacked the quality and competence we expect when putting our lives in their hands. They never asked to see proof of our dive certification and had no waivers for us to sign.
Seeing that we're both tall, they gave us large wetsuits. The suits were easy for us to try on... which isn't a good thing when it comes to wetsuits. While the staff was satisfied with the fit, we were not and requested smaller sizes. They struggled but eventually found wetsuits that were tighter and more likely to keep us warm. The wetsuits as well as the dive equipment were "well- used" and we were a bit nervous trusting it.
As Sierra and I climbed onto the dive boat, we watched one of the crew members bail water out of the boat. We hoped it was rainwater from the morning storm but were unsure given the condition of the rest of the equipment.
While heading to our dive site, Sierra and I checked our equipment extra carefully. But, immediately after entering the water, Sierra noticed air leaking from one of her hose connections. Our guide wasn't concerned but we were.
During our dive, the guide rarely looked back to check on us or ask about our air. I was grateful to have my own certified rescue diver, Sierra, with me. We monitored our air pressure frequently. Our concerns over the equipment made it a bit harder to focus on the beauty of the reef. But it was absolutely beautiful as we passed along the reef wall. The current was extremely strong. We had to be careful not to crash into the reef but it was fun floating back and forth with the many tropical fish.
During our mandatory surface time on the boat, between our first and second dives, the crew swapped out our empty tanks for, presumably, full ones. I didn't understand the crew as they spoke to each other in Spanish during the break. I assumed it was unimportant and of no concern to me. But, I found out later, Sierra understood and it was concerning.
Our guide got in the water first then the crew handed him a second tank. That's odd. After Sierra and I followed him into the water. He quickly dove to the bottom holding his extra tank. We followed as fast as we could so we wouldn't lose him in the murky water and strong currents.
We swam around and through a shipwreck. But, before we had time to fully enjoy the wreck and the marine life, our guide signaled for us to start up. When we reached the appropriate depth for our safety stop, he signaled for us to stop but he kept going. I was thoroughly confused because I always stay with the guides. They need safety stops too! Thankfully, Sierra understood the crew's previous conversation and realized he, our professional PADI guide, was out of air. She made sure I stayed with her at the safety stop while our guide rushed to the surface for air. Apparently the crew hadn't filled all the tanks before leaving the dive shop. So, our guide went down with a partial tank strapped to his back and another partial take in his arms. So, what should have been about a 50 minute dive, was more like 15. Needless to say, we would NOT recommend the Ray Aguila Dive Center. We would, however, recommend the dive locations. It's unfortunate we didn't have more time to enjoy them!
Slideshow
Here are pictures from Day 7 of our trip to Ecuador.
Expenses
I'm doing my best to track expenses in this spreadsheet for anyone that's interested in a similar, relatively low-budget trip.
Ecuador Fun Fact
Due to the Coriolis Effect, hurricanes in the northern hemisphere spin counterclockwise while hurricanes (aka cyclones) in the southern hemisphere spin clockwise. At the equator, the Coriolis Effect is zero making it virtually impossible for a hurricane/cyclone to form at or cross the equator. So, while the country of Ecuador may experience other natural disasters, it's safe from hurricanes/cyclones.
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